Modern Australian

You need to buy a 350g bunch of watercress for the amount of sprigs required. Note

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

Surprise and delight the kids with these delicious white chocolate and macadamia muffins, or better still, get them involved in making them. They're dead easy and ready to be eaten in around 30 minutes.

A hearty stew for cold winter nights.

Gluten-free cakes are too often dry and disappointing, the mashed banana and jam helps make this gluten-free chocolate cake a rich, dense triumph.

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 […]

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

It's sure to impress.

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

Grab a handful of this trail mix when you're hungry and after a quick healthy snack that will see you through to the next meal.

You will need about 2 limes for this recipe. Note

These tasty, flaky little pastries, seasoned with shards of nori, sesame and parmesan, make a great shared party platter. Use scissors to finely shred the nori.

Herb dip can be made up to a day ahead. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

These noodle and vegetable rice paper rolls are a classic Vietnamese crowd pleaser. The trick when making them is to dunk the rice paper just enough so that it is pliable enough to roll, as it will continue to gradually soften.

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

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

The spinach (or try cos lettuce) will stop the bread from turning soggy. The night before Make the filling and keep, covered, in the refrigerator. Make the sandwiches in the morning. Note

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

Be sure to remove toothpicks from cake before cutting and serving. Note

Sweet and sticky caramelised vegetables that go perfectly with roast dinners.

The smooth flavour of mocha in a freshly baked, moist cake is irresistible. This cake will keep for up to 2 days, but we're sure it won't last that long!

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 […]

A healthy, sweet and delicious warm beef, orange and date salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

The perfect summer dish; barramundi with kipflers and roasted capsicum from Australian Women's Weekly.

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.

The perfect side salad for a romantic dinner.

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

These tasty baked arrabbiata muffins are packed full of flavour and texture. Filled with melted, oozy cheese, they will be loved by kids and adults alike. Enjoy them warm as a light lunch or dinner or pop them in your lunch box for work or school.

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 rich and tasty starter, plump prawns with fresh guacamole and mango is fully of flavour.

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

A sweet and delicious watermelon rind chutney; great for sharing with friends and family.

This recipe is best made just before serving. Note

We've used both orange and lemon rind in this recipe, together with the ginger and the steamed fish they create a lovely and exotic Asian aroma and taste.

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

To freeze; wrap cake in two layers of plastic wrap. Seal, label and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight at room temperature. This cake will also keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or in the refrigerator for 1 week. Note

The beauty of this pavlova roll is that you can experiment will all sorts of fruit to fill the centre. We've used banana, kiwi and passionfruit here, but any soft fruit will do. The result is still amazing.

This recipe specifies lamb leg steak, but it could be cooked with mid-loin chops or backstrap – just vary the cooking time accordingly. The sauce is rich and flavoursome – the secret being to cook the tomato paste first and to let the sauce cook down enough at the end.

This recipe is packed full of brilliant flavours and textures for a fun way to get your family to eat more seafood. Serve with tartare sauce that perfectly complements the crunchy coating.

The winning combination of rich chocolate and nutty hazelnuts work perfectly together in these sweet and fluffy meringue cupcakes. Perfect for an indulgent dessert or mid-morning treat.

This is also a great family meal served with rice or bread. The tandoori paste is found in the Asian section of the supermarket. Serve the salad in an airtight container that fits inside the lunchbox with a freezer block. Put the dressing into a smaller container to be put on the salad (or dunked into) at lunchtime – if it's put on in the morning, it will become soggy. If your kids are little gourmets, throw a wedge of lemon in as well.

Sweet, juicy peaches are beautiful served atop this golden, crumbly almond tart. Sprinkle