Baking

A perfect meal that satisfies a hankering for meat and potatoes, while providing something just a little bit special. Remember to rest the meat for a perfectly moist and succulent result.

Did you know? Children need to eat mini-meals throughout the day. Most children can snack up to 5 or 6 times a day, thanks to their small stomach capacity and large appetites, providing them with a third to a half of their energy needs. Note

A quick and easy vegetarian pizza for Italian food lovers, you can add any vegetables you prefer to this recipe.

What a delightful way to enjoy the flavour of eggnog. These macarons are the perfect, light accompaniment to Christmas dinner, and would make a unique and thoughtful gift for your host.

Studded with chopped up Chokito bars, these chewy chocolate caramel cookies are perfect for afternoon tea-time treats.

Jelly buttons are liquorice flavoured jellies with a crunchy coating. They are also known as jelly spogs. Note

Deep 26cm x 36cm (10½-inch x 14½-inch) baking dish; 25cm x 40cm (10-inch x 16-inch) rectangular prepared cake board. Note

Low in sugar and rich in fruit, this wholemeal loaf makes an excellent breakfast or afternoon energy booster.

This is delicious served warm or cold, so is great for picnics or a make-ahead lunch. Note

This delicious grilled scampi dish makes a great starter for a dinner party, or other special occasion or celebration.

Brownie will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 4 days; in the refrigerator for 1 week; or frozen for up to 2 months. Note

Rich, chocolatey tiramisu cake with mascarpone cream and plump, fresh raspberries makes a fine end to a special dinner.

Rum adds a grown-up edge to that classic childhood favourite, pineapple upside-down cake. Delicious served warm with cream or ice-cream.

VANILLA SUGAR Split vanilla bean in half lengthways; scrape seeds into blender or processor. Add sugar; process until fine. Reserve 2 tablespoons for this recipe; store unused sugar in an airtight container for another use. This teacake is best eaten the day it is made. Note

These cupcakes are not only sweet and tasty, but are utterly gorgeous too. Make them for your loved ones for a birthday, anniversary or celebration of choice. Divine!

All this layered honey cake needed to take it from tasty to ridiculously delicious was just a touch of mixed spice and lashings of honeyed cream. You'll love it.

Serve this salad warm or cold for a light, healthy and satisfying lunch. It is also perfect for work or school lunch boxes.

medium GI Note

Dripping with honey and spice syrup, this rich, dense ginger cake makes an elegant end to a special meal. Serve with a drizzle of double cream.

Aromatic and refreshing, these easy baked mussels are wonderful served with crusty bread.

Covered in chocolate ganache, and spiked with sweet sherry, this cherry cake is perfect for a grown-up birthday celebration.

Reserve the rind from the ham after it has been removed. When storing the ham (or the leftovers), re-cover the leg’s cut surface with the reserved rind ­ this will keep it moist. Use a small sharp knife to cut through the rind about 10cm from the shank end of the leg. Gently lift rind […]

This dessert looks and tastes amazing. The drizzling of toffee finishes it off beautifully; the toffee will begin to dissolve within 10 minutes of drizzling it over the figs, so it is best made immediately before serving.

You need to cook about ½ cup (100g) white medium-grain rice for this recipe. Note

The difference between 100% corn (maize) cornflour and wheaten cornflour (cornstarch) is that wheaten has gluten, whereas 100% corn is gluten-free. The gluten adds height to the sponge and gives it a lighter texture. Note

This basic slice is a great and tasty recipe for beginner bakers.

Topped with flaky almonds, this cherry coconut slice makes a delicious afternoon tea treat.

The name tapenade derives from tapeno, the Provençal word for capers, a vital ingredient in this tangy condiment that perfectly complements goat cheese. Note

EQUIPMENT 26cm x 35cm (10 inch x 14 inch) baking dish 30cm x 40cm (12 inch x 16 inch) rectangular cake board bamboo skewer. The grommets have gone a-surfing — even fussy teenage boys and girls will want to ‘hang 10’ with this cool pair of board shorts. Use a skewer to make holes for […]

equipment 3 x 10cm (4-inch) round cardboard cake boards, small offset metal spatula, tape measure, plastic ruler, 4.5cm (1.-inch) fluted round cutter, 3.5cm (1.-inch) fluted round cutter Instead of one large cake, place smaller cakes randomly on the table, display them on stemmed glass cake plates for a charming effect. Cakes can be completed at […]

Meringues can be made a day ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature. Assemble meringue torte up to 1 hour ahead. Note

For the perfect sweet treat, enjoy a slice of this fluffy banana and hazelnut cake drizzled in hot butterscotch syrup.

When we think of soufflés as a sweet, we often think of the chocolate kind. While you won't catch us dissing anything with chocolate in it, this lemon curd soufflé is sweet and tart and exceedingly delicious.

If you want a richer flavour, add a little cream and blue cheese to the baking dish. Note

The autumnal flavours of sweet apple, fig and toasted hazelnuts combine beautifully in this easy tart. Cinnamon sugar is usually available in the spice section of the supermarket. You can easily make it yourself by blending 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon with half a cup of granulated sugar.

Crispy haloumi, spinach and tomato party pizzas that are great for sharing with family and friends.

A daikon and potato gratin with spring onion, bay leaf and crushed garlic.

