Less than 60 minutes

Lebanese bread can be substituted for prepared pizza base. Note

If you like, create stencils by cutting out 20 shapes or letters from baking paper. Position the stencils on the slice and dust with sifted cocoa powder. Carefully remove stencils. Cut the slice into squares using a hot dry knife. Note

You can use thinly sliced gluten-free bacon instead of the pancetta, if you like. Note

Harissa is a fiery Moroccan sauce or paste made from dried chillies, cumin, garlic, oil and caraway seeds.

For a dairy-free version of this cake, substitute dairy-free spread for the butter and soy milk for the milk. Note

You can buy butterflied sardines from most good fish markets, or get your fishmonger to butterfly the fish for you. To butterfly your own fish, buy an already gutted fish, slice down the length of the belly until just before the tail, place fish, belly-down, on a chopping board and roll gently with a rolling […]

Naples is widely credited as the birthplace of pizza, where it was originally sold to the city’s poor by street vendors. The world’s first pizzeria was opened there in 1830 and is still in operation today. The beauty of the napoletana pizza lies in its simplicity. We recommend using only the best and freshest ingredients […]

You could use beef sirloin or rib eye (scotch fillet) instead of the rump steak. Sukiyaki beef is available fresh and frozen from Asian grocery stores and selected supermarkets. A traditional sukiyaki pan is available from Japanese stores. Note

Bring the Med to your home with these scrumptious lamb meatballs and a garlicky white bean dip.

Labne is yoghurt that has been drained of whey. A short draining time, results in a thick, creamy yoghurt, while a longer one, will achieve the consistency of a soft yoghurt-cheese, that can be rolled into balls. You can make your own or buy it from supermarkets. Note

Build it and they will come…and eat it with gusto. The toy tools are readily available from most toy stores. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

Crispy Middle Eastern-style potato and spinach frittatas packed full of za'atar, a blend of roasted dry spices.

The chilli paste made in this recipe also tastes great rubbed over a whole chicken or fish before being roasted. Note

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

Remaining garlic-infused oil can be used in salad dressings. Note

Make this stunning side dish in spring to take advantage of delicious in-season artichokes and peas.

Gem strings on wire are available from craft stores. If you can’t find them, use small lengths of pink ribbon. Note

Sweet pastilla is traditionally served with sweetened warmed milk to reduce the crunchiness of the layered pastille. We like to use the pastilla to dip into the sweet yogurt cream. Note

Kalonji, also known as nigella, are tiny, angular seeds, black on the outside and creamy within, having a sharp nutty flavour that can be enhanced by a brief toasting in a dry hot pan before use. Kalonji can be found in most Asian and Middle-Eastern food shops. Note

You need to soak eight bamboo skewers in cold water for at least an hour before use to prevent them from splintering or burning during cooking. Note

Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Note

Sweet and sour quail perfectly balanced with a pine nut salad.

We found that using a cheese slicer is an easy and effective way of making large chocolate curls. You can use this recipe as a guide to make the boxes smaller or larger. Who wouldn’t love to receive a gift as wonderful, and as delicious, as this chocolate box? It’s the perfect present for any […]

While this is easy to make, it may take a bit of experimentation with your oven to determine the best temperature and to perfect the timing ­ two elements that are critical for the success of this sponge cake. Every oven is slightly different to another, be guided by your oven manufacturer’s instructions. As a […]

You can use apple puree instead of the apple sauce in this recipe. Note

We used car patches available from craft and sewing stores. You could use small diecast cars from toy shops. Be aware of choking hazards if using small plastic cars. If you want a daytime scene, colour the icing light blue and use a yellow jube as the sun and the sugar pearls to represent sun […]

Pho, the well-known vietnamese noodle soup, is usually eaten for breakfast, but is great to eat at any time of the day. Note

Many countries have similar kinds of dishes: Spain has a cocido with chickpeas, the French have the pot-au-feu - the origins are always peasant food where cheap cuts of meat and seasonal vegetables are cooked together in one big pot.

