You can use one quantity shortcrust pastry instead of the store-bought pastry sheets. Note

If plums are not in season, use a 1kg (2-pound) jar of whole plums. Drain, halve and seed them before using. Note

You can use lemon, lime or blood orange marmalade or your favourite jam instead. Note

A healthy and rich vegetable dish with smoky baked beans and tomato from Australian Women's Weekly.

Remember that when you put food onto skewers, not to squash everything together. Leave a little space between each item to allow the heat to circulate and to ensure everything cooks through. If you have time, soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes to stop them from burning during cooking, or cover the ends […]

A healthy and filling Mexican vegetarian dish with a rich and delicious spiced tomato and avocado salsa.

Equipment: 4 x 10cm (4-inch) (closed) springform pans Everybody loves their own individual dessert ­ here, the tropical flavours blend happily with the creamy cheesecake filling. The mango rose pattern is simple to achieve, but looks impressive on the cheesecakes. We used a plain store-bought sponge for this recipe, you can make your own, if […]

Use white Candy Melts in place of chocolate Melts for a whiter finish Note

Cake is best decorated on day required. Note

Quick and easy-to-make crispy roast potatoes with paprika aïoli from Australian Women's Weekly.

A modern take on the traditional French method of cooking “en papillote” (in sealed paper packets), this recipe uses aluminium foil rather than parchment to enclose the ingredients. Cooking this way intensifies the contained flavours. Note

A light and summery Moroccan-style beef salad packed full of apricots, sultanas, pine nuts, mint and dill.

Saltimbocca is a classic Italian dish that literally translates as "jump in the mouth". It is usually made of beef or veal, and rolled with proscuitto and sage leaves.

Treat yourself this morning with gorgeous French-style spelt crêpes with poached pear and blueberries.

This is a quick version of making a soufflé as the base is not made on a flour-thickened cheese sauce. Note

Tortiglioni, a straight tubular pasta with grooves on the exterior, works well when baked with a chunky sauce, such as this one.

Create delicious Italian pasta at home with this beautiful ricotta and silverbeet gnocchi. Served in a fragrant tomato sauce, it's the ultimate comfort food for a cool evening in.

Equipment 6-hole (¾-cup/180ml) texas muffin pan 7 x 12-hole (1-tablespoon/20ml) mini muffin pans 1 yellow texas muffin paper case 77 yellow mini muffin paper cases 50cm-square prepared cake board (see basic know-how number 2, pages 160-161) Decorations 85g packet yellow jelly crystals 400g packet Smarties 1 tablespoon orange sprinkles 5cm piece black licorice strap 25 […]

store in an airtight container at a cool room temperature until ready to serve. Cake pops will keep for up to a week. Note

These delicious homemade chicken and vegetable rolls are great for sharing.

If preferred, use boned lamb leg or shoulder. Make salad just before serving and drizzle with a little red-wine vinegar. Note

This cake is at its best eaten on the same day as baking. Keeping time: 1 day. Note

Crispy, crunchy and golden minted tuna triangles that are perfect for sharing with friends at the bach.

This pudding can be made a week ahead; store, covered, in the fridge, or freeze for up to 2 months. Brandy cream sauce can be made a day ahead; store, covered, in the fridge. Note

Silver leaf, available from cake decorating stores, is delicate and fiddly to handle but worth the effort. Note

Keeping time: 4 days. Note

These delicious savoury potato pancakes are absolutely beautiful enjoyed with smoked salmon and dill cream. Perfect any time of the day, this dish is a real winner!

A quick and easy potato smash with beef and eggplant that is great for the kids.

Light and delicious French-style passionfruit and raspberry eclairs from Australian Women's Weekly.

You need 25 foil petit four cases for this recipe. Note

Serve chicken with dressing. You need a large bunch of spinach weighing about 400g to get the number of large leaves required for this recipe. Note

Cripsy, crunchy and delicious schnitzels crumbed in garlic, sage and lemon.

You can use drained gelatinous noodles instead of the cellophane noodles. Note

A lolly-packed party piñata that the kids will love.

Quick and easy Asian-style stick pork stir-fry for those busy midweek nights.

