Dinner party

Making your own pasta dough is incredibly satisfying and easier than you might think. You do need a pasta machine, but the investment is worthwhile; just one bite of freshly made pasta and you'll see why.

Beef fillet is a beautiful, premium cut of meat. This dish can be created successfully with a boneless mini lamb roast or lamb rump. It's all cooked in the one baking dish, minimising the washing-up, and is so easy it could be delegated to anyone in the family.

This decadent butterscotch pie will satisfy the cravings of any sweet tooth. The only problem with this luscious dish is trying to decide whether to serve it with lashings of whipped cream, or ice-cream.

The pavlova was so named because it was thought to be as light as the famous dancer, Anna Pavlova. We love that this version reminds us of her brightly coloured ballet tutu. It's almost a shame to eat. Almost.

There is no cooking required for this fabulous layered dessert, and it just takes a few minutes to put together, so you can indulge in a berry, coconut and yoghurt parfait at a moment's notice.

Parfait means 'perfect' in French and there's a lot about this chocolate, honey and red berry version that is perfect. For starters, it's easy to make and doesn't melt too quickly which means it's great for entertaining. It also looks amazing.

For a quick, easy and popular family dessert, try this golden, flaky strudel filled with sweet apple and juicy sultanas. Serve with a generous dollop of cream, ice-cream or both. It's also delicious cold.

The contrast between sweet rhubarb and creamy vanilla cheesecake filling is divine in these impressive desserts.

Try this delicious Spanish-inspired stuffed squid recipe for an impressive starter or lunch.

Bring all the delights of Italian cuisine to your dinner table with this simple, flavoursome dish.

When dissolved gelatine is added to a mixture, both should be roughly the same temperature. Note

Za’atar, a blend of roasted dry spices, is easy to make, but a prepared mix of sesame seeds, marjoram, thyme and sumac can be purchased in Middle-Eastern food shops and delicatessens. Try it sprinkled on your morning toast that’s been spread with softened feta cheese or ricotta. Note

Kalonji are also called nigella or black onion seeds. Note

There should be no complaints at the dinner table when you present the family with good old fashioned lamb and vegetables. We've made things a little more exciting with the addition of mint sauce; it goes wonderfully with spring lamb.

Fresh, light, fragrant and healthy. Serve this Asian-style fish with a bowl of steamed coconut rice for an easy and tasty meal for two.

Do not be afraid of the humble macaron. Yes, they're tricky, but easier than you think. Don't take any short cuts, use a light touch when mixing, and you'll be well on the way to making the perfect cappuccino macaron.

This dry, fragrant Nepalese curry, traditionally served with steamed rice and lime wedges, is one of this remote Himalayan country's most popular meat dishes.

Fresh mint adds lightness to this delicious vegetable risotto, a great meat-free dinner option.

This fresh and fragrant Vietnamese beef salad is perfect for a light and low-carb lunch or dinner. For best results, marinate the beef for at least 30 minutes.

This lip-smacking shellfish dish is perfect for a special occasion.

Studded with pistachios, pomegranate seeds and raspberries, this deconstructed dessert is perfect for an elegant dinner party.

Both Japanese curry mix and frozen edamame (soy beans in the pod) are available from Asian supermarkets. You will need to shell about 300g (9½ ounces) frozen edamame in the pod for this recipe. Note

Marshmallows are best eaten on the day they are made when they are at their softest. Note

Give your usual fish pies a sophisticated variation with this smoked fish version. They can go straight from the oven to the table in pretty individual dishes and make a lovely dinner party main meal.

This dessert recipe is a great way to show off your baking skills with a beautiful result; remember that room temperature egg whites will beat better than cold ones.

These freeform hand-made sushi rolls are easy to make and look spectacular. They are perfect as a starter or for a share platter at a party.

This dish was on the first menu at our restaurant Hugo's, at Bondi, and it actually stayed on the menu for years, as it turned out to be one of our best-sellers. It's a recipe that goes to prove that good food does not have to cost an arm or a leg.

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.

As well as adding a delightful red hue to a dish, paprika is full of the flavour of the peppers it was ground from. It comes in several varieties - sweet, smoky or spicy. We've used a combination of spicy and sweet here, with great results.

John dory is a mild tasting fish that lends itself well to a multitude of flavours. We've given it an Asian influence here, teaming it with chilli and coconut rice.

Although ingredients in five-spice powder vary from country to country, it is usually a fragrant ground mixture of cinnamon, clove, star anise, sichuan pepper and fennel seeds.

Give your roast lamb rack an Indian flavour with this delicious and fragrant spice paste. You could also use it as a spice rub for any other kind of meat.

Served with coriander couscous, this speedy Moroccan dish will be devoured by the whole family.

To make this mouth-watering recipe a light main course for two, serve it with steamed rice or noodles.

Get a healthy dose of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals (including potassium, selenium and vitamin B12) plus a super dose of omega-3 fatty acids, all wrapped up in classic Thai flavours.

Fresh corn can be used instead of canned corn; you will need two cobs. Sour cream or yoghurt can be used instead of the creme fraiche. Fritters can be made the day before; top them with creme fraiche etc, an hour or so before serving. Note

If you thought the ice-cream wafer sandwich couldn't be improved, think again. These vanilla strawberry swirl macarons will have your guests swooning with delight. The ice-cream will barely have enough time to melt before they're all gone.

Serve this delicious gluten-free crumble with cold vanilla ice-cream.

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

Lusciously spiced and visually stunning, this dessert deserves a very special occasion on which to shine.

