Recipe is best prepared as required. Note

You will need some lace, a doily or a stencil for decorating these cakes. Note

Cut a small round from the top of each cake; cut round in half to make two wings (step 7). Note

Nana's roast chicken simply doesn't stand up to this spice-packed Middle-Eastern roast with a creamy feta sauce.

Why buy store-bought jam when you can make your own delicious mandarin jelly, perfect spread atop toast with a dollop of butter. This way, you know exactly what's going into it, and your family will love the homely touch.

Work quickly while making the chocolate shells, as the chocolate tends to set quickly. You may need to resoften the chocolate in a microwave oven for a couple of seconds, if this happens. It’s important that the chocolate moulds are thoroughly cleaned and dried before using. Note

Makrut lime leaves, aromatic leaves of a citrus tree, are used similarly to bay leaves or curry leaves. They are available from major supermarkets and Asian food stores. If you can’t buy snake beans, use regular green beans. Laksa pastes vary in heat, so use only as much as suits your heat tolerance. Note

You will need 2 large pink grapefruit for this recipe. You can also freeze the granita mixture in an ice-cream machine following the manufacturer’s instructions. Note

You will be able to find the ingredients for this muesli either in the health food aisle at most supermarkets or health food stores. The muesli will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Note

Bring the flavours of Italy to your home with this sweet and delicious ravioli pasta with burnt butter sauce.

Do ahead The dough can be made a day ahead. Pear and onion mixture can be cooked 4 hours ahead. Note

Lamingtons are perfect for gifts and fetes. They can be made ahead and frozen. Serve straight from the freezer or stand at room temperature until thawed. Note

To prevent prawns curling up too much during cooking, before coating, make three cuts along belly of each prawns. Turn prawns over and press down gently along the length of the body to flatten slightly. Note

Rich tomato sauce, smoky meat, herbs and cheese ­ the very best of fresh ingredients ­ that’s the Italian way. Put the pot on and let it bubble its way to a delicious infusion of flavours. Note

Use a pair of clean tweezers to position the tiny Wonka Nerds and other small lollies. Note

It is fine to use just the one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. The meringues are best eaten within 2 hours of baking. Use strawberries or blackberries in place of the raspberries. Redcurrant jelly is a preserve found in the jam section of large supermarkets. Note

Featured in The Australian Women's Weekly's Best-Ever Kids Cakes cookbook, these cute cake pops have put a fun twist on a classic strawberry cheesecake. Sweet and easy to eat, kids will love this adorable addition to their birthday party snacks!

6-hole (¾-cup/180ml) texas muffin pan 12-hole (⅓-cup/80ml) standard muffin pan 40cm (16-inch) square prepared cake board 2.5cm (1-inch) round cutter We used cotton wool to create a snowy effect. Use your imagination when you’re “dressing” the snow folk and use whatever “clothes” you like. You could use chenille sticks (pipe cleaners) for arms instead of […]

We used ling in this recipe, but any firm white fish fillet will be fine. Note

Italian arborio rice from supermarkets will hold its shape better than locally grown arborio. Canned caramel filling is found in the baking aisle in supermarkets. Any sweet sherry is fine, however one of the nicest is Pedro Ximénez, a sweet dark sherry with a rich raisin-y taste. Note

You can substitute the almond meal for hazelnut or pecan meal if you prefer. The orange caramel sauce is best served immediately once prepared because it will separate on standing. Note

These large, luxurious ravioli with their light tomato sauce make a lovely opener to a dinner party or, served with a fresh green salad, a stylish little lunch. Note

We used a bottled mixture of cornichons and baby pickled onions. Rillettes are a classic dish served for an aperitif with slices of baguette, cornichons and a glass of red wine. Duck or goose rillettes are also very popular in France. Note

This deliciously fragrant and warming Italian soup combines zucchini flowers and sweet peas to create a brilliant vegetarian meal. Serve topped with a crumbly pangrattato for a restaurant quality dish at home.

Some butchers sell a pork and veal mince mixture, which is what we call for here. If it is not available as a mixture, buy half the amount in pork mince (500g) and half the amount (500g) as veal mince. Note

Make a cottage for each year of the birthday child’s age and, rather than using fruit sticks for the chimneys, use chunky coloured candles, instead. You’ll have about 1 cup of the cake mixture left over, enough to make another little house. Note

There's no need to miss out on delicious pastry dishes because of allergies. This tasty chicken, semi-dried tomato and spinach tart is gluten-free, and beautiful enjoyed warm from the oven or served cool as a lunch-box snack.

Warm, hearty and creamy, Potatos Byron is a simple but tasty French potato recipe with Parmesan cheese and cream.