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 your pressure cooker. Note

You’ll have about 1½ cups of the cake mixture left over to make more cakes for your party. Note

You can buy sponge cakes for this recipe, if you like (preferably jam and cream filled). You could also buy a large meringue as well, to break up and use to fill and decorate the cake. In this case, you’ll need half the meringue ingredients only, to make the meringue sticks. Note

These come from the Charente region of south-west France. The name generally refers to a nut-shaped puff from that region.

For an earthier flavour, barbecue the whole eggplant. First prick the skin all over with a fork, then cook the eggplant for about 30 minutes – depending on its size and the heat of the barbecue – or until the eggplant collapses. Cool the eggplant, peel away the skin, then proceed with the recipe. Mini […]

Kids will adore this Leo the Lion birthday cake from The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book' cookbook. He is the King of the Jungle, after all.

Wear disposable gloves when peeling the beetroot. Note

Delicious and chewy chocolate Turkish delights with the sweet scent of rosewater and the crunch of sliced almonds.

A mint pattie is a round chocolate-coated confectionery with a soft peppermint centre. It is available from most supermarkets. You may also use Griffin’s mint treat bites if mint pattie’s are not available. Note

You need a 7cm (2¾-inch) and a 5cm (2-inch) starshaped cutter. It’s best to use food colouring pastes rather than liquids. Roll, cut and bake one portion of dough at a time. While those biscuits are cooking , roll and cut the next batch, ready for the oven. Note

This recipe also makes 6 texas muffins (¾-cup/180ml); bake about 35 minutes. Note

A crispy baked pumpkin and ricotta dish that is a great healthy side to go with meaty dishes.

You can crumb chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Place in single layer on tray, cover and refrigerate. Tonkatsu sauce is available from Asian food stores. Note

You need to cook about 2/3 cup (130g) white long-grain rice to get 2 cups of cooked rice. If using packaged microwave rice, use straight from the packet for this recipe. Note

You will need to watch the sugar syrup carefully while it simmers for 5 minutes. It may be necessary to lift the pan from the heat several times to help maintain the correct temperature. For perfect results, use an accurate candy thermometer. Note

Green (unripe) papayas are readily available in various sizes at many greengrocers, Asian food shops and markets. Select one that is very hard and slightly shiny, which indicates it’s fresh but not too unripe to grate or chop. Note

Crispy and delicious spiced spatchcock with a cooling herb yogurt from Australian Women's Weekly.

Keeping time: 4 days. Note

Semolina is available from health-food stores and supermarkets. It can be replaced with 1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour. Lime, orange or mandarin juice and grated rind can be substituted for the lemon. Note

A classic treat from our iconic Test Kitchen.

Instead of piping the cream cheese mixture onto the canapés, you can just use a teaspoon to drop small amounts on top of the mini toasts. Mini toasts are available from delis, groumet food shops and some supermarkets. Note

A beautifully bright and colourful rainbow salad packed full of beetroot, asparagus, orange and avocado.

Hearty and warming, this delicious stew is packed full of fresh seafood to nourish your body and soul.

You’ll be prouder than a peacock when you present this cake at the party. The design is mainly in the placement of the lollies. Note

It’s important to use regular honey in the matzo cake, not the easy-to-pour liquefied version Note

A delicious and tri-coloured ice-cream topped with dark chocolate and almonds.

Allen’s Racing Cars and Pineapples can be found in Allen’s Teeth `n’ Stuff, Retro Party Mix and Classic Party Mix. Note

Asian-style pork and chicken stir-fry with a wonderfully rich black bean sauce.

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. Frying the herbs in butter, rather than adding them directly to the sauce, gives them extra flavour and keeps them bright green. Recipe not […]

This recipe also makes 12 standard muffins (⅓-cup/80ml capacity holes). Bake cakes for 20 minutes. Note

A quick and easy authentic Italian pasta with sausage meatballs and rigatoni.

If using frozen berries, use them unthawed, this will minimise “bleeding” of the colour into the mixture. Muffins can be frozen either individually wrapped in foil or together in a sealed container for up to 3 months. To thaw frozen muffins, either place muffins on an oven tray covered with foil, or wrap individual muffins […]

A fun and delicious gingerbread man that is great for kid's parties.

This playful, and friendly, looking monster will keep the little ones amused with its bright, cheery colours and smiling face. Note