Moderate

To save time, buy 400g of shelled uncooked prawns. If you can’t find a kaffir lime leaf, just use 1 teaspoon of finely grated lime rind. Note

We used sebago potatoes in this recipe. Note

ORANGE FROSTING Beat cream cheese and butter in a small bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually beat in sifted icing sugar; stir in rind. You can use a zesting tool to make the thin strips of orange rind. Note

And this little piggy went all the way to the top of your favourite cakes list! From The Australian Women's Weekly's famous 'Children's Birthday Cake Book', it's the perfect party pick.

It’s a good idea to wear some rubber gloves when preparing beetroot to prevent stained hands. If you don’t feel up to cutting it into strips, try the grater attachment on a food processor or use a box grater. Note

You can use 8 x 6cm-square (3.5cm-deep) ready-made lamingtons, if preferred. Note

The combination of pork and veal mince gives these meatballs a deliciously rich quality that you won’t get with beef mince. Note

You need an 80cm length of 50mm diameter PVC pipe, cut into 10cm lengths; ask the hardware store to do this for you, or use a hacksaw. This recipe will also fit into six 10cm round springform tins or a 24cm springform tin. Note

Equipment; 20cm x 30cm rectangular cake pan; 30cm x 40cm rectangular cake board. Note

This meal has a medium GI. Note

You can use low-fat cream cheese in this recipe if you prefer. Note

You will need about four grapefruit for the amount of juice required in 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. This recipe is suitable to freeze. Note

Makes enough for six 275g servings of panfried snapper fillets. If rouille separates, add about 1 tablespoon of boiling water to mixture and whisk until smooth. French for “rust”, rouille is so called because of its deep red colour. A capsicum and chilli flavoured sauce, it is often used to enhance seafood stews such as […]

We used corella pears in this recipe. Dijonnaise is a commercial blend of dijon mustard and mayonnaise, available in supermarkets. Note

Cut the marshmallows using an oiled knife, otherwise it will be difficult. Note

Simple mocha cookies bring to joy of chocolate and coffee from pantry to plate in under 30 minutes.

You can also use ocean trout fillets in this recipe. Cooking times will change slightly for each different kind and thickness of fish you select. Salmon and ocean trout are at their best if slightly underdone. Don’t slice the apples until you are ready to toss the salad with the dressing because the flesh will […]

Macaroons are available from speciality bakery shops and select supermarkets. If you can’t find them, any small round filled biscuit will do. Try mini Oreos or Wagon Wheels, or Monte Carlos. Colour the butter cream, and decorate the robot, using any colours and lollies you like. Fruit Mentos and Smarties come in pastel colours, if […]

other ideas: tiny blini or rösti, polenta squares, upturned mushrooms, baby cos or betel leaves, crisped won-ton wrappers or tortilla wedges. Note

You can use either savoy cabbage or wombok (also known as chinese cabbage) in the coleslaw. Stout is a strong tasting dark-coloured beer that goes well with beef. Note

You can substitute a white medium-grain rice if koshihikari is unavailable. Note

If the birthday person is mad about cats, this enigmatic creation will be… purrfection Note

Known variously throughout the Middle East and North Africa as basboosa, namoura or harisi, this sweet slice is saturated with a citrusy sugar syrup which gives it a lovely individual flavour. Note

Substitute watercress and tatsoi leaves for baby spinach and mizuna, if preferred. Note

Replace pork with sliced chicken breast or beef rump steak. You can use basil if thai basil is out of season or you could replace the basil with coriander. Broccolini can be swapped with baby corn, if you like. Note

siena cake is a perfect accompaniment for after-dinner coffee. Cut into thin wedges or slices about 1cm thick,then into small pieces Note

An easy way to make sure your toffee is cooked to the correct stage and will set hard, is to use a sugar thermometer. Toffee should reach 149°C (“hard crack” stage) on the thermometer. Red delicious are the best apples to use for this recipe. Note

Farfalle is a short, rather sturdy butterfly-shaped pasta that is also known as “bow-ties”. It is good for a dish such as this because the folds and crinkles of each piece help capture the pesto and hold the other ingredients. Replace the farfalle with penne or small shells if you wish. Note

These pork, fennel and fig sausage rolls will be the most gourmet snack at the party.

Pie can be prepared a day ahead. Note

Use any firm fish that’s in season, it’s cheaper that way. Sumac is a type of Middle Eastern spice, now available from supermarkets. The flavour is slightly tart. If you can’t find the spice, cook the fish without it. Note

You need only slender small servings of this ultra-rich cake, which is why we’ve chosen to bake it in a lamington pan. The layer of marzipan in the middle keeps the cake moist as well as adding to the flavour. Buy the best marzipan (or almond paste) you can find. Note

If you have a juice extractor, you can use it to make the pineapple and mango juice. A mouli is a stainless steel utensil used for grating or pureeing. Note

If you want, yo u can prepare the cake with almond paste (marzipan) before covering it with ready-made icing. Note

You can used store-bought char-grilled capsicum for this recipe, if you like. Note

Sometimes the strangest ingredients make the best cakes! The addition of mashed potato makes a cake that is deliciously moist.

