Less than 30 minutes

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

You can use 1 teaspoon of worcestershire sauce instead of the anchovy fillets. This salad is a great way to use up leftover roast chicken. Shred the chicken and add to the salad instead of the poached chicken breasts. Note

You can use any type of fresh noodle in this recipe you prefer. Note

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. This is a hot curry. If you prefer a milder version, reduce the amount of pepper and chilli. You can also serve it with […]

These cheesy savoury scones are delicious served warm with melting butter.

Serve with baby rocket leaves. Note

Uncooked pizza can be made 3 hours ahead; cover, refrigerate, until required. 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.

These sizzling patties are delicious with a dollop of cooling tzatziki and warm flatbread.

This is our version of huevos rancheros, or ranch-style eggs, which traditionally is made with fried eggs and beans. For extra bite, serve with Tabasco, a fiery sauce made from hot red chillies.

Do-ahead Florets can be cut 3 hours ahead. Note

Flaky, golden filo pastry wrapped around a creamy chicken and leek filling makes for a delicious savoury strudel.

Tabbouleh is a great vegetarian dish with a delicious combination of traditional Mediterranean flavours. It is also a bonus that it is quick and easy to prepare.

A healthy and easy warm coconut chicken salad.

To make these caramelised bananas even more delicious, you can soften the ice-cream slightly, layer it in cups with the fruit and top with crushed nuts to make a parfait.

Fresh and fast, this spicy prawn stir-fry with noodles makes a great mid-week summer dinner.

We used small (15cm/6 inch diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. A Mexican staple, frijoles refritos (refried beans) are sold canned in supermarkets. You will also find spicy tomato salsa in supermarkets. Note

You will know that the caramel is ready to be removed from the heat when the mixture starts to come away from the base and side of the saucepan. Note

You can use any short pasta you like instead of teh farfalle, especiallly short tubular types, such as penne or rigatoni. Cook the pasta until it’s firm to the tooth or, as the italian say ‘al dente’. Note

A delicious and filling antipasto that is perfect for tapas or cocktail food.

Spicy black bean sauce is available from Asian grocery stores and the Asian section of larger supermarkets. You can use a milder black bean sauce, if you prefer. Note

This soup is our take on the classic Greek avgolemono (which translates as egg and lemon). There are as many variations of this soup as there are Greek families, but the avgolemono mixture, added near the end of the cooking time, is always the crowning glory.

A healthy and refreshing blue-eye trevalla with fennel salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

What better way to contribute to your five-a-day with this eye catching eggplant, feta and capsicum stack. It makes a perfectly healthy, light lunch on its own, or a delicious accompaniment to a tender steak.

Give this delicious and under appreciated vegetable a little extra sweetness and roast them to perfection. They will make a colourful and healthy side dish for your next roast.

The gazpacho can be made ahead to step three. Cover; refrigerate overnight. Recipe is not suitable to freeze. You can substitute fresh mint leaves for chervil and red wine vinegar for the sherry vinegar. Note

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

Any Asian greens can be used in this recipe. Try it with buk choy or gai lan (also known as chinese broccoli); you need one bunch of asian greens. Add some baby spinach leaves and cucumber ribbons to the salad, if you like. Toss cooked rice stick noodles through the salad, if liked. Note

Flaky golden filo pastry stuffed with silverbeet, mushrooms and cheese makes for a savoury lunch or light dinner.

Give your steak sandwich a delicious mediterranean twist with the addition of char grilled zucchini and eggplant. Let the meat rest for a few minutes before serving to guarantee a tender, moist result.

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

The base of so many traditional family meals, savoury mince can be dished up with pasta, on baked potatoes or with noodles on the side.

For an easy vegetarian meal, try this delicious coconut curry with pumpkin and butter beans.

This fresh zesty salad is a great side dish with lunch or dinner meals.

Muffins are suitable to freeze, stored in an airtight container, for up to 3 months. Note

Light and refreshing Asian-style teriyaki beef salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

This classic fry-up of mushrooms, ham and tomatoes is perfect for a lazy weekend.

