This recipe can be made 3 days ahead and stored. Note

A light and healthy smoked chicken salad for a midweek lunch.

Rich and delicious sweet and sour tamarind pork from Australian Women's Weekly.

We used Grand Marnier in this recipe, but you can use Cointreau or any other orange-flavoured liqueur, if you prefer. You need a small, new paintbrush for this recipe. Paper cases can be found in confectionery stores and some supermarkets. Note

Wafers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Note

An exotic salad with grapes, apples and goat's cheese.

If you don’t have a baba pan, use a deep 20cm (8 inch) round cake pan; line base and side with baking paper. Wash used vanilla pods and add to jars of caster (superfine) sugar to make vanilla sugar, often used in baking. Note

You can also freeze the ice-cream mixture in an ice-cream machine; follow your machine’s manufacturer’s instructions. Note

Rich, creamy and fruity, this classic dessert has it all.

Pimp your potato bake with traditional Puttanesca flavours of olives and pancetta.

Chocolate wheatens are wheatmeal-based biscuits topped with milk or dark chocolate. Instead of the raspberries use other frozen berries like blackberries or strawberries or try using a combination of all three. Note

You will need about 4 passionfruit for this recipe. Note

Cook ½ cup (100g) white short-grain rice for this recipe. Note

The recipe can be doubled to serve 4; use two baking dishes for even cooking. Note

Chicken can be marinated in cajun mixture overnight. Cook chicken and fill pockets as required. Note

Potato and onion bhaji is a spicy and delicious fast food dish from Maharashtra, India.

Rich and salty caramel treats made all the better with the addition of cashew nuts.

Pavlova nests can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container. Fill with cream just before serving. Note

Mediterranean-style lamb meatballs with a fresh and herbaceous chutney.

Substitute the fresh corn with a 420g (13½-ounce) can of drained corn kernels, if you prefer. Polenta can be prepared a day ahead; store, covered, in the fridge. Note

Give the traditional gingerbread people an Aussie spin with these adorable gingerbread biscuits dressed in their togs!

A classic cheeseburger with caramelised onion, gherkin, tomato and lettuce.

If you don’t have leftover mashed potato, prepared mashed potato is available from the vegetable section of most large supermarkets. Note

You need about three passionfruit for this recipe. You could layer these trifles in two 1-cup (250ml) glasses, for a prettier look. Note

An exquisite Asian-style duck dish with citrus peaches and duck fat potatoes.

A sweet and nutty satay pork and noodle stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

Traditionally served as an accompaniment to spicy dishes, this recipe would also make a great light vegetarian starter. Note

Mizuna, a mild-tasting, crinkled salad leaf, is usually one of the greens found in mesclun, which can also be used in this recipe. Note

A quick and easy authentic Italian ravioli with tomato, pea and basil sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

Take care not to over-mix the batter. 16 strokes is usually enough to achieve the rough appearance and texture of muffins. Note

You need to buy half a small barbecued chicken for this recipe. Note

We used large (25cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Be sure to use prepared horseradish rather than horseradish cream, the latter is a commercially prepared creamy paste made from horseradish, vinegar, oil and sugar. Prepared horseradish is preserved grated horseradish root. Note

An authentic Italian spaghetti with homemade basil pesto sauce.

A colourful summery salad with smoked chicken and avocado from Australian Women's Weekly.

Cute little green Thai chicken curry bowls that pack an aromatic and flavourful punch.

We used green, black and vine-ripened tomatoes. For an extra indulgence, use the larger buffalo-milk mozzarella instead of bocconcini. Note

Ahoy there! Let the birthday child head for the high seas with this pirate creation.

An exquisite lunch dish of parmesan polenta with a delicate walnut and capsicum salsa.

Meat & three veg

You can also use coliban or lasoda potatoes for this recipe. Note

Oatmeal, also sold as oatmeal flour, is made from milled oat kernels; it is not the same product as rolled oats or oat bran. It is available at health food stores. Note

Either maple syrup or maple-flavoured syrup can be used in this recipe. Note

A bright, colourful and fresh Vietnamese salad with pan-fried tofu.

Serve with warm naan and yoghurt. Curry can be made 2 days ahead. Curry pastes vary in heat, so adjust amount to suit your taste. Okra, also known as bamia or lady fingers, is a green, ridged, oblong pod with a furry skin. Native to Africa, this vegetable is used in Indian, Middle-Eastern and southern […]

You need about 2 large overripe bananas (460g) to get the required amount of mashed banana. Note

We used blue-eye in this recipe, but any firm white fish fillet is fine. Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta available from Greek delicatessens and specialty food stores; if unavailable, use risoni. Note

For a milder pistou, substitute flat-leaf parsley for half of the rocket. Note

.Sumac is a purple-red, astringent spice ground from berries growing on shrubs that flourish wild around the Mediterranean. It adds a delightful tart, lemony piquancy to food without the heat of chilli. Available from the spice aisle of most supermarkets and Middle Eastern stores. Note

This simple salad will be all the better for using a good quality aged balsamic vinegar in the dressing. The flavour will be more intense and the consistency more syrupy than those of younger balsamic vinegars. Note

Any whole white fish would be fine to use in this recipe. Ask the fishmonger to clean and scale the fish for you. Use herbs such as tarragon, chervil, lemon thyme, dill and chives. Note

Fresh samosas are sold in Indian food shops and delicatessens; frozen samosas can be found in most supermarkets. Note

Sweet but savoury, this delicious tomato and passionfruit jam can be enjoyed with desserts, atop toast or as a chutney-style spread on a cheese platter.

Use a mandoline or V-slicer with a julienne attachment to slice the carrot into thin strips. Baby asian greens are a mix of baby buk choy, choy sum, gai lan and water spinach. Note

This recipe can be made a day ahead store covered, in refrigerator freeze not suitable Note

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. If the potatoes are very small, halve them rather than cutting them into quarters. Note

Makes enough for six 210g servings of fried chicken drumettes. Note

Gin comes in differing styles, with juniper berry the principle flavour. Choose one with added botanicals (components derived from plants), which will give the cocktail a more rounded, complex taste. Note

Try this healthy and simple Asian noodle stir fry for a midweek dinner.

If you have time, marinate the steaks, covered, for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Note

You can improvise with the ingredients in this trifle. Try sponge finger biscuits instead of biscotti, raspberries in place of cherries and a nut-flavoured liqueur as a substitute for the marsala. Biscotti is available at selected delicatessens, specialty food stores and online. Note