To make our dipping sauce, in a bowl, combine 1/4 cup each rice wine vinegar and soy sauce, juice lime. 2 tablespoons water, 1 finely sliced long red chilli and 1 teaspoon caster sugar. Note

You don't have to flambe at the table to make classic Crepes Suzette. Dress the dish with orange segments and a dollop of cream for a bit of extra oomph.

Steak and egg is a classic in the repertoire of traditional Portuguese cooking. Sherry and a good slug of red wine add depth and complexity to the sauce, with chilli adding a good slug of heat.

A little different from your usual soup with crunchy toast, this curried parsnip soup is the perfect hearty dish to go with deliciously dense soda bread.

With juicy, tender pieces of scallop and crab you'll keep coming back to this spicy warm noodle salad for a flavoursome and quick meal.

It's one of those classic pairings, like cookies and cream or peanut butter and chocolate. These lemon meringues will suit everyone, from sweet-tooth lovers to those of us who appreciate something with a little more zest.

There's nothing ordinary about these fabulous, flavour-packed little rhubarb and strawberry crumbles. The mingled flavour of these two, very different fruits needs to be tasted to be believed.

There are many flavours in this exquisite chocolate winter pudding, lavender, honey, chocolate and orange, that mingle and flow together to create something rather beautiful.

If you segment the oranges over a small bowl, you can use the fresh juice for the orange balsamic dressing on this fresh and tasty kumara and orange salad.

Coconut-poached chicken on thai vermicelli salad sounds exotic, and tastes delicious, but mostly makes use of pantry staples. A great mid-week dinner.

The three types of nuts used here are tossed with the spice mixture then toasted, a process that infuses the cake with their combined flavours. The secret to a successful teacake lies in the beating of the sugar, egg and butter ­ the mixture must be very light in colour and full of air.

Delicious and divinely pretty, these Turkish delight cupcakes are an exquisite treat to make for an afternoon tea party or any other elegant celebration.

This olive oil and garlic mashed potato is smooth, buttery and deliciously garlicky. If you prefer a milder, sweeter garlic flavour, you can add the cloves, uncrushed, to the water while the potatoes boil and then mash it all together.

Warm your body and soul with this hearty veal stroganoff. Complete with soft, buttered noodles, it makes the ultimate comfort food on a cool evening.

Delight both children and adults with these top-quality homemade sausage rolls and pizza spirals.

Salt cod is a Mediterranean delicacy and can be bought from speciality stores.

This classic Japanese miso soup combines silken tofu with prawns for a light, soothing meal that can be enjoyed all year long.

There's nothing more satisfying or delicious than a perfectly roasted potato. The key to achieving that sought after crispy exterior with a fluffy inside lies in making sure the potatoes are really dry before placing them in the oven.

The best of sweet and spicy flavours combine in this one delicious noodle dish. Silken salmon and honey are mixed with chilli, garlic and soy for an authentic Asian taste.

This tasty Spanish egg dish is perfect for the lunchbox or as a light dinner with salad.

A delicious and easy recipe for spiced fried fish with lemon pistachio couscous. We used bream here, but you can use any firm white fish fillet, such as perch, blue eye or ling.

Spiced with a made from scratch paste, this vegetable laksa soup is fragrant, spicy and incredibly satisfying. The crisp sprouts, added at the last moment, offer a crunchy contrast to the tender vegetables.

Coconut crumbed fish with chunky hand-cut chips and lemon-coriander mayonnaise is a great way to update a firm family favourite.

For a fresh, fabulous and easy mid-week dinner you can't go past these roasted beetroot, feta and rocket pitta bread pizzas. They're easy to throw together and simply delicious.

A tandoor is a clay oven used in the north of India to cook this popular style of food, which is a “dry” curry, rather than one in a sauce. These delicious tandoori lamb cutlets come with their own little handle, perfect for dunking them in chutney and raita.

The combination of sweet toffee with crunchy roasted is brilliant in these fun desserts. Your kids will love sucking on these peanut brittle pops for an after school or weekend treat.

