Merguez, the French spelling of the Arabic “mirqaz”, is a small spicy lamb sausage eaten in Tunisia and Algeria. It is served grilled as part of a mezze, or fried then cooked with pulses, various meats and vegetables in tagines, cassoulet or other hearty casseroles. Note

Green curry is traditionally the hottest Thai curry. Prepared chicken meatballs are available from most major supermarkets, chicken shops and butcher shops; if you can't find them, roll chicken patties into balls.

Almonds, prunes and shallots add depth to the flavour of this succulent chicken cooked in a tagine.

Zuppa primavera is a hearty Italian soup with farfalle pasta and asparagus.

Some days, all that is required is a simple roast with veg. We've cooked the beef to a rare finish in this recipe, leave it in the oven a little longer, if you like. However you like it cooked, remember to let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Instead of the apple, the same weight of pear can be used in this recipe. Note

Warm, hearty and delicious, this spiced red lentil and ham soup is the ultimate comfort food for a hungry family on a cool evening.

Cooking the dish in this way gives you a tender and moist fish, beautifully infused with the rosemary and lemon. Plus, you won't even need to clean the barbecue!

Cooking time may vary slightly depending on the ripeness of the pear. Store loaf in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note

Pomegranate pulp consists of the seeds and the edible pulp surrounding them; it has a tangy sweet-sour flavour Note

Sweet mustard dressing gives an extra kick to this warm duck and walnut salad with caramelised apples.

Sweet, rich and wonderfully decadent, this beautiful chocolate slice is easy to make and perfect enjoyed with a cup of coffee for a relaxing morning or afternoon treat.

If your frying pan handle is not ovenproof, wrap it in foil to protect it in the oven. Note

Keeping time: 2 days. We used 3 bananas for this recipe. Note

Buttermilk is the crucial ingredient in this olive and rosemary quick bread, a simple and fast way to make your own bread and fill the house with a heavenly smell.

To cut this dessert, use a large hot dry kitchen knife. Cut as many portions as you need, and freeze any remaining dessert covered with foil. Cut the dessert as soon as you take it out of the freezer, but wait about 10 minutes before serving. Note

We think salsa verde is just as good as pesto, and deserving of far more attention. It's not a spicy Mexican type salsa, but Italian, with a zesty, herbaceous, lemony flavour that goes well with fish and simple meat dishes. It compliments the kingfish beautifully.

Chicken, spinach and ricotta cannelloni makes a great weekend lunch to share. A piping bag filled with the chicken mixture will make filling the cannelloni tubes really easy.

Wild blend rice is a combination of white long grain rice and wild rice. Rice can be prepared several hours ahead; cook fish just before serving. Note

Save on cost but not taste with this delectable char-grilled chicken dinner.

For a nourishing and earthy dinner try this tasty winter mushroom and rocket risotto.

This easy quiche will be a sure-fire winner with your family.

This delicious and filling baked fish dish with a punchy tomato and olive sauce is quick and easy to make.

Apple crunch

These little pastries are a great way to use up leftover bolognese sauce. All you need is a few sheets of shortcrust pastry and an egg.

When too much chocolate is never enough, take one more step over the line and there you'll find these decadent little triple choc muffins. They make a great treat for the kids, or for you.

Spaghetti and meatballs might be considered the classic of the genre, but fettuccine does the job just as well. In fact, given that there's more pasta for the sauce to stick to, some would say even better.

With a crunchy biscuit base, ice-cream filling with sliced banana, toffeed pecans and a drizzle of caramel sauce, this decadent tart will satisfy the sweetest tooth.

An Italian pasta salad of warm agnolotti and salmon salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Also known as turón, these popular Filipino deep-fried bananas make an excellent dessert with refreshing coconut ice-cream.

If you can’t buy char-grilled zucchini, you can make your own. Use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to thinly slice one large zucchini lengthways, then cook the slices on a heated oiled grill plate until browned lightly and tender. Note

A simple and interesting warm beetroot, egg and potato salad that makes an excellent light lunch.

We used 3 bananas in this recipe. When baking with a nut roll tin, place it upright in the oven. Nut roll tins are available at selected stores. If unavailable, use a loaf tin instead. These rolls will keep for about three days. Note

Create this authentic Thai sour chicken curry quickly and deliciously in a pressure cooker.