Iced cake will keep in an airtight container for up to three days. Uniced cake can be frozen for up to three months. SERVING SUGGESTION Serve warm as a dessert with cream or custard. Note

Lamb chops with roasted garlic yoghurt, smothered in a fragrant Middle Eastern herb mix.

Moist and dense, this spiced pumpkin bread has heat from the chilli flakes and crunch from the pepitas, and is incredibly good warm or toasted and spread with butter.

1 x deep 9cm (3¾-inch) square cake pan 1 x deep 15cm (6-inch) square cake pan 1 x deep 23cm (9¼-inch) square cake pan 30cm (12-inch) square prepared cake board or cake stand cake. Make butter cake mixes in batches as they will not all fit together in a large bowl, use three packets first, […]

For a comforting family meal, try this creamy chicken pie topped with crispy sour cream pastry.

Covered in an assortment of lollies, this gorgeous yellow dragon cake is sure to be a winner with the kids.

Make these lamb & quinoa pizzettas for a delicious party snack or summer lunch.

Check the cookies a few minutes before the end of baking time if they feel a little soft, but firm, give one cookie a gentle push with the side of your thumb. A cooked cookie will slide easily on the tray. The cookies will become crisp on cooling. Note

With layers of almond sponge, raspberry mousse and cream, this spectacular cake is delectable and perfect for a celebration.

Baked brie and asparagus tartines make a dish for a celebratory lunch. If you're looking for some variety, you can replace the asparagus with honey and thyme.

Use a cake mix that does not require butter to be added. Note

Baby heirloom tomatoes are available from most supermarkets and greengrocers. These pizzas are best made close to serving. Note

Step one of the recipe can be made 1 day ahead and covered, refrigerated; until required. The tomato sauce can be made 1 day ahead then covered; refrigerated; until required. Sauce can be frozen up to 6 months. Note

Quick, easy and delicious, these veal schnitzels are a guaranteed weeknight winner.

Coffee-flavoured whoopie pies with a delightful dusting of chocolate are a soft and satisfying treat for the coffee lover in your life.

When it comes to sweet treats the French always get it right and this delicate delight is no exception. Somewhere between a meringue and a biscuit, this melt in the mouth tropical macaron is simply délicieux!

These chewy gluten-free treats are perfect with coffee.

For a gift-giving idea, spray a bamboo steamer (available from Asian food stores) with silver spray, line with tissue and fill with little cakes. Wrap it completely in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Substitute brandy for Irish whiskey, if you like.

The classic combination of ricotta, spinach and tomato works beautifully in this light dish.

For a delicious snack, try these golden scrolls filled with sausage and beef mince, melted cheese and spinach.

These crunchy Italian biscuits go wonderfully with hot espresso coffee.

This lemon tea cake is made something special when you layer it with lashings of lemon mascarpone frosting.

This hazelnut and date tart tastes as impressive as it looks. It's a magnificent dessert that is only enhanced by its accompaniment of sweet, sesame cream.

Put the kettle on and treat yourself to a thick wedge of this gingery lemon and apricot cake, best served with a dollop of yoghurt or whipped cream.

This quick and tasty pasta dish is packed full of flavour and is perfect for a mid week dinner for the family. The combination of crispy proscuitto and tender pumpkin is complemented wonderfully by freshly shaved parmesan cheese.

This cute and colourful 'under the sea' birthday cake is perfect for little ones who love animals or spending time by the ocean.

Delight your family and friends with these beautiful lattice-topped pies.

You will need to cook about 1/3 cup (50g) brown rice for this recipe. Note

Boris the clown is a fun and delicious cake for children's birthday parties.

This colourful, veggie-packed frittata is delicious hot or cold at any time of the day.

For pure crunchy peanut-buttery bliss you can't go past these cookies. If you like, replace the chocolate melts with chopped dark (semi-sweet) chocolate.

Made completely from scratch, the dough is the key component to this tasty double-crust pizza.

Brought to you by the classic Australian Women's Weekly birthday cake cookbook.

Spicy lamb wraps with a red salad of cabbage, beetroot and red onion served with harissa yoghurt.

You need to buy triple the quantity of the ingredients for this recipe. You will need to make three separate batches: do not double or triple this recipe. It’s important to measure the cake mixture carefully so the cakes are all the same depth. The mixture will be fine standing at room temperature while you […]

Bringing your favourite confectionery treat together with a delectable baked good to make a fabulous dessert recipe.

This technique, also known as en papillote, steams food in a closed pouch made from baking paper or foil. The parcel keeps the fish moist, and retains the flavour of the vegetables. Serve the food in the pouch at the table. Note

Vegetarian casseroles are a great way to get a lot of veggies in a tasty, hassle free way.

For a speedy, elegant dessert, try this French classic with a cardamom twist.

Glucose syrup is often quite difficult to measure as it is very thick and sticks to everything. To make it easier, warm the jar of glucose syrup in a bowl of hot water before spooning out the required amount. Lightly oiling the spoon, or heating the spoon under hot water, and drying, will also help […]

The molten part of this chocolate pudding is created by not cooking this dish all the way through, but just enough to create a piping hot 'molten' like centre, that combines beautifully with the good quality vanilla ice cream or cream that you'll spoon on top!