These mini chicken meatloaves are studded with pine nuts and wrapped in prosciutto, bringing Italian flavours to an old favourite. If there are any left after dinner, they make a great lunchbox treat the next day.

Legend says that traditional Mongolian stir-fry was cooked on a warrior's shield. This Mongolian lamb is cooked in a rather more convenient wok, and is delicious served on a pile of steamed rice.

Warm your body and soul with this creamy sweet potato and fennel soup. It's beautiful served hot straight off the stove-top, topped with crisp parmesan wafers to create a delicious dinner.

Cooking fish on the bone adds bags of flavour to the flaky white flesh. Make this spiced version the star of your next special meal.

These tasty little spinach and corn pasties are sure to be a firm favourite with young and old. Great for lunches, after-school snacks and lunchboxes.

You get a double berry hit with these fat little hotcakes studded with strawberries and slathered with blueberry sauce. Perfect for an indulgent brunch or special breakfast.

Perfect with a dollop of cream and a coffee, this orange and passionfruit cake is fruity, sweet and deliciously dense.

Nutty brownies are the best brownies, and these pecan and chocolate brownies are right at the top of the pile. Pecans mild flavour and soft texture makes them ideal for baking.

These bite-sized Portuguese custard tarts are sweet, eggy and utterly moreish. Best served with really good coffee, they make a delicious afternoon tea-time treat.

This Thai dish with succulent baby eggplants, tender snake beans and plenty of spiced pork mince is great as part of a banquet-style spread, or served with noodles as a light dinner.

Make ahead: This recipe can be made a day ahead. Suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Tasty tuna and feta turnovers make a great light lunch or after-school snack, and are perfect for popping in a lunch-box the next day. Easy, affordable and delicious food.

A creamy Thai chicken curry that will become a family favourite in not time.

These caramelised apple tarts are super easy to make, and you're likely to have all the ingredients on hand, perfect when you need to cook up something sweet in a dash.

A modern take on the classic Aussie steak sandwich, scotch fillet smothered in caramelised leeks and chilli tomato jam makes for a magic mouthful.

Creamy chicken and crunchy celery make for a moreish filling in these bite-sized pies that are ideal for a big party. They disappear pretty fast, though, so make sure you set aside a few for later.

This savoury and delicately spiced Moroccan-style vegetables with couscous makes a hearty, healthy and delicious vegetarian meal.

Crunchy golden coconut, pecans and brown sugar make a divine topping for this luscious pineapple cake. It's lovely served still warm with a drizzle of cream.

Sweet brandy-spiked apricot is topped with a gingery almond topping in this delicious take on the classic crumble.

A filling salad perfect for a healthy lunch or dinner.

Coconutty crumble is the perfect topping for the rich fruit filling of this date and lemon slice, a true tea-time classic.

This dessert is something else, sweet, crisp and fragrant champagne jelly studded with ripe stone fruit and juicy raspberries. A sophisticated end to a lovely dinner party.

There's nothing like the flavour of home-made jams and preserves. This strawberry conserve recipe uses lemon pips to help with setting, and lemon juice to add piquancy. Delicious.

The perfect starter dish, vegetable rice paper rolls with a sweet and punchy chilli dipping sauce. They also make a great platter of party food, just make sure to have napkins on hand.

Really, you can add any mushroom you like to this dish, and all mushroom lovers will have a favourite or three they can't go past. Mixed garlic mushrooms is an earthy, garlicky dish to savour.

Roasting stone fruits intensifies their flavour as well as drawing out their natural sweetness, which helps make this roast nectarine tart exceedingly delicious. Serve warm with lashings of cream.

Soft, sweet and mild pear makes the perfect sidekick for tart rhubarb in this delicious sponge-topped pudding. Serve with double cream or ice-cream.

The melt-in-the-mouth pastry is irresistible in this asparagus and gruyere tart and easier to work with than you might imagine.

The pine nuts are chopped so they will cling to the beans rather than fall to the base of the dish. Note

This classic French dessert is much easier than you'd expect, and always a crowd-pleaser. Doused in its own caramel sauce, it's fabulous with a dollop of double cream.