Be sure to remove toothpicks from cake before cutting and serving. Raspberry straps, cut into strips, can be used instead of red licorice rope. Sandwich the two cakes together with a little blue butter cream. Spread the cake with coloured butter creams. Insert candy cane into centre of red icing ball to make drumstick. Note

This quiche is simple, easy and utterly delicious.

For this cocktail we used canned passionfruit in syrup, which is available from supermarkets Note

Crisp rösti, meltingly soft veal tenderloin and piquant salsa verde together make for a fine dinner indeed.

This alluring, creamy, sensational pasta dish fulfils your desire to be amazed with a comforting yet exciting meal experience.

Pop this one on the party table for an eye-catching cake. From The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook, it's sure to be a hit with younger children.

If you can’t find piquillo peppers, use roasted or grilled capsicum instead. Note

An easy way to tenderise octopus the night before cooking is to tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze. If time is short, bash it with a meat mallet until it is no longer bouncy. Note

Locking in the base of a springform pan upside down, makes it easier to remove the cake later. Blowtorches are available from kitchenware and hardware stores. Alternatively, you can place the tray of figs under a hot grill to caramelise the sugar. Note

Sago, also known as seed or pearl tapioca, comes from the sago palm and is used in soups and desserts, and as a thickening agent. You can use Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Curaçao or any other orange- flavoured liqueur in this recipe.

This colourful cake from The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook is bound to be a hit with Mr or Ms. Two!

A quick and easy mid-week stir-fry of chilli & lamb rice noodles with buk choy.

We used crème de cacao, but you could use any chocolate flavoured liqueur you like. Soufflés must be made just before serving. Note

These creamy individual fish pies will be gobbled up by the whole family.

This is a great, fun way to introduce more veggies at mealtimes, and they are delicious as well.

This colourful pork and seafood salad is bursting with exciting flavours and textures.

A crispy and delicious snack of deep-fried onion rings from Australian Women's Weekly.

Fig and pistachio couscous and baby spinach leaves make the perfect bed for tender, char-grilled lamb backstraps.

Tender veal loin with baked figs and a rich port sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

Delicious and impressively decorated cupcakes that resemble dazzling kaleidoscopes.

When this classic French dessert is done well, nothing can beat its silky, cream texture. Don't forget to sieve your custard and remember to insulate with a tea towel so the outside doesn't cook too quickly.

A mix of green and yellow beans and baby potatoes make the perfect side for these juicy peppered swordfish fillets.

Char siu is a popular way to flavor and prepare barbecued pork in Cantonese cuisine.

low GI You need 12 bamboo skewers for this recipe; soak them in water for at least an hour before using to avoid them splintering or scorching. Do not puree the carrot mixture too far in advance because it could separate if left to stand too long. serving suggestion Steamed green beans and a fresh […]

Harissa is a Moroccan sauce or paste made from dried chillies, cumin, garlic, oil and caraway seeds. Harissa paste, available in a tube. It is very hot and should not be used in large amounts. Bottled harissa sauce, while still hot, is milder. It is available from supermarkets and Middle-Eastern grocery stores. Note

Macarons can be challenging to make, but the results are worth it. Weigh your ingredients very carefully and sift the almond meal thoroughly, and these peppermint French macarons will be très bon!

These rice-paper rolls because they have a fresh flavour, use healthy ingredients and can be made ahead of time, a real bonus!

Try this cheat's version of a homely beef casserole, served on fresh fettuccine pasta.

These individual Japanese hotpots are brimming with flavour and comfort.

Spoil the carrot cake lover with these scrumptious cupcakes topped with maple cream cheese icing.

Duck and lychee Thai curry with sweet coconut and and water chestnuts from Australian Women's Weekly.

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. Note

As a general rule, we do not recommend freezing cooked seafood of any kind because it tends to undergo both textural and flavour changes. Note

Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Return to room temperature before serving Note

Truffles are a cook’s secret pleasure: they look splendidly impressive but are actually quite effortless to make. Basically a round of chilled flavoured ganache rolled in melted milk, dark or white chocolate with, perhaps, cocoa, coconut, chopped nuts or citrus rind, a truffle is refrigerated until it’s set then presented en masse or singly, with […]

These delicious chewy cranberry meringues, sometimes called cranberry chewies, make a delicate, pretty afternoon tea treat.

Quick and easy snack of turkey, avocado and cranberry wraps from Australian Women's Weekly.

Pumpkin + cheese = heaven!

Recipe not suitable to freeze. Kecap manis is a sweet, thick soy sauce and is available from Asian grocery stores or in the Asian section of large supermarkets. Note