Quick & Easy

Recipe can be made a day ahead and refrigerated, covered. Note

This rich and hearty soup can be whipped up in about half an hour. Evaporated milk (not to be confused with condensed milk) is canned unsweetened milk from which some of the water has been evaporated.

Recipe is best made just before serving. Old-fashioned cast gem irons are available from specialty cookware shops or second-hand shops. Note

You can use smoked paprika in place of sweet if you prefer a darker flavour to your lamb.

Who doesn't love a good steak sandwich? This one is so much more gourmet than the usual, though. Think: creamy ricotta, fresh roasted capsicum and tender steak fillets... Yum!

Stir fried Asian greens make this seafood dish well balanced and a perfect meal for any season.

Simple, herbed prawn skewers make a great starter for a dinner party, or share platter for a celebration or barbecue.

Ranch is a creamy, onion-flavoured dressing usually made from mayonnaise and either buttermilk or sour cream. Use caesar dressing, if you prefer. Note

These little spinach and cheese parcels are very tasty extremely versatile; you can serve them on their own, as a soup accompaniment, or as part of an antipasto platter.

Stir-fried asian greens make a healthy accompaniment to meat dishes such as in this tasty veal stir-fry.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

There should be no complaints at the dinner table when you present the family with good old fashioned lamb and vegetables. We've made things a little more exciting with the addition of mint sauce; it goes wonderfully with spring lamb.

EQUIPMENT 40cm (16-inch) square cake board Use assorted cream-filled rollettes for a colourful alternative. Note

Blood orange adds greater depth as well as sweetness to a classic margarita.

Served on a feta and black olive mash, these tender slices of tuna cooked in tomato and anchovy will melt in your mouth.

Pickled plum puree, also known as umeboshi puree, is made from plums (ume) slowly pickled in salt, with Japanese mint (shiso) added for colour and flavour.

Fire up the barbecue with these deliciously spicy vegetarian kebabs.

We used sun-dried capsicum pesto for this recipe, but any bottled “red” pesto, such as tomato, could be used. Note

The perfect black olive paste for tapas, platters or simply a snack!

Quick, easy and delicious Indian-style chicken tikka stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

This marinade is suitable for lamb and beef. It can also be used as a dressing for roasted vegetables Note

Wrapped in crisp prosciutto, this creamy vegetable terrine would make a delicious side dish or lunch served with salad.

For this easy platter, use your favourite cheddar; we like a sharp-tasting aged cheese.

This delicious pressure-cooker dish makes the most of tender spring lamb, and fresh spring vegetables.

Soak 10 bamboo skewers in cold water for an hour before use to prevent them splintering or scorching during cooking. Note

The fish can be refrigerated for up to 36 hours. You can substitute the gin with vodka or omit the alcohol completely. Micro herbs are small punnets of baby herbs or cress and can be found at good greengrocers, growers markets and some of the larger supermarkets; substitute with small picked leaves from regular bunches […]

The tart, exotic flavours in the salad are enhanced by the creamy, nuttiness of the fried halloumi cheese. A wonderful combination.

The sweet, savoury, sticky and thick teriyaki sauce is a staple of Japanese cuisine. It compliments chicken, fish and meats equally well. Team it with a light and fresh udon salad and you have a perfect light meal.

A soft and tender braised lamb and yoghurt curry from Australian Women's Weekly.

Puff pastry squares make a light, tasty and adorable case for these delicious and fresh tomato, leek and feta tartlets.

Succulent figs add interest, depth and flavour to this deliciously easy chocolate caramel slice.

A simple mix of spicy chorizo, vinegary artichoke, sweet capsicum and fresh tomato and leaves, this flavourful salad is a perfect side for a summer barbecue.

Ready-made tzatziki is available from the refrigerated dip section of large supermarkets.You can also make your own. Note

Tender slices of beef carpaccio match perfectly with a fragrant green papaya salad.

Keeping time: 2 days. Note

Thiples (or Diples) are a Greek sweet dessert consisting of pastry that has been fried in hot oil, and a honey drizzle. This recipe uses classic flavours so the dish is true to its origin.

One of the classic dishes of Louisiana, famous for creole and cajun cooking, gumbo takes its name from an African word for okra, without which this hearty vegetable stew would not be the same.

A healthy white bean, corn and avocado salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Serve this family favourite with a big jug of homemade gravy to pass around the table.

This five-star main course will wow any guests you serve it to.

For a milder pesto, substitute baby spinach leaves for rocket. Note

Bake pine nuts on oven tray in moderate oven about 5 minutes or until toasted. Note

Here, French toast gets a whole new look, and it’s bound to be a hit with young and old alike.

