Baking

Creamy and cheesy potato gratin, made with leftover roast potatoes, is here perfumed with sprigs of fresh thyme.

Cakestand top to bottom: Dried cranberry coconut macaroons; Salmon and egg finger sandwiches. Note

For the breadcrumbs, it’s best to use day-old or stale bread. Italian vincotto is a condiment made from boiling down grape must (skins, seeds and stems of grapes) until thick and syrupy. It is available from selected supermarkets and delis. You can use balsamic glaze instead. Note

These gently poached quinces and pears are soft and juicy and sweet. They are complimented wonderfully by the crispy almond crumble. If you like, you could serve them with whipped cream.

Some nights warrant pulling out all the stops, and these chocolate and hazelnut pavlova with berries, cream and chocolate sauce have it all.

You can replace orzo with risoni if you like. Orzo, like risoni, absorbs cooking liquid. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little extra water. If you make this dish in advance, you will need to add some water or stock when reheating. Note

These crunchy Italian biscuits go wonderfully with hot espresso coffee.

This simple yet delicious blueberry loaf is perfect for a morning or afternoon snack with a steaming hot cup of tea.

We used dried cannellini beans in this recipe. Note

An exquisite asparagus, gruyère & prosciutto tart for sharing with friends and family.

We used large (25cm/10-inch diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. You will need to purchase half a large barbecued chicken weighing about 450g to get the amount of shredded meat required for this recipe. Note

equipment 20cm x 30cm lamington pan 20cm x 50cm prepared cake board (see basic know-how number 2, pages 160-161) decorations 165g packet mini musks Piping takes a little practice. You might find it easier to do the piping, numbering and lettering before using a spatula to position the cakes on the board. Note

high GI Note

Make someone's special day even more special with this triple-layered beauty.

Sweet coffee biscuits covered with coffee cream and drizzled with dark chocolate are a sophisticated afternoon tea treat.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Leave the nuts and berries out of this recipe if you just want a plain Blondie. Dust the slice with a little sifted icing sugar, if you like. Note

Pink grapefruit syrup turns these delectable little lemon cakes into something rather special.

The frangipane flower and this frangipane tart have absolutely nothing to do with each other, despite the name. Although both look absolutely stunning and will fill your house with the most delightful aroma.

These cheesy zucchini cakes make a lovely light brunch served with a crisp green salad.

When you want to pull out a dish that's set to impress, whole fish always does the job. This baked baby barramundi with pumpkin seed pesto makes a spectacular centre-piece.

This fun children's cake is great for the little ones that love playing with trains and automobiles. They'll love the taste and look of this tasty dessert!

With a crunchy oat, cornflake and coconut topping, this slice is the perfect morning pick-me-up.

Delight your family and friends with these miniature crumble pies, best served with a dollop of fresh cream.

Topped with a crunchy pastry lid sprinkled with cinnamon and flaked almonds, this juicy apple and berry pie makes a luscious ending to a family meal.

Cajun cooking is a meeting of French and Southern American cuisines. It is robust, country-style cooking that makes generous use of spices ­ especially pepper and chilli.

Store in an airtight container for up to two days. Note

The cake and ice- cream cones can be prepared one day before the party. The frosting is best spread over the cake about an hour before serving. The frosting will lose its gloss after an hour or so. Note

Farfalle pasta, also called bow-ties or butterflies, have frilled edges and soft pleats to help contain the sauce; use orecchiette or fusilli, if preferred. Note

Leaving a 1cm (½ inch) border of sponge without cream will make the icing of the sides of the slice easier to do. The weight of the top layer of sponge will push the cream far enough. Note

Damper is a crusty Australian flat bread, originally cooked by the early settlers. Note

These tasty macaroon-like bars are great for the lunchbox.

For a quick, satisfying dinner, try these easy, cheesy pizzas topped with chargrilled eggplant, pesto, olives and smoky chorizo.

This spiced, slightly boozy fruit mince bread is just the ticket if you're looking for some raisin bread or toast with a bit of oomph. Serve it fresh or toasted with lashings of butter.

Stir the cooled cocoa and water mixture into the cake batter. Spread the cake mixture into the greased and lined cake pan. Use a spatula to smooth the top. Note

Kids love pizza and this recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd with bite-size pieces.

For bold icing colours, we used powdered food colourings, available from cake decorating shops and some health food stores. Mixing the powder with a small amount of hot water, before stirring into the icing, gives a better result; liquid colourings can be used for pale colours. Note

Who could resist the tropical turtle with her yummy chocolate shell? Note

We used large (25cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

This is wonderful served with a dollop of yoghurt and some fresh raspberries.

Bite sized with a little kick and a lot of chocolate, this recipe is pure dessert perfection!

Simple yet brimming with flavours, this Asian-inspired dish is a wonderful way to enjoy fish.

You need to start the recipe the day before. Note

Plump with fruit, this traditional cake is wonderful served with a pot of hot tea.

