Quick & Easy

Recipe best made just before serving. Coppa is salted and dried pork. Note

Midori, a honeydew melon-flavoured liqueur can be used in this recipe. Note

We used a 35cm x 45cm oval plastic serving platter for the pond; a shallow cake pan, baking dish or shallow casserole dish would also work, depending on the number of frogs you need for the party. You will have about 1 cup of cake mixture left over ­enough for another five frogs. Note

For shallow-frying, add enough oil to come halfway up the side of the food to be fried. Aioli is garlic mayonnaise, available from the condiment aisle in most super markets. Note

Meringues can be made one day ahead, store in an airtight container at room temperature. Note

A quick and easy ricotta ravioli with pumpkin and sage sauce for a busy midweek Italian dinner.

Soufflé can be made ahead through the end of step 4. Just before you intend to fold in the egg whites and bake the soufflé, warm the prepared egg yolk and spinach base by standing the bowl in warm water a few minutes. Note

Make sure the rosebuds have not been treated with any chemical sprays. Note

It is fine to use just one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Mini pavlova shells are available from most supermarkets. You need six passionfruit for this recipe. Note

Soak the bamboo skewers in warm water for at least 15 minutes to prevent them burning during cooking. You can replace the prawns with squid or mixed seafood and serve with a good mayonnaise or aioli from your supermarket. Note

Traditionally this recipe is known as char kway teow. Dried chinese sausages, also called lop chong, are usually made from pork. They are red-brown in colour and sweet-spicy in flavour. They are available in all Asian grocery stores. Note

Labne can be left to drain and thicken, still weighted, in the fridge for up to three days. Note

Soba noodles are a popular buckwheat staple in Japan, though can refer to any thin noodle.

Flavour-packed lamb and olive balls served with anchovy aioli and lemon wedges.

Soak the skewers in cold water for at least an hour before using to prevent them from scorching during cooking. For optimum flavour, marinate the chicken overnight. Note

Use a wooden spoon to make a whirlpool in the water before adding the egg, if you like; however, it’s best to poach just one egg at a time this way, as it gets a bit tricky whirl pooling the water once there’s more than one egg in it. Note

You could substitute the bacon and chorizo with ham and mild salami if you prefer. Note

Malibu is the brand name of a rum-based coconut liqueur. Note

Feed lots of hungry mouths with these tasty sandwiches. You can use any bread you like such as fresh sourdough, sliced ciabatta or crusty white rolls, as we have here. Note

Crispy Italian-style risotto balls that are fantastic for sharing with friends and family.

Serve accompanied with asparagus or broccoli or a green leafy salad, if liked. You can use red salmon or canned tuna if you like. The recipe can be made to the end of step 4 several hours ahead. From cold, bake covered at 200°C for 30 minutes or until heated through then uncover and bake […]

Fresh lychees can be substituted for canned ones if you like. You can use pineapple and pineapple juice instead of lychees for a different flavour. This sauce also goes well with fried tofu, grilled chicken breasts or steamed greens. Note

Salad is best prepared on the day of serving. The potatoes can be served warm or cold. Note

Bread cups can be made a day ahead, store in an airtight container. You need 3 x 12-hole (2-tablespoon/40ml) deep flat-based patty pans, it’s fine if you only have one pan, just make the cups in batches. You also need an 8cm round cutter. Buy fresh, thin-style pitta bread. If the bread is too thick […]

Vary the fruit according to your taste and what’s in season; just make sure you use the same amounts. Note

Rich and delicious Italian-style stew with crushed tomatoes and borlotti beans.

This light and delicious sponge cake is a quick and tasty treat for the whole family to enjoy.

A fun and yummy cake that's up to no good.

An exquisite and morish Mediterranean-style mushroom and polenta dish with roasted tomatoes.

This flavour-packed recipe is perfect for an on-the-go lunch or light dinner. The combination of ham and avocado in a wholegrain wrap also makes a nutritious after school snack for kids.

The recipe is best made close to serving. Note

Crispy golden Moroccan pastry filled with spiced eggplant and ricotta and served with a colourful tomato salad.

Frittata can be cooked on top of the stove, in a medium lightly oiled slightly sided frying pan; cook on low heat, uncovered, until almost set, then brown frittata under a preheated grill. Frittata can be served hot or cold Note

Instead of topping the salad with sesame seeds and green onion, try using finely shredded toasted nori. Note

From the humble baked bean to the chickpea, legumes contain healthy components linked with protection against diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart problems.

A delicious French-style roast leg of lamb in a tomato stew with rosemary and white beans.

Corella pears have only a short season, if they’re not available use thinly sliced apple, red-skinned look best instead. Note

Use frozen spinach, which has been cooked and cooled, for this recipe. Note

Warn your guests that the sugar on the pineapple will be extremely hot. Note

A light and healthy pasta salad packed full of salami, bocconcini, olives and cherry tomatoes.

Patties can be made a day before the party, keep them covered in the fridge. The sauce can be made a week before the party, keep covered in the fridge. Assemble the burgers up to 3 hours before the party. Note

A quick, simple and delicious Mexican-style pizza; great for busy midweek evenings.

To use preserved lemon, remove and discard the pulp, squeeze the juice from the rind, then rinse the rind well; chop the rind finely. If preferred, substitute 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon rind at each stage for the preserved lemon. Note

You can substitute cooked crab meat for the prawns in this salad. Note

If liked, use smoked salmon in place of prawns. Note

A bright and colourful summer olive salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

A small, spicy sausage ­ eaten throughout North Africa and Spain ­ merguez is traditionally made with lamb meat and is easily identified by its chilli-red colour. Merguez can be found in many butchers, delicatessens and sausage specialty stores, but any spicy sausage can be used in this recipe. Note

A quick and healthy pilaf for a busy midweek dinner.

Kumara slices can be baked several hours ahead. Keep covered. Assemble salad and add dressing just before serving. Note

To fold the cream and egg whites into the chocolate mousse mixture, use a large flat rubber spatula. Note

Strawberries are jam-packed with the good health-promoting vitamins A and C. Note

Brown rice vinegar, made from brown rice, has been called the eastern version of apple cider vinegar, although its mild flavour has a subtle sweetness and about half the sharpness. It is available from Asian grocery stores and some health-food stores Note

Fajita seasoning spice mix adds an authentic Mexican flavour to foods; it is a blend of herbs and spices, and may include cumin, chilli, garlic, capsicum, oregano, coriander and onion. Use a mild chilli seasoning, if you prefer. Beef eye fillet can be expensive, buy beef strips or stir-fry beef to make this a cheap […]

Depending on the ripeness of the peaches, peel them using a vegetable peeler or, blanch them by cutting a small cross in the base of each peach; cover with boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Stand 5 minutes, then transfer peaches to a bowl of iced water. Using fingers or a small knife, carefully remove […]

Ghee is good to cook with as it doesn’t burn as quickly as butter. If you prefer, use 30g unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil for frying. Micro cress is a cress that has been harvested at seedling stage. It is available at speciality greengrocers and markets. Micro cress is highly perishable, so must […]

Make sure the rose petals have not been treated with any chemical sprays. Note