You can use any coloured jelly beans you like. Choose a writing icing to match the colour of the jelly beans. Note

Incredibly quick and easy to make, these pumpkin and feta pizzas are a great option for a fast mid-week dinner.

You just can't go wrong with this traditional Christmas turkey with forcemeat stuffing of onion, bacon, pork, chicken, breadcrumbs, parsley, pistachios and tarragon.

Works well with pancakes, over waffles or as a fondue. Note

Celebrate your child's birthday with this charming (and easy to make) butterfly display case.

This risoni and bean salad is robust enough for a light yet satisfying vegetarian lunch, or perfect as a side dish for grilled chicken or steak.

Dried cranberries are sometimes labelled ‘craisins’ and can be found in the baking aisle of supermarkets. Chicken breast fillets can be substituted for turkey, if you like. Coriander is one of the few fresh herbs to be sold with its root attached. It should be readily available from greengrocers. Asian greengrocers will certainly stock it. […]

Try this sweet, spiced classic drizzled in honey syrup for a decadent but light dessert.

This recipe is also nut-free and egg-free. Did you know? Lebanese cucumbers are short, slender and thin-skinned, and are probably the most popular variety because of their tender, edible skin, tiny, yielding seeds and sweet, fresh taste. Note

Fresh, light, fragrant and healthy. Serve this Asian-style fish with a bowl of steamed coconut rice for an easy and tasty meal for two.

Well, this is one way to increase the kids' fruit intake! Be warned, these caramelised apples are dangerously delicious.

White chocolate, pineapple and coconut slice from Australian Women's Weekly.

A fresh and fragrant Asian noodle stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

Filled with vegies and a delicious mustard mayonnaise, these chicken pita pockets are simple and satisfying.

This exceedingly rich, decadent dessert is just the ticket at the end of a long dinner party with friends. Serve with coffee and lots of laughs.

Drizzled with a creamy chervil dressing, this easy dish makes an excellent brunch or lunch.

Topped with whipped caramel frosting sprinkled with sea salt, this moist banana, walnut and coffee cake is perfect for a special occasion.

A decadent and rich dessert with berries, warm white chocolate and Malibu liqueur.

Traditional and tasty Thai-style pumpkin and chicken soup from Australian Women's Weekly.

This dry, fragrant Nepalese curry, traditionally served with steamed rice and lime wedges, is one of this remote Himalayan country's most popular meat dishes.

Banana leaves are sold in bundles in Asian food shops, greengrocers and some supermarkets. Use foil if banana leaves are unavailable. Note

More sophisticated than pancakes, these buckwheat blinis topped with poached eggs and smoked salmon make a gorgeous dish for brunch with friends.

For a delicious, easy mid-week meal, try these spicy fish kebabs served with steamed rice.

Pop the kettle on and enjoy a thick slice of this beautifully moist apricot cake with crisp macaroon topping.

Sprinkled with a crunchy walnut topping, these fluffy raspberry muffins are lightly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, resulting in a delicious combination of flavour and texture.

These tasty fish parcels are so easy to make and taste fantastic served over crispy fried cauliflower.

Lamb’s lettuce, also known as mache or corn salad, has a mild, almost nutty flavour and tender dark-green leaves. It’s commonly sold in 125g punnets; you will need four punnets for this recipe. Note

It's a win-win for this slice with chocolate, marshmallow and crispy biscuit pieces the kids will love and minimal time in the kitchen that you will love.

Baked Middle Eastern meatballs in a homemade tomato sauce with spinach raita.

Thrill the kids with these do-it-yourself chocolate fondue ice-creams.

Before starting this recipe, boil the kettle so you have boiling water ready to go into the saucepan to cook the pasta. Note

Greek yoghurt has less moisture than ordinary yoghurt, giving this lovely cake a firmer texture.

A first-class morning tea treat.

Back in 1792, two Carmelite nuns dubbed the "Macaron Sisters" baked and sold macarons to pay for their lodgings. Over 200 years later, our love affair with these almond delights continue. These chocolate and cherry macarons are beautiful served with hot espresso.

Spiced with nutmeg and dressed with lemon, this spinach with mint makes a fabulously simple side dish.

The salad, without the dressing, can be made several hours ahead and refrigerated, covered. Toss the dressing through the salad just before serving. For an even more Mediterranean touch, add about 200g of diced fetta cheese to the salad. Note

Koshumbir, sometimes spelled koshambir, is a fresh shredded vegetable salad that is served in India alongside curries. Note

Bright, light and fresh, these lime and coriander oysters make a great starter or shared platter for a party.

Light and spicy crumbed chicken to share with your friends and family.

Finely chopped walnuts, hazelnuts or macadamias can be used instead of the pecans. Top each biscuit with a chocolate-covered coffee bean or an almond kernel, if you like. Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Note