Moderate

Before starting the recipe, boil the kettle so you have boiling water ready to prepare the noodles. Chinese barbecued pork, also called char siew, is traditionally cooked in special ovens, it has a sweet-sticky coating made from soy sauce, sherry, five-spice powder and hoisin sauce. It’s available from chinese butcher shops, ask them to slice […]

VANILLA SUGAR Split vanilla bean in half lengthways; scrape seeds into blender or processor. Add sugar; process until fine. Reserve 2 tablespoons for this recipe; store unused sugar in an airtight container for another use. This teacake is best eaten the day it is made. Note

All this layered honey cake needed to take it from tasty to ridiculously delicious was just a touch of mixed spice and lashings of honeyed cream. You'll love it.

medium GI Note

You can serve these drumettes with baby pappadums and lemon wedges. Tikkapasteisa mild paste made from spices and oils and frequently coloured red. It’s used for marinating or for brushing over meat, seafood or poultry, before or during cooking. Here it is mixed with yogurt and used as a marinade. Note

We used packaged felafel mix for this recipe, available from selected supermarkets, Middle-Eastern food shops and many health food stores. Note

Covered in chocolate ganache, and spiked with sweet sherry, this cherry cake is perfect for a grown-up birthday celebration.

Reserve the rind from the ham after it has been removed. When storing the ham (or the leftovers), re-cover the leg’s cut surface with the reserved rind ­ this will keep it moist. Use a small sharp knife to cut through the rind about 10cm from the shank end of the leg. Gently lift rind […]

This dessert looks and tastes amazing. The drizzling of toffee finishes it off beautifully; the toffee will begin to dissolve within 10 minutes of drizzling it over the figs, so it is best made immediately before serving.

You need to cook about ½ cup (100g) white medium-grain rice for this recipe. Note

Veal schnitzel is thinly sliced steak available crumbed or plain (uncrumbed); we use plain uncrumbed schnitzel, sometimes called escalopes, in our recipes. Because veal schnitzels (escalopes) are a very lean cut of meat, they dry out quickly if overcooked. Fry them over a high heat for a short time. Note

Topped with flaky almonds, this cherry coconut slice makes a delicious afternoon tea treat.

The name tapenade derives from tapeno, the Provençal word for capers, a vital ingredient in this tangy condiment that perfectly complements goat cheese. Note

EQUIPMENT 26cm x 35cm (10 inch x 14 inch) baking dish 30cm x 40cm (12 inch x 16 inch) rectangular cake board bamboo skewer. The grommets have gone a-surfing — even fussy teenage boys and girls will want to ‘hang 10’ with this cool pair of board shorts. Use a skewer to make holes for […]

The deep, savoury flavour of this red wine and shallot sauce is the perfect complement to this dish of tender steak, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Meringues can be made a day ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature. Assemble meringue torte up to 1 hour ahead. Note

The flavours of this sticky duck are spectacular and team perfectly with the refreshing cabbage and radish salad.

A roasted lamb rack smothered in herb crust served with crispy roasted potatoes finished off with leeks gently poached in wine and stock. What more could the family want?

Recipe is not suitable to freeze. If you’d prefer a vegetarian option of this soup. Microwave rice is fine to use here. Note

When we think of soufflés as a sweet, we often think of the chocolate kind. While you won't catch us dissing anything with chocolate in it, this lemon curd soufflé is sweet and tart and exceedingly delicious.

On those occasions when only meat and potatoes will do, here is your go-to recipe.

If you don’t have a grill plate, you can cook the recipe in a large non-stick frying pan instead. Swap the trout for salmon, if you like. To bulk out the vegetable component of this dish, add some snow peas. Note

The perfect dessert for the family.

This salad is at its best served straight after cooking the prawns. Note

You need smoking chips and a smoke box for this recipe. The smoke box and hickory smoking chips are available at most barbecue supply stores, as are other varieties of wood chips that can also be used to smoke meat on the barbecue. Note

Make the national pub favourite for dinner at home with this fab veal schnitzel with winter slaw recipe.

We used a pink snapper fillet with the skin on. You could also use chicken or prawns instead of the fish.

Stir-fry is always a dependable quick and healthy mid-week dinner, five spice and chilli lift this spicy chilli out of the ranks of the ordinary.

1 x deep 9cm (3¾-inch) square cake pan 1 x deep 15cm (6-inch) square cake pan 1 x deep 23cm (9¼-inch) square cake pan 30cm (12-inch) square prepared cake board or cake stand cake. Make butter cake mixes in batches as they will not all fit together in a large bowl, use three packets first, […]

These impressive desserts are a lot simpler to make that they look, and give the final course a little glamour.

Covered in an assortment of lollies, this gorgeous yellow dragon cake is sure to be a winner with the kids.