The combination of mashed potato, bacon, onion, cheese and sour cream in these cakes is so good you’ll find it hard to stop at one. You can also use lasoda or pink-eye potatoes for this recipe. Note

Rich and delicious mocha trifle with a kick of Tia Maria or your favourite liqueur.

12-hole (-cup/80ml) standard muffin pan 12 dark green paper cupcake cases 4 paper piping bags plastic wrap We made the cupcakes here, instead of buying them, so we could tint the mixture in camouflage colours. To save time, decorate the tops of store-bought cupcakes with the camouflage icing. Vanilla frosting is available in tubs from […]

Delicate coffee biscuit hearts, smothered in chocolate either side of a generous dollop of mocha cream will have you feeling the love.

We used a large (25cm diameter) thick-based packaged pizza base for this recipe. Pizza can be prepared and frozen in its unbaked form. Place frozen pizza in hot oven; allow about 10 minutes extra cooking time. Note

Sweet and fluffy pastry puffs filled with a rich chocolate and coffee cream and drizzled with sweet toffee.

Shredded or flaked coconut take longer to toast than desiccated coconut. You can toast it in the oven or in a dry frying pan – either way, you have to watch it carefully. If you’re using the pan method, stir the coconut the whole time, then take it out of the pan the second it’s […]

Crispy Swiss rösti with pan-fried ham and cherry tomatoes from Australian Women's Weekly.

Tia Maria, Kahlua and crème de caçao are all coffee-flavoured liqueurs; any one of them can be used in this recipe. Note

Make your own Italian-style gourmet roasted beetroot pizza from scratch in no time at all!

Serve the pears and syrup with thick yoghurt or whipped thickened (heavy) cream. Note

Some commercially prepared curry pastes can vary in heat and flavour. Add less than recommended until you can determine how hot it makes the final dish and to suit your spice level tolerance. In Indonesia, particularly on Java, food is often wrapped in banana leaves before steaming or grilling ­a process called “pepesan”, which gives […]

Toffee is best made just before serving or up to 1 hour beforehand. Note

Cute little mini quiches that pack a huge blue cheese punch.

A steak sandwich is one of the most satisfying lunches out there, and this one is a little fancy with beetroot salsa and creamy aïoli.

Roasted zucchini, eggplant and capsicum can be bought loose from delis, making the job even easier. Slice the stick as close to serving time as possible. Note

Equipment 22cm x 34cm number 6 cake pan 25cm x 40cm rectangular cake board If you can’t buy green Bubble Tape, you can use grape Bubble Tape or Roll-Ups. Note

Goujons are small strips of fish or chicken, coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried.

Used extensively in Japanese cooking, daikon has a sweet, fresh flavour without the sharp bite of the more common red radish. It can be used raw in salads and as a garnish, or cooked in various ways. Green tea soba are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour and green tea; they are available from most […]

Allspice, also known as pimento or Jamaican pepper, is so-named because it tastes like a combination of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and cumin ­all spices. It is available from spice shops and supermarkets. Note

You need about 1 large bunch of rhubarb. Note

We used pineapple Allen’s Sour Rush Jelly Beans for the feet, but you don’t have to use all the same,­ just use four same-coloured Jelly Beans on each cake. Note

You could set out a platter of sliced chicken, bowl of salad with serving tongs and stack of tortillas for everyone to assemble their own great food-to-go. Note

Chicken can be cooked, cooled and refrigerated the day before. Note

Pan-fried chicken with an aromatic and flavoursome cranberry and pine nut pilaf.

The crunchy sesame seed crust on the tuna gives a nutty aroma while leaving the tuna rare. Note

Saganaki, is the traditional Greek name for a snack or entrée of floured, herbed then fried cheese which is sprinkled with lemon juice and eaten with bread. Note