Apple and blackberry is the classic crumble combination and this oaty version doesn't disappoint.

Twice baking the choux pastry in this recipe will ensure a perfect result, and the addition of frangelico gives a lovely boozy twist on this French classic. You won't be disappointed, and neither will your guests!

This plum and mascarpone tart is rich with wine and liqueur and makes a fitting end to a very special dinner.

Elegant, delectable and delicately spiced, these rhubarb, pear and pomegranate custard tea cakes make a wonderful dessert or afternoon tea treat. Serve warm with good quality cream.

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

Sweet and sticky deep fried chicken wings from the deep south!

These crisp apple tarts are fuss-free, speedy to make and completely delicious.

Give your crumbed cutlets a Middle Eastern nudge by blending your breadcrumbs with paprika and cardamom. Teamed with couscous and orange, you'll have something healthy, delicious and just a little bit different from the usual chops and veg.

Served with chopped parsley and a drizzle of yoghurt, these spicy lamb pastry boats are fantastic for a party.

Celebrate spring with this zesty, flavour-packed risotto.

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

This vibrant pasta dish is bursting with flavour and nutrition.

Tart passionfruit give these rich crème caramels a fruity lift.

Herb dip can be made up to a day ahead. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

Just a few moments preparation in the morning and into the slow-cooker with this authentic and flavourful Mexican classic. Perfect for cold winter nights when something substantial is called for but you just don't have the time. Enjoy with rice and a glass of red.

Soufflé must be made just before serving. Note

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

Warm chocolate pudding cakes with a molten chocolate core served with mascarpone coffee ice-cream make an elegant yet indulgent dessert.

Serve these moreish mini croissants at your next party and watch as they quickly disappear.

Deep-fry tempura as close as possible to serving time. Note

Celebrate winter citrus with these stunning, refreshing Bavarian creams. You'll need about 8 limes for this recipe.

Steamed whole fish with asian flavours is always a pleasure to look at and to eat. The beauty of steaming fish is that it is very difficult to overcook and is guaranteed to stay moist. Any whole white fish will do . A strip of fresh lime peel may be substituted for each kaffir lime leaf.

A rich and tasty starter, plump prawns with fresh guacamole and mango is fully of flavour.

Impress your dinner guests with these elegant cherry and chocolate soufflés.

We've used both orange and lemon rind in this recipe, together with the ginger and the steamed fish they create a lovely and exotic Asian aroma and taste.

Risoni, a tiny rice-shaped pasta similar to orzo, is the perfect accompaniment for this creamy fennel and zucchini dish topped with crisp chicken.

The contrast between wafer-thin brandy snaps, sweet rhubarb and cool yoghurt is delightful in this sophisticated dessert.

The beauty of this pavlova roll is that you can experiment will all sorts of fruit to fill the centre. We've used banana, kiwi and passionfruit here, but any soft fruit will do. The result is still amazing.

This recipe specifies lamb leg steak, but it could be cooked with mid-loin chops or backstrap – just vary the cooking time accordingly. The sauce is rich and flavoursome – the secret being to cook the tomato paste first and to let the sauce cook down enough at the end.

This slow-cooker chicken with leeks and artichokes is succulent and gorgeous served on a bed of mashed potatoes and drizzled with the cooking juices.

This pretty marbled chocolate thins are easier to make than you'd expect, marbling the chocolate can be almost therapeutic once you get the hang of it. Avoid rapid cooling and don't put the sheets in the fridge to set, you want the chocolate to be set firm but not brittle when you're ready to use the cutters.

With the added flavour of bacon, leek and brussels sprouts, this lovely chicken dish is delicious served with crusty bread to mop up all the tasty juices.

As a variation to this fresh and icy treat, you could make pineapple and mint sorbet; substitute 1 small peeled and coarsely chopped pineapple for the rockmelon and 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped mint leaves for the basil.

We used barramundi fillets in this recipe. Note

Served with grilled asparagus, this stunning whole baked snapper is brimming with zesty flavours.

With the added flavour of bacon and mint, these succulent spatchcocks are mouth-watering served with velvety mashed potato, peas and lettuce.

Lemon thyme has a delicate perfume that infuses the chicken as it slowly cooks down, creating a tender, aromatic dish.

Kaffir lime leaves are sold fresh, dried or frozen. The dried leaves are less potent so double the number called for in a recipe if you substitute them for fresh leaves. Note

Try this fish with fresh tomato salsa for a quick, easy and healthy mid-week meal. Served with a generous helping of fresh mixed leaves and a drizzle of olive oil it's a complete and satisfying lunch or dinner.

If you are unable to buy fresh grapevine leaves, buy those that come vacuum-packed in brine. Be sure to rinse them under cold water and dry with absorbent paper before using. Note

This mouth-watering dish uses preserved lemons, a prominent ingredient in North African cooking. The flavour is salty, unique and perfumed.

Veal schnitzel is thinly sliced steak available crumbed or plain (uncrumbed); we use plain schnitzel, sometimes called escalopes. 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 also use peaches, apricots or plums instead of nectarines. Keep any leftover poaching liquid to poach other fruit; or simmer the liquid until it's reduced and syrupy, stir in 1 tablespoon orange-flavoured liqueur then pour over ice cream.

You can use vegetable stock if you prefer. You could use verjuice or dry white wine instead of vermouth. This soup can be served cold or at room temperature, cover, refrigerate until required. Note

If you would like to make your own delicious pastry cases, see the recipe for pastry in blueberry apple crumbles. Note