Cheese

Quesadillas can be cooked in a heated sandwich press, just make sure you gently wrap the quesadilla in baking paper before pressing, to stop the filling from burning the press.

These potato and goat cheese puffs will make a moreish and tasty addition to your next dinner party hors-d'oeuvre selection. To save on time, make them in advance and cook just before serving.

You need to soak eight bamboo skewers in cold water for at least an hour before use to prevent them from splintering or burning during cooking. Note

Tarts can be prepared a day ahead and kept, covered, in the refrigerator. Reheat just before serving or serve chilled if preferred. Note

Delicious deep-fried mozzarella sticks with a chilli pesto dipping sauce.

You can use the chopped meat from one barbecued chicken in this recipe instead of the tenderloins. Add it at the end of bacon becoming crisp and stir until hot. Recipe can be made several hours ahead to the end of step 5. From cold, bake, covered, at 200°C (180°C fan forced) for 30 minutes […]

If you use shortbread biscuits other than the Scottish variety used here, you may need to increase the amount of melted butter by about 20g (¾ ounce) so that the biscuit base will set. Note

You will need about 600g watermelon (weighed with skin) for this recipe. Note

Delicious hot or cold, for breakfast, lunch or dinner, a frittata is the way to go for a quick and easy meal.

A delicious trio of toppings; cream cheese and pesto, yoghurt, coriander and chilli and mustard and walnut toppings.

Pear and blue cheese: a match made in culinary heaven.

These crostini are absolutely delicious and ideal for a dinner or cocktail party.

These sausages with a difference make a great dish for a relaxed meal with friends, allowing you to serve something special that isn't formal.

When in season, use yellow zucchini for added colour, and sprinkle with black olives or capers. If taking to work for lunch, prepare the pizza, wrap in baking paper and cook in a heated sandwich press until the base is crisp and heated through.

Wow your guests with these delightful canapés.

The combination of tender herb-coated roast beef and creamy blue-cheese sauce is unbeatable. The perfect starter for a big dinner party!

Tender pumpkin and ribbons of zucchini are delicately flavoured with fresh sage to make this deep, layered vegetable lasagne.

These tasty, flaky little pastries, seasoned with shards of nori, sesame and parmesan, make a great shared party platter. Use scissors to finely shred the nori.

This healthy sandwich is quick and simple to make for when the midday hunger kicks in.

Soufflé must be made just before serving. Note

Served with grilled sourdough, this colourful dish makes a stunning, summery appetiser or lunch.

With the addition of caramelised onion relish, these ham and cheese finger sandwiches make the tastiest afternoon snack. You can experiment with all sorts of fillings like smoked salmon with cream cheese, egg and mayo, or chicken and watercress.

For a lower-fat version, use low-fat dairy-free spread instead of the butter, low-fat mayonnaise, light sour cream and light cream. (per serving) 31.1g fat; 2196kJ (525 cal) We used whole-egg mayonnaise. You can also use pink-eye or sebago potatoes for this recipe. Note

With hints of warm spices, mint and feta, this baked pasta dish is full of flavour and makes a wonderful family meal.

You will need a frying pan with a 20cm (8-inch) base for this recipe. You can add finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or chives to the egg mixture before cooking, if you like. Note

This recipe is also egg-free and nut-free Cornichon, French for gherkin, is a very small variety of pickled cucumber; they are available from delicatessens and most major supermarkets. Handy hint; you can use a larger cutter of any shape instead of the small cutter used here. The fillings will keep, covered, overnight in the fridge; […]

This loaf is suitable to freeze for up to two months. Note

hints Combining fruit and meat in a recipe confirms the adage that opposites attract. What might seem the unlikeliest of relationships can, with an innovate cook serving as matchmaker, become a marriage made in culinary heaven. These two recipes both call for fig as the featured fruit, yet melon, mandarin, peach or even pomegranate could […]

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

This creamy, cheesy zucchini gratin makes a great side dish for dinner, or a lovely lunch with salad and fresh bread.

Vegemite and cheese pinwheels are perfect tasty treats for kid's lunchboxes.

Casserole bakes are so simple to prepare, and great for family meals. One dish wonders never looked so wonderful.

Hot smoked salmon is available from major supermarkets. Use a mixture of fresh herbs, such as dill, parsley, basil, chives, mint, oregano or marjoram. If you don’t have a frying pan with an ovenproof handle, wrap the handle in two layers of foil, this will prevent the handle from burning while under the grill. Note

Haloumi is a firm, cream coloured sheep's-milk cheese matured in brine; it is somewhat like a minty, salty feta in flavour, and can be grilled or fried, briefly, without breaking down.

