Boil

Use a mixture of cauliflower, carrots, celery, green tomatoes, cucumber and pickling onions. If the mixture seems too wet, drain away some of the liquid before bottling. Note

Make this stunning side dish in spring to take advantage of delicious in-season artichokes and peas.

Keep an eye on the syrup towards the end of the cooking time; as it reduces, you need to reduce the temperature to maintain a gentle simmer. Use any leftover pomegranate seeds in salads or sprinkle over desserts. Note

Sweet and sour quail perfectly balanced with a pine nut salad.

This recipe is a delicious change to cooked pasta sauces ­because this sauce is uncooked, buy the freshest ingredients you can for a big flavour hit. Note

Pho, the well-known vietnamese noodle soup, is usually eaten for breakfast, but is great to eat at any time of the day. Note

This fragrant pilaf with crunchy almonds is a great accompaniment to meat stews and curries.

Sweet and fluffy pastry puffs filled with a rich chocolate and coffee cream and drizzled with sweet toffee.

Polenta tends to become firmer as it stands; stir in a little extra boiling water if you prefer a softer texture. Note

Mini versions of an old classic dessert that are perfect for individual serving.

Granita made from the musky, fresh-grape muscat grape with figs and a sweet honey and fennel syrup

Oozy and delicious Italian-style risotto packed full of pork, pine nuts, cointreau and lemon thyme.

If fresh plums are not available, use drained canned plums. Yellow rock sugar is available in Asian supermarkets; it has a richer, subtler flavour than granulated white sugar. It is used mainly for braises and sauces as it gives them a beautiful lustre and glaze. Note

Used extensively in Japanese cooking, daikon has a sweet, fresh flavour without the sharp bite of the more common red radish. It can be used raw in salads and as a garnish, or cooked in various ways. Green tea soba are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour and green tea; they are available from most […]

Allspice, also known as pimento or Jamaican pepper, is so-named because it tastes like a combination of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and cumin ­all spices. It is available from spice shops and supermarkets. Note

Yellow rock sugar is available from Asian supermarkets. It’s mainly used in braises and sauces as it gives them a lustre and glaze. To freeze; pour stock into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm space to allow for expansion. Seal, label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a […]

Regular pappadums can be substituted for ready-to-eat mini pappadums, if preferred. Break into quarters; shallow-fry. Note

You will need about 7 passionfruit for this recipe. You can also pulse the passionfruit juice in a food processor for 1 second, before straining, this will help break the juice sacs and give you more passionfruit juice. Note

Pan-fried chicken with an aromatic and flavoursome cranberry and pine nut pilaf.

The crunchy sesame seed crust on the tuna gives a nutty aroma while leaving the tuna rare. Note

Delicious and authentic Italian-style rigatoni with spicy pork sausages from Australian Women's Weekly.

Eggs contain 11 essential vitamins and minerals and are choc-full of protein. While egg allergy is one of the most common allergies in children, researchers from the University of Melbourne have found that introducing eggs early is thought to provide protection. Note

We used a mild curry powder for flavour but use what you like. Freeze any leftover coconut milk and store it in user-friendly portions for future meals. Note

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

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

We used Sicilian olives in this recipe. They are smooth and fine-skinned with a crisp, crunchy bite and a refreshingly piquant, buttery flavour. 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.

An authentic Italian spaghetti with homemade basil pesto sauce.

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

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

To toast sesame seeds, spread them on shallow tray, bake in a moderate oven five minutes, or until golden. Note

Recipe is best prepared as required. Note

When cooking risotto, it is vital to use Arborio or Carnaroli rice as these grains release the starch that gives risotto its creaminess. Swap the vegetables in this recipe for whatever is in season. Note

You will need 2 large pink grapefruit for this recipe. You can also freeze the granita mixture in an ice-cream machine following the manufacturer’s instructions. Note

You can use a mixture of grilled eggplant, capsicum and sun-dried tomatoes for the antipasto vegetables. Grilled artichokes and mushrooms could also be used. Note

You will be able to find the ingredients for this muesli either in the health food aisle at most supermarkets or health food stores. The muesli will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Note

Bring the flavours of Italy to your home with this sweet and delicious ravioli pasta with burnt butter sauce.

It is fine to use just the one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. The meringues are best eaten within 2 hours of baking. Use strawberries or blackberries in place of the raspberries. Redcurrant jelly is a preserve found in the jam section of large supermarkets. Note

Italian arborio rice from supermarkets will hold its shape better than locally grown arborio. Canned caramel filling is found in the baking aisle in supermarkets. Any sweet sherry is fine, however one of the nicest is Pedro Ximénez, a sweet dark sherry with a rich raisin-y taste. Note

You can substitute the almond meal for hazelnut or pecan meal if you prefer. The orange caramel sauce is best served immediately once prepared because it will separate on standing. Note

These large, luxurious ravioli with their light tomato sauce make a lovely opener to a dinner party or, served with a fresh green salad, a stylish little lunch. Note

You can find lavender honey (produced by bees fed on lavender) at selected delicatessens. If unavailable, any variety of honey can be used. Note

Chapatis are available in packets of 6 from the bakery section in supermarkets. You can substitute any variety of flour tortillas, if preferred. Note

Pearl barley is a nutritious grain that has had the husk removed, and then has been hulled and polished so only the ‘pearl’ of the original grain remains, much the same as white rice. It is available from health-food stores and most supermarkets. Note

You can also use lasoda or pink-eye potatoes for this recipe. Note

Bamboo skewers are good to use as a guide for the knife as you split the cake. If the cake is large, long skewers can be pushed through the cake, from one side to the other. If the cake is small, use toothpicks to mark the layer. Use a sharp serrated knife to split the […]

Warm risoni pasta creates a perfect base to let the vegetables shine in this dish fresh and easy dish that only takes 30 minutes to make.

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

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

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

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

Dumplings can be assembled, then frozen in an airtight container up to a week ahead. Steam dumplings for 12 minutes from frozen. Soup dumplings or xialongbao, as they are called Yum Cha restaurants, are a shanghainese speciality. They are commonly filled with minced pork and a firm, gelatine-rich stock, which turns to a soup when […]

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 […]

The recipe is best made close to serving. Note

Leftover risotto makes great risotto cakes; simply shape cold risotto into patties, then pan-fry until browned lightly on both sides. Note

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

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