Check the cookies a few minutes before the end of baking time if they feel a little soft, but firm, give one cookie a gentle push with the side of your thumb. A cooked cookie will slide easily on the tray. The cookies will become crisp on cooling. Note

With layers of almond sponge, raspberry mousse and cream, this spectacular cake is delectable and perfect for a celebration.

Use a cake mix that does not require butter to be added. Note

This deliciously warming soup is packed full of tender shredded pork and hearty beans to create the ultimate Winter comfort meal.

Baby heirloom tomatoes are available from most supermarkets and greengrocers. These pizzas are best made close to serving. Note

Step one of the recipe can be made 1 day ahead and covered, refrigerated; until required. The tomato sauce can be made 1 day ahead then covered; refrigerated; until required. Sauce can be frozen up to 6 months. Note

These tender, juicy veal cutlets are enhanced with a fragrant basil mayo and crisp asparagus. With just 30 minutes cooking time it's a tasty dish you're sure to return to again and again.

Quick, easy and delicious, these veal schnitzels are a guaranteed weeknight winner.

Coffee-flavoured whoopie pies with a delightful dusting of chocolate are a soft and satisfying treat for the coffee lover in your life.

When it comes to sweet treats the French always get it right and this delicate delight is no exception. Somewhere between a meringue and a biscuit, this melt in the mouth tropical macaron is simply délicieux!

For a gift-giving idea, spray a bamboo steamer (available from Asian food stores) with silver spray, line with tissue and fill with little cakes. Wrap it completely in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Substitute brandy for Irish whiskey, if you like.

The classic surf'n'turf, beef and prawn, dish with delicious homemade kumara hash browns and corn.

You could use lamb leg or shoulder, cut into chunks, instead of shanks. Note

The subtle flavour of this rich, savoury rice from the south of Thailand makes a good accompaniment to more highly spiced dishes. Serundeng is usually sprinkled over a hot dish just as it's served, much like a gremolata, to awaken the tastebuds.

To freeze. Complete recipe to the end of step 2. Individually wrap patties in plastic wrap. Label, date and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Continue from step 3. Note

Recipe is not suitable to freeze. You need a medium frying pan having a heatproof handle and a 20cm base for this recipe. If the pan handle is not heatproof, wrap it tightly in a few layers of foil; place the pan under the grill, but keep the handle away from the heat, if possible. […]

These are quite small cakes, so you will need to serve each person two or three. Make sure you use a good quality ice-cream. Note

This hazelnut and date tart tastes as impressive as it looks. It's a magnificent dessert that is only enhanced by its accompaniment of sweet, sesame cream.

Warm and sweet, these little orange and ricotta puffs make a lovely dessert but are also perfect for passing around at a party.

You will need to cook about 1 cup of medium-grain white rice for this recipe. Note

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 need a deep frying pan measuring approximately 22cm (9 inches) across its base for this recipe; cover the handle with aluminium foil to protect it from the heat of the grill (broiler). Note

Don't let the cook time dishearten you, this dish is very simple to prepare, and the flavours are well worth the wait!

Cavolo nero can be substituted with cabbage or silver beet. Note

You will need to cook about 1/3 cup (50g) brown rice for this recipe. Note

Similar to ravioli, agnolotti are tiny pillows of pasta stuffed with one of any manner of different fillings. You can buy these already made, sold in cryovac packages, in the refrigerated section of your supermarket or fresh from specialty pasta makers. Note

Boris the clown is a fun and delicious cake for children's birthday parties.

Koftas are simply minced meat mixed with spices, and often onions, and rolled shape, although in many Arab countries they are shaped into ovals.

Made completely from scratch, the dough is the key component to this tasty double-crust pizza.

Butterflied sardines are boneless with the two fillets attached. To do this yourself, cut off the head just behind the gills. With a small knife, cut along the belly, from head to tail then open out. Holding the spine at head end, pull it down firmly towards the tail end and snip with scissors to […]

Brought to you by the classic Australian Women's Weekly birthday cake cookbook.

Deglazing: This is the initial step in making a sauce that incorporates the browned bits sticking to the bottom of a pan in which meat has been cooked. A small amount of liquid is added to any remaining meat juices in the pan, then over heat, the pan is scraped to loosen the browned caramelised […]

This chicken pilaf is a hearty and aromatic winter warming meal. The taste and smell of the dish will have everyone rushing to the dinner table and asking for seconds.

You need to buy triple the quantity of the ingredients for this recipe. You will need to make three separate batches: do not double or triple this recipe. It’s important to measure the cake mixture carefully so the cakes are all the same depth. The mixture will be fine standing at room temperature while you […]

Treat yourself to these adorable festive sweets to get you in the Christmas spirit.