Quick, easy and delicious; try these baked beans and smoked cheddar roast potatoes.

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

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

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

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

We used corella pears for this recipe. You will need a bunch of watercress weighing about 350g in total to yield the leaves required for this salad. Note

Celebrate the warmer weather with this light, herby salad topped with goat's cheese and spiced almonds.

Dressed goat's cheese, sprinkled with herbs and served with croûtes makes a chic starter, or plate to hand around as nibbles.

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

Fried haloumi needs to be eaten as soon as possible after cooking as it becomes tough and rubbery as it cools. It only takes a few minutes to fry, cook this dish just before serving. Note

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 prosciutto wrapped lamb cutlets hide a delicious creamy and boldly flavoured centre. Serve with some grilled mediterranean vegetables for a tasty, low-carb meal.

Put the baking dish as close to the preheated grill as possible. This dish can be served as is, or accompany it with a salad, or soft polenta, and fresh crusty bread to soak up the juices. Note

Little fried cheese pastries. Four different types of cheese and a sliver of salami. Yes, they taste as good as they sound. You're welcome.

Tender T-bone steaks with blue-cheese butter and a sweet pear salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Panettone trifle

The perfect finger food for a classy dinner party or a light and healthy snack, these crisps topped with goat’s cheese, tomato and basil are bursting full of flavour and texture.

If mangoes are unavailable, use pineapple. You need two passionfruit for this recipe. Note

To make pesto; blend or process basil, cheese, pine nuts and garlic until chopped finely; with motor operating, add oil, process until combined. Press plastic wrap over surface; refrigerate until needed. Note

Four cheeses! Need we say more? A beautiful balance of gorgonzola, pecorino, fontina and parmesan, this decadent sauce is easy to make and pairs perfectly with gnocchi or any kind of pasta.

Different cheeses can be used if the ones mentioned are unavailable. Gruyère, mozzarella, mild brie blue, provolone, vintage cheddar or raclette ­ mix and match until you find a combination you like best. Note

Ravioli or gnocchi can be substituted for the tortellini, but spinach and ricotta is better than meat-based fillings for this sauce. Note

This moreish salad makes a great weeknight meal and is also fantastic for the lunchbox.

A great summer salad with grilled onion and a mint chimichurri, an Argentinian-style sauce.

If liked, sprinkle the top of the damper with some extra grated cheese before baking. Replace chives with a combination of other herbs like parsley and thyme, or use some Aussie flavourings such as lemon myrtle and dried bush tomato. Note

This savoury dip is quick and easy to make and goes equally well with corn chips, crudités, or vegetable sticks. It's perfect for a gathering of family and friends, or an after-school snack.

Bocconcini is such a versatile cheese, but you'll never try it served in such a delicious way as this!

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

These cheesy corn and bacon muffins are delicious served both warm and cold. They make a great morning tea or after-school snack, and are perfect for packing in a lunch-box.

Best made a day ahead; can be refrigerated, covered, up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in moderately slow oven about 45 minutes or until hot. Smoked provolone is an all-purpose semi-hard Italian cheese with a firm texture wit a mild, smoky flavor. Note

Although these crisps make a great snack on their own, you can also use them to accompany dips or soup. Make crisps in two large sheets, then break into shards to serve. Add sesame seeds to the mix if you like.

Recipe is best prepared as required. Note

Golden filo pastry filled with lemony spinach and feta cheese and fragrant with dill and mint, this pie is a winner.

Mozzerella is a perfect melting cheese. It is fun and messy to eat with a mild creamy flavour.

Dhal and paneer vegetable curry, cheese recipe, brought to you by Australian Women's Weekly

This subtly spiced cheesecake is very festive in its flavours. Perfect to cosy up with in the cooler months.

Succulent lamb fillets form the centre of these tasty little Greek-style pastry with spinach and feta cheese.

Try this veal topped with tasty cheese and mushrooms as a change from the usual lamb, beef or chicken. You won't be disappointed.

Frozen cranberries can be replaced with other tart or tangy fresh or frozen fruits, such as cherries, raspberries or even pomegranate seeds, for an equally festive look. Note

Zucchini is an incredibly versatile vegetable that can be used in all sorts of soups and stews and vegetable platters. Here, we've grilled it lightly and tossed it through a pasta salad. Just a little lemon juice, zest and ricotta completes this fresh and colourful dish.