A quick, healthy and simple Asian-style stir-fry of chicken and spinach noodles.

Early season imperial mandarins have a lovely aromatic rind, however, as they have a loose skin, a microplane grater is the best tool to use. You could substitute lemon or orange rind. Note

Soak bamboo skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent the skewers burning during cooking. We used flathead fillets in this recipe, but you can use any firm white fish fillets you like. Tatsoi is a variety of buk choy, also known as rosette bok choy. It has dark, glossy, […]

Spiced chicken breasts with a flavourful blend of onions, tomatoes, capers, white wine and broad beans.

A delicious and warming pepper beef stir-fry with brussels sprouts from Australian Women's Weekly.

To make a quick cocktail sauce, add a couple of teaspoons of tomato sauce and chilli sauce or Tabasco to the mayonnaise. Note

For extra fibre, use wholemeal pasta. For those who are gluten-intolerant, try gluten-free pasta. Note

A fish burger makes a delicious alternative to a beef burger. You can use white-fleshed fish, or even prawns, instead of the salmon for something different. Note

Any kind of dried beans can be substituted for canned beans, if preferred. Soak beans overnight. Boil until tender; drain. Use patience when spreading polenta into prepared pan; it tends to move and slip but can eventually be worked into corners of pan. Polenta can be made 1 day ahead to the refrigeration stage. Note

Pizza fingers can be prepared the day before; put the toppings on, then cover them with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge. Bake when ready to eat. Note

Use a fish such as snapper or perch. Note

Sprinkle with nuts, season to taste. Note

Dried rose petals are available from specialist food stores. Note

We’ve used shredded coconut in our picture, but feel free to mix and match using shredded, desiccated or flaked. If you use flaked coconut, be sure to blend or process it until it’s chopped coarsely; this helps it to stick to the icing. Note

If you have time, the pork mixture at the end of step 1 can be marinated for a few hours or overnight in the fridge. Note

Made from fresh corn, these fritters, served with spinach, bacon and tomatoes, are also a great lunch dish or casual dinner. But for a late breakfast they can’t be beaten. For breakfast they should be cooked just before they’re served, but cold corn fritters are excellent picnic food, so make a few more than you […]

Choose an oyster-flavoured sauce without any seafood content such as mushroom oyster sauce. Check the label if you are unsure. Note

Use a lemon zester to make lemon rind strips for decoration; soak them in iced water to make them curl. Note

Green lentils can be substituted for red lentils. Note

If you have one, use a melon baller to scoop perfectly round balls of truffle mixture. Note

Use roti bread instead of the naan, if you prefer. Note

For a clear jelly, don’t push the mixture through the muslin-lined strainer, instead, allow the mixture to strain gradually. Note

We used blue-eye fish fillets in this recipe, but you can use any white fish fillets. Caramel sauce can be made in advance. Cover; refrigerate Note

Cooking the pizza in a covered barbecue gives it a wonderful smoky flavour similar to a wood-fired oven. If not using covered barbeque, pizza can be cooked in the oven. Place toppings on dough and bake until browned and crisp. There is no need to turn the dough over using this method. Note

Serve with a bowl of combined yoghurt and coarsely chopped fresh coriander, if desired. Note

Quick and easy steamed Asian greens from Australian Women's Weekly.

You need about 3 large overripe bananas (690g) for the amount of mashed banana in this recipe. Note

You can buy packaged pizza bases in two sizes: the large ones we’ve used here measure 25cm across; smaller ones measure 15cm across and come packaged in pairs with a total weight of 225g. Use six of the small ones to make individual pizzettas. Note

Teppanyaki is the name given to a traditional Japanese cooking style where the food is cooked rapidly on a searingly hot grill plate on or near the table. Pink pickled ginger, also known as gari, can be found in most Asian grocery stores. Note

Run a teaspoon down the centre of the cucumber to remove the seeds. If using bamboo skewers, cover the wooden ends with foil toprevent them from burning during cooking. Note

A super quick and easy pork sausage dish with crispy potatoes and cabbage for those busy midweek dinners.

Also known as floating islands, this dessert is an adaptation of a French pudding, in which a stale sponge cake, steeped in liqueur, was floated in a bowl of custard. Note

A smooth and creamy pumpkin soup packed full of zest and spice and served with a dollop of cinnamon cream.

Tzatziki is a Greek yoghurt dip made with cucumber, garlic and sometimes chopped fresh mint. You can buy tzatziki ready-made in supermarkets and delis. Note

Spice up your breakfast omelette with this popular Indian recipe.

A sweet, sticky and delicious Asian-style pork and plum stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

A delicate and exquisite fennel and apple salad packed full of big flavours.

To make individual crumbles, use four 1½ cup (375ml) dishes and bake 15 minutes. Note

Potted prawns can be made a day before the picnic, keep well-iced during transportation. Make crostini close to departure time. Note

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

These crispy and crunchy chicken strips are unbeatable with pistachio and chilli crumbs.

A super fast and easy Asian-style prawn and noodle stir-fry that is great for busy evenings.

Chilli beans can be served either hot or cold. Store beans, covered, in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep any leftover bread in the freezer to use at a later date. Note

A quick and easy lamb stir-fry with a rich Asian-style black bean sauce.

A quick and easy dish that brings together all the best Mediterranean flavours.

You will get about eight mussels per serve. Mussels should be bought from a fish market where there is reliably fresh fish. They must be tightly closed when bought, indicating they are alive. Some mussels might not open after cooking. These might need help with a knife or might not have cooked as quickly as […]

Delicious and flavour-packed Asian-style dumplings with a spicy dressing.

Mini lamb and mint skewers are a delicious and pretty addition to any platter.

A French-style parfait that's sure to impress.

Juicy lamb cutlets with a bright and colourful tomato and parsley salad.

This recipe is also gluten-free. Note

You could poach or fry the eggs, if you like. Note

An exotic rocket, pear & ricotta fritter salad that is packed to the brim with delicious flavours and textures.

Croissants are by far the most famous of all the French pastries and are made using a butter-rich flaky pastry. In France they usually eat them just with jam, while around the world they have become popular filled with both savoury and sweet fillings. If you prefer, you can replace the fontina with a good-quality […]

This recipe makes 1 cup panang curry paste. Store leftover curry paste, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze in user-friendly portions for up to 3 months. A store-bought panang curry paste can be used. Note

Delicious chicken and Greek salad wrapped in an Armenian lavash.

Patties tend to shrink when cooking, so make sure you make them about 12cm (4¾-inch) in diameter. Note

Chipotle chillies in adobo sauce are sold in small cans from delicatessens and specialist food stores; they have a medium-hot smoky taste. Any leftover chillies will keep with their sauce in a small screw-top jar in the fridge for up to 3 months. Substitute with a teaspoon of smoked paprika and a pinch of chilli […]

See if you can get the 6 orange strips and 2 teaspoons of rind from 1 orange, otherwise you may need to buy 2 small oranges. This recipe makes 6 ­ freeze the remaining 4 muffins for later use. Note