You may need only half a clove of garlic in the dressing depending on the strength of the garlic. Note

Who doesn't love hot chips sprinkled with sea salt?

Try this delicious Lebanese snack with a cooling yoghurt sauce and fresh mint.

Butter cream frosting Beat butter in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy; beat in sifted icing sugar and milk, in two batches. Divide mixture among four small bowls. Add chopped chocolate to one and sifted cocoa to another. Using colouring, tint one pink and leave one plain. Note

This recipe will leave you with plenty of leftover café de paris butter, you can use it to make a spectacular kind of garlic bread or freeze it until you next cook steak.

Tapenade, a paste of pureed olives, is available from supermarkets and delicatessens. Note

Tabbouleh is a Levantine vegetarian dish traditionally made of tomatoes and finely chopped parsley.

You need to make double the amount of the sushi rice for this recipe. Wiping a sharp knife with a damp cloth will make cutting the roll easier. You can use salmon roe if ocean trout roe is unavailable. Note

With the stunning, fragrant flavours of ginger, chilli, coriander and lime, these juicy Asian fish cakes make a delicious and light meal.

If you like, you can add dried smoked bonito flakes to the sesame seeds or try coating the tofu with Japanese breadcrumbs instead.

A classic Chinese stir-fry, chicken with almonds is flavoured with soy and spiked with sherry, straight from the pages of the Women's Weekly Chinese Cooking Class book.

Let your imagination run wild and create your own sweet menagerie with these clever little animal cupcakes by the Australian Women's Weekly. Be prepared for squeals of delight!

Carpaccio is the perfect Italian starter dish of thinly sliced raw Kingfish. Much like ceviche, the fish is served raw, but 'cooked' in a food acid like lemon or lime juice.

A surefire family favourite - barbecue chicken with lemon and garlic is tender and tasty. Serve with good bread and a fresh green salad for a simple weekend lunch.

Veal schnitzel is thinly sliced steak available crumbed or plain (uncrumbed); we used plain schnitzel, also called escalopes, in this recipe. Note

This creamy, hearty mushroom sauce goes perfectly with tender pork medallions to create a quick and easy weeknight family dinner.

Crispy, flaky whiting is served here with a fresh and flavour-packed tomato and olive salsa to create a quick and tasty dinner which is both healthy and delicious.

Feeding a family of big eaters is expensive! When I find a meat-free meal they enjoy, it helps the weekly budget. This risotto is the kind of dish that can be made if there are the very barest of essentials in the cupboard. It has light flavours to match the season. I do have to pay attention to the pot, but only for half an hour, so it’s no drama.

Char-grilled lamb with tomato chickpeas

Creamed corn, as I knew it, came from a can and I loved it on toast for a winter lunch. Fresh creamed corn is a world away – give it a try.

This fruity, crunchy-topped dessert is one of the easiest you'll ever make.

Creamy and rich Thai-style chicken & vegetable curry from Australian Women's Weekly.

You need 24 bamboo skewers, soak them in cold water for at least an hour prior to use to prevent them from splintering and scorching. Note

Try this fresh and light Japanese style cucumber and tofu salad for a healthy lunch. The dressing is absolutely divine.

Hokkien or fresh wheat noodles can be used in place of fresh rice noodles ­ but be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions regarding their preparation. Note

You can prepare the chicken the night before; store, covered, in the refrigerator. If using bamboo skewers, wrap the ends in foil to prevent them from burning. Note

Brushing the whole piece of tuna with olive oil 3 hours ahead of cooking will help keep it moist and soft when it’s grilled. Note

We used blue-eye fillets but use any firm white fish fillets you like. Note

Crostini in Italian means "little toasts". The thin slices of bread are drizzled or sprayed with olive oil, toasted and served warm.

For a more intense flavour, marinate the chicken for 3 hours or overnight. Any leftover chicken, salad and yoghurt can be refrigerated separately then served in a wrap or tortilla the next day. We used large plain pappadums here, but there are many sizes and flavour combinations to choose from. Note