Equipment: 20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular cake pan, 35cm x 40cm (14-inch x 16-inch) rectangular cake board, wooden skewer and toothpicks. Note

We’ve used brown long-grain rice in this recipe because of its lovely nutty taste, but you can replace it with white long-grain rice if you wish. You need to cook about 1⅓ cups rice for this recipe. Note

The secret to this recipe is the amount of olive oil used. Perfect as a second course or as the main course for a light summer lunch, served with salad and crusty bread or with chips (frites). The moules in France are small and sweet. This recipe is not suitable for those large green New […]

Once they are toffee-coated, don’t refrigerate the pops, as the toffee will dissolve. Serve pops within 2 hours of making. Note

These tarts must be served warm to be enjoyed at their best. Serve with a good dollop of cream, if you like. Note

The great thing about an antipasti selection is that you can add and subtract ingredients. Try incorporating a selection of olives ­ ligurian, sicilian and kalamata are all good, or even a delicious selection of salami. Marinated artichokes are available from specialty delicatessens. Alternatively, use bottled artichokes in oil, available from most supermarkets. Note

artist’s fine paint brush 3.5cm (1½-inch) round cutter 12 plain white paper cases large plastic disposable piping bag The cupcakes stale quickly so it’s best to use a fruit or mud cake for the best keeping qualities. The cakes can be made and frozen for 3 months. The monograms can be prepared at least a […]

Unbaked scones can be frozen for up to a month. Bake them from the freezer, adding about 10 minutes to the baking time. Note

Saffron is obtained from the stigmas of the saffron crocus and it is famously the most expensive spice in the world. Note

We used blue-eye trevalla fillets in this recipe. Note

Don’t have the oil too hot or they will brown too quickly before cooking all the way through. The oil should be between 175°C (350°F) and 190°C (400°F) for deep-frying (a small cube of bread should turn golden in about 30 seconds). You can also pipe the dough over the hot oil, using a small, […]

Patch any gaps in the top, sides and base of cake with a little icing. Brush top and sides evenly with a little jam. Note

Place pastries on trays; brush with egg, sprinkle with seeds. Bake about 15 minutes or until browned lightly. Combine ingredients in medium bowl. Parmesan cheese can be used instead of romano cheese. Pastries can be served warm or cold. Uncooked pastries are suitable to freeze. It is best to cut pastry into the 26 rounds […]

Depending on the variety of quince used, some will turn more of a rusty red colour while others a deep crimson. Also, cooking time can vary between types, with some needing a little longer cooking to achieve a red hue. Note

We used green, orange and yellow paper muffin cases to match the decorations of these lovely cakes. Note

For a lower-fat version, use no-fat milk and low-fat dairy-free spread instead of the butter. Piroshki are small Russian dumplings that can have various savoury or sweet fillings but this one is among the most traditional. Baked or fried, they make excellent hors d’oeuvres. Note

Juniper berries are the dried fruit of the juniper shrub, an evergreen from the Northern Hemisphere, and are found in specialty herb or health food shops. Note

Smoked eggplant and capsicum jam can be tossed through pasta, spread on pizza bases, or served as side dish to chicken, lamb or fish. Note

EQUIPMENT 30cm x 40cm (12-inch x16-inch) rectangular cake board Wooden skewer Test kitchen tips: If using butter cream instead of the vanilla frosting, you will need one quantity of butter cream. Look for cakes with slightly domed tops, otherwise you will have to trim the cake tops to create the curved book shape. You will […]

Risotto cakes came about as a way of using up left-over risotto. It is far easier to shape the cakes when the mixture is cold. It is worth lining oven trays with baking paper to stop the cakes sticking. Note

Equipment: 3 x 12-hole (-cup/80ml) muffin pans 36 square cupcake cases 2 disposable piping bags fitted with a 1cm plain tube 45cm-square covered cake board Decorations: 36 NESTLE Melts White Cooking Compound chocolate Piping gel 5 ALLEN’S SNAKES ALIVE 3 x 25g packets WONKA NERDS Ropes Wash and dry the piping tube between colours. If […]

It is fine to use just 1 x 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Porcini, also known as cèpes, are the richest-flavoured mushrooms. Though expensive, they are so strongly-flavoured only a small amount is required for any particular dish. They are available from specialty food stores and some supermarkets. Pancetta is an Italian salt-cured […]