Moderate

Recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

We used malibu, a rum-based coconut liquer for this recipe. Note

Perfect beef and onion party pies for sharing with friends and family.

For a change, try filling the egg halves with Easter novelties or lollies before joining halves together. For a special touch, use coloured writing gel or fudge to decorate eggs with flowers of anything that takes your fancy. Find them in the baking aisle of your supermarket. Note

A quick and easy dinner idea

The mille-feuille, or vanilla slice, or custard slice, is known as the Napoleon. It is a French pastry whose exact origin, despite its noble name, is unknown. It's also quite delicious.

Lamb noisettes are lamb sirloin chops with the bone removed and the "tail" wrapped around the meaty part of the chop and secured with either string or a toothpick. Toothpicks must be removed before serving.

Rich and very chocolatey, the ground pistachios give this stylish tart a dense, moist texture.

A hearty stew for cold winter nights.

These are serious little pies; tender chunks of chicken, earthy mushrooms and fennel swimming in a creamy mustard sauce and topped with golden, flaky pastry.

The combination of tender herb-coated roast beef and creamy blue-cheese sauce is unbeatable. The perfect starter for a big dinner party!

EQUIPMENT 35cm (14-inch) round cake board 8cm (3¾-inch) round cutter 3 long bamboo skewers We only used the white marshmallows from the packets of marshmallows; serve the pink marshmallows at the party. You can make the castle pink and white if you like; in this case you will only need 4 packets of marshmallows. Use […]

Sweet and sticky Asian-style rolls with beef and asparagus from Australian Women's Weekly.

Tender pumpkin and ribbons of zucchini are delicately flavoured with fresh sage to make this deep, layered vegetable lasagne.

Instead of packaged pre-cooked rice, cook 2½ cups long-grain rice, spread on tray, cover with absorbent paper and refrigerate overnight. Note

Black sesame ice-cream makes this dish, its nutty sweetness lifts the pancakes to another level.

A sophisticated punch that's loaded with flavour and not overly sweet, this pomegranate punch is perfect for a lunch or cocktail party.

The chilli-infused vodka is also very good with lemonade and crushed coriander roots. Chilli-infused vodka can be made up to 1 month ahead. Watermelon juice separates on standing so this recipe is best made close to serving. For a quick cocktail, replace the sugar syrup and soda water with 2 cups (500ml) lemonade. Note

Israeli couscous, also known as pearl couscous, is made of baked wheat rather than semolina (like the couscous from North Africa). Its granules are much larger (its size and shape is similar to a pearl) and it maintains its texture and firmness without sticking. It is available from most major supermarkets. Note

It's sure to impress.

Zuccotto is a semi-frozen Italian dessert with a rich flavour and fabulous layers of texture. Often made with brandy or liqueur it also packs a little bit of a punch.

Tart passionfruit give these rich crème caramels a fruity lift.

You will need about four large overripe bananas for the amount of mashed banana required. Note

You will need about 2 limes for this recipe. Note

Kids love to go camping. If you have a large enough grassed area at home, turn the area into a camping ground for the party. It's an easy, inexpensive party theme.

You will need about 6 passionfruit for the amount of pulp in this recipe. The cakes are best made on the day of serving. Assemble pies close to serving. Note

For best results, use a pizza tray with holes in the base;­ this will cook the pastry evenly. Note

Only remove the legs of the doll if she’s too tall for the cake. Just push the doll, with legs, gently through the cake until the doll’s body is in the right position. Dolly Varden cake pans can be bought or hired from cake decorating suppliers. Note

Upside down cake is a classic afternoon tea snack, but can also be presented as an impressive dessert.

Mee (or mie), “noodles”, and goreng, “fried”, are the words used in Indonesia and Malaysia to describe a traditional fried noodle recipe usually containing chicken and nuts, as well as assorted other ingredients chosen by the individual cook. Note

Soufflé must be made just before serving. Note

Delicious and perfect to share with friends and family; zucchini, fetta and corn wedges from Australian Women's Weekly.

soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for about 30 minutes before use to prevent splintering and scorching. Note

Tender, spicy hoods of squid, doused in soy and fried with fresh chilli, make a finger-licking starter. Serve with an Asian-style salad for a light dinner.

Egg yolks should still be runny so they drizzle over the rice. Rice can be made a day ahead; cover, refrigerate until required. Note

Warm chocolate pudding cakes with a molten chocolate core served with mascarpone coffee ice-cream make an elegant yet indulgent dessert.

It is fine to use two 300ml (or one 600ml) cartons of cream for this recipe, so as not to waste the remaining 20ml. Note

Buy drinking straws in three colours if you can, and match them to their corresponding cake pops. Note

Like a Mediterranean version of spring rolls, these subtly spiced cigars and full of rich, zingy flavours, and make easy finger food for a dinner party.

Sponge drops are topped with orange jelly and coated in melted chocolate to make these spectacular jaffa jelly cakes.

Gyoza wrappers are thin pastry rounds made from wheat flour that the Japanese use to wrap around fillings for dumplings and pot stickers. If unavailable, substitute gow gee wrappers. Note

equipment 12-hole (½-cup/125ml) friand pan 5 strong wooden toothpicks 35cm x 40cm prepared cake board (see basic know-how number 2, pages 160-161) medium gum-leaf cutter You’ll have about 1 cup of the cake mixture left over, enough to make another four balloons. The balloons are not difficult to make, but getting the sides of the […]

The pan is measured at the top, not the base. It’s important to not grease the tube pan, the cake mixture needs to cling to the pan as it rises during the baking process. Tube pans are large smooth-sided ring pans with small “feet” to support the inverted pan while the cake cools. If the […]

The addition of roasted pumpkin in this delicious tabbouleh dish adds a hearty, flavoursome note to this dish, making it filling enough to enjoy on it's own as a light lunch or as part of a big dinner spread.

Undecorated truffle pops can be kept refrigerated for up to one week in an airtight container. If making ahead, melt a little extra chocolate to attach toffee. Truffle pops must be served within 2 hours of being decorated with toffee. Once decorated with toffee shards, the truffle pops cannot be refrigerated. Note

Deep-fry tempura as close as possible to serving time. Note

This creamy frozen dessert is rich in flavour, and most definitely a crowd pleasing dish.

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

You can ask the butcher to tie the pork for you. Note

This gorgeous bird will take pride of place at your Christmas table this year. A delicious roasted almond stuffing, spiced cherries, and a smooth, savoury gravy complete this amazing turkey.

For fish burgers, replace the chicken with four 125g (4-ounce) firm white fish fillets. Note

Do not thaw the frozen raspberries as their colour will bleed into the cake. These cakes are best made on the day of serving. Note

Like a Bounty candy bar in cheesecake form, this recipe combines the delicious duo of coconut and chocolate with a sensational result.

equipment 30cm x 45cm prepared cake board, strong wooden toothpick decorations 27 Maltesers, approximately 2 green snakes, halved lengthways 5 mint leaves 3 yellow ready-made icing flowers 3 foil-wrapped chocolate ladybirds If Easter eggs aren’t available, you can use Kinder Surprise eggs. We’ve made quite a long wall out of bought lamingtons; you could have […]

A lassi is a popular yoghurt based drink in the Indian subcontinent. You can vary the fruit according to the season and your preference and sweeten with honey if you prefer.

Spiced with ginger, these dark chocolate truffles make a delectable after dinner treat with a cup of coffee or a digestif.

the sweet cucumber and peanut sauce can be made up to four days ahead. Note