Put the kettle on and enjoy a thick slice of this moist apple and apricot loaf.

A chilli coriander jam that is packed to the brim with red-hot chilli spice and aromatic coriander.

These colourful cupcakes are perfect for a birthday party and will delight both the kids and adults.

This rich, custardy bread and butter pudding is both light, thanks to the flaky croissants, and rich with chocolate and Irish cream. Serve with a dollop of cream or ice-cream.

Two 20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular cake pans 35cm x 40cm (14-inch x 16-inch) rectangular cake board toothpicks. Position paper pattern on cake, cut out butterfly using a sharp knife. Use toothpicks to transfer butterfly markings from paper pattern onto the cake. Spread different coloured butter creams on butterfly markings. The butterfly is […]

Serve warm with pouring cream or ice-cream if desired. Pudding can be prepared severa hours ahead. Keep refrigerated and bake as required. Note

For a speedy, nutritious and filling meal, a simple omelette is the way to go.

Simple and elegant, these dainty little cupcakes are a delicious treat to share for dessert or a special afternoon tea.

Hearty and meaty, these flavour-packed lamb and rosemary pies are perfect for a hungry family on a cooler evening or weekend. They'll taste amazing enjoyed straight from the oven.

Treacle is a sweet and richly flavoured syrup which is perfect for making moist baked goods; especially tarts!

You can also use bintje or pink fir apple potatoes for this recipe. It is fine to use just one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Note

It’s important to measure the cake mixture carefully, so the cakes are all the same depth. Make the full amount of mixture; it will be fine standing at room temperature while you bake the cakes in batches. We used standard sized foil cases and scrapbooking decorations, available from craft and shops. Note

This fruit cake is suitable for many allergy diets, as it does not contain wheaten flour, eggs, milk or butter; the only sugar is in the fruit.

A truly Mediterranean mix that is a perfect addition to any platter.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Use a mandoline or V-slicer to slice the zucchini quickly and evenly. Note

These muffins are delicious without the orange sauce. However, the rich buttery sauce transforms them into a dessert for grown-ups. Grand Marnier (or brandy) is the best liqueur to use. Remember to grate the rind of the oranges before you juice them. If the muffins need re-heating, 20 or 30 seconds in a microwave oven […]

Oysters are delicious raw, but when cooked are surprisingly versatile with their unique flavour seeming to go well with just about anything. Here we've prepared them with a delicious pesto butter.

Crispy and crunchy butterflied chicken from Australian Women's Weekly.

EQUIPMENT deep 26cm x 36cm (10½-inch x 14½-inch) baking dish 45cm x 50cm (17-inch x 18-inch) rectangular cake board small paper piping bag. DECORATIONS silver cardboard, for buckle; 1 black licorice strap; 100g (3 ounces) white chocolate Melts; coloured sprinkles. With magic and mayhem being all the rage these days, there are sure to be […]

Whip up these tasty fish fingers with fresh, whole ingredients and pop them on a little pile of crisp colourful coleslaw and dig in. The kids will love you for it and you'll tick off a good portion of your five-a-day and fish intake.

Buy 200g (6½ ounces) muscatels for these cakes, use one-third in the cake mixture and the rest for decorating. Note

These beautiful and blushing soufflés are dead easy to make. Just remember to whip up your egg white well, and serve them straight from the oven to the table.

This delicious and impressive looking mandarin upside-down cake is a little tricky to make but is oh so worth it. Better still it is gluten-free so everyone can enjoy it. Use a microplane to zest the fruit for best results.

Encased in crisp puff pastry, this beautiful berry sponge slice makes a delightful sweet treat with tea or coffee.

This cheesy bake is packed with veggies and perfect for the whole family.

Served with homemade baba ghanoush and zingy tabbouleh, these warm falafel wraps will be a popular dinner dish.

If you have overnight guests or friends coming for breakfast, prepare the recipe ahead for a breakfast of muffins fresh from the oven! The muffin batter is partially made the day before and refrigerated overnight, needing only a few more minutes of preparation before baking and serving. Note

Marinate the lamb in a zip-top plastic bag to save washing up the bowl. Note

Try these delicious mushroom spread toasties at your next gathering. The intense flavour and creamy texture of the mushrooms contrasts beautifully with the perfectly crispy toast base.

A spiced apple and prune filling is sandwiched between buttery shortcrust pastry in this easy, delicious slice.

These succulent, tasty and filling stuffed eggplant halves are a great way of using up leftover bolognese sauce.

Just a few extra ingredients and about half an hour in the kitchen and you can turn regular chocolate ice-cream into a delicious and very sophisticated dessert.

The perfect recipe to share Turkish lamb fillo cigars from Australian Women's Weekly.

Fresh grapevine leaves can be found in most specialist greengrocers. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-packed leaves in brine from Middle-Eastern food stores; rinse and dry well before using. Note