Tender grilled Moroccan lamb on burghul salad, a Middle-Eastern-style cracked wheat salad with nuts and herbs, makes a lovely light lunch.

Also known as Risotto Milanese, this classic risotto is traditionally served with Osso Buco but makes also a great simple dinner on its own.

Sticky pork fillet basted with char siu sauce and served with crispy roast kumara makes a bright and tasty mid-week dinner. Best served with steamed rice to soak up the delicious juices.

You can use fresh pears for this delectable roasted pear tart, just make sure that they're on the slightly firm side of ripe and peel them carefully first.

This oven-baked risotto with spicy Italian sausages is one of those fabulous one-pot, no fuss recipes that make mid-week dinners a pleasure rather than an ordeal.

This is a real crowd-pleaser of a dish, hot, garlicky prawns with fetta in a rich tomato sauce. Serve with a crisp green salad on the side, and lots of crusty bread for mopping up the sauce.

Spring onion provides a milder counterpoint to white fish than everyday brown onions, adding flavour without overwhelming the delicate taste.

Whole fish always make for a sensational centrepiece when you're entertaining. If snapper is unavailable, use any of your favourite whole, firm-fleshed fish for this recipe.

White bean puree makes a delicious low-carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes and a delicious side for tender pork cutlets with grilled cherry tomatoes.

This recipe really couldn't be easier, it's a simple mix and cook tart that is seriously delicious.

These creamy bite-sized blue cheese and garlic tarts are beautiful enjoyed as a finger food for a fancy dinner party or a light weekend snack.

Rizogalo is a traditional Greek-style creamed rice pudding that can also be served cole. Often spiced with cinnamon and lemon peel, it is also delicious served topped with nuts and honey.

Impress your guests with these delicious, filled and rolled Chinese appetizers.

Sweet and sticky Asian-style pork belly spare ribs are delicious as dinner and make a great finger food platter for parties.

Chipolatas are always a hit, and paired with this spicy, fruity, tangy homemade barbecue sauce they're simply irresistible.

The real pleasure in this lime meringue pie lies in the airy heap of soft meringue, crisped golden in places. And in the piquant lime curd and biscuity base. Also, in scoffing a big slice of it.

The perfect Mediterranean salad for light dinners or lunches.

Quick, juicy and tender, these roasted pork fillets with orange make a great mid-week dinner. Serve with some crusty bread and a green salad.

Tasty chunks of roasted pumpkin make this couscous dish hearty enough to serve as a main at lunch, or as a light dinner.

Luscious blackberries add their special tart sweetness to this classic apple pie, topped with a buttery, sugar-strewn pastry lid.

Mexican meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce and topped with guacamole makes a delicious dinner served with wraps and salad.

Cheese and spinach tortellini baked in tomato pasta sauce with mushroom, zucchini and tomato.

Pumpkin, spinach and toasted pine nuts go together beautifully in this creamy, filling risotto.

These little cherry tomato and marinated bocconcini skewers pack a whole lot of flavour into each tiny bite-sized piece. They're the perfect vegetarian inclusion on a cocktail party menu.

This is a simple, savoury dish that hits just the right spot on a cold, dark evening. The port gravy is the perfect accompaniment, and is best poured with a free hand.

This recipe can be made a week ahead. Note

This mile-high frosted layer cake, stuffed with raspberries and passionfruit, makes a real statement and a stunning centrepiece for any celebration.

Wasabi mayonnaise is a cinch to make and is also great in cooked tuna sushi and California rolls.

Super quick to put together and pretty as a picture, these warm caramel sundaes will win you lots of new friends. Any leftover caramel sauce can be kept in the fridge for another day.

As a sea-faring people for most of their history, the Portuguese know a thing or two about seafood and what to do with it, as this Portuguese-style seafood stew demonstrates.

This crisp, biscotti-style chocolate almond bread makes a satisfying snap when you bite into it. Unless, of course, it's thoroughly dunked in your coffee first.