Equipment: three 12-hole (-cup/80ml) muffin pans 25 paper muffin cases 5 disposable piping bags medium plain piping tube 48cm x 55cm covered cake board Decorations: 8 red ALLEN’S MARELLA Jubes 4 red ALLEN’S SNAKES ALIVE 1 banana ALLEN’S Milk Bottle Mania 3 strawberry ALLEN’S Milk Bottle Mania 6 LIFE SAVERS PEP‘O’MINT, halved 6 LIFE SAVERS […]

Chapatis are available in packets of 6 from the bakery section in supermarkets. You can substitute any variety of flour tortillas, if preferred. Note

Get the kids ready for the next world cup qualifier.This cake will surely encourage them to go outside and practise their ball skills. You can make it easier on yourself by using a Styrofoam ball instead of a cake for the shape of the soccer ball. Position the soccer ball on the cake about an […]

If you like, you can insert skewers into the cake to hold the layers in place while slicing. Cut through the top two cake layers and serve as a portion; cut through the bottom two cake layers as a second portion. Note

We used flathead for this recipe, but you can use any firm white-fleshed fish fillets. Note

You’ll have about 1 1/2 cup of the cake mixture left over; make more noughts and crosses cakes for your guests. This is a very easy birthday cake to make; it is suitable for boys and girls alike. You can make it in any colour you like. Note

Equipment: 30cm square wooden cake board, 15cm square wooden cake board, 10cm square woode cake board, smoothing tools, 2.5cm, 3cm and 3.5cm perspex measures, fine artist’s paint brush, stitching tool, 8 wooden skewers, 3 paper piping bags, vinyl mat tape measure, cotton wool. Use perspex measure to measure sides of cakes for lids. Press the […]

If you don’t have metal skewers, use bamboo skewers ­ soak them in cold water while the prawns are in the fridge. Note

Cooking salt is coarser than table salt, but not as large-flaked as sea salt: it is sold packaged in bags in most supermarkets. Note

Bamboo skewers are good to use as a guide for the knife as you split the cake. If the cake is large, long skewers can be pushed through the cake, from one side to the other. If the cake is small, use toothpicks to mark the layer. Use a sharp serrated knife to split the […]

If the pesto is a little too thick for your liking, thin it down with a little olive oil before drizzling over the salmon. Note

This cake is another one perfect to take to school, or picnic — or any outdoor party. Note

The amount of milk you need to add to this scone dough depends on the water content of the pumpkin. The amount you add will vary every time you make these scones. Note

You’ll need six small wooden skewers for this recipe. Soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes before using to prevent them splintering and scorching during cooking. Use dried oregano if you can’t find rigani. Note

This colourful cake is perfect for little kids who love building sand castles and exploring the beach.

Use regular golden syrup for this recipe, not the squeezable bottles, as this has a lighter texture. Note

We used a 35cm x 45cm oval plastic serving platter for the pond; a shallow cake pan, baking dish or shallow casserole dish would also work, depending on the number of frogs you need for the party. You will have about 1 cup of cake mixture left over ­enough for another five frogs. Note

Meringues can be made one day ahead, store in an airtight container at room temperature. Note

Pide is a Turkish-style pizza, usually stuffed with a spiced lamb filling.

Nam jim is a generic term for a thai dipping sauce. Most versions include fish sauce and chillies, but the remaining ingredients are up to the cook’s discretion. Note

Soak the bamboo skewers in warm water for at least 15 minutes to prevent them burning during cooking. You can replace the prawns with squid or mixed seafood and serve with a good mayonnaise or aioli from your supermarket. Note

Traditionally this recipe is known as char kway teow. Dried chinese sausages, also called lop chong, are usually made from pork. They are red-brown in colour and sweet-spicy in flavour. They are available in all Asian grocery stores. Note

Labne can be left to drain and thicken, still weighted, in the fridge for up to three days. Note

Use a wooden spoon to make a whirlpool in the water before adding the egg, if you like; however, it’s best to poach just one egg at a time this way, as it gets a bit tricky whirl pooling the water once there’s more than one egg in it. Note

Verjuice is available in delicatessens and supermarkets; it’s usually found in the vinegar aisle. It’s made from unripe grapes and has a slightly acidic taste. Ask the butcher to cut the rabbit into pieces. Note

Pecans are a native American nut; they were introduced to the world through this famous pie. Note

Dumplings can be assembled, then frozen in an airtight container up to a week ahead. Steam dumplings for 12 minutes from frozen. Soup dumplings or xialongbao, as they are called Yum Cha restaurants, are a shanghainese speciality. They are commonly filled with minced pork and a firm, gelatine-rich stock, which turns to a soup when […]

Gingerbread can be made up to a week ahead, store in an airtight container. The house can be assembled 5 days ahead, keep covered in a cool dry place. In hot humid weather, the toffee should be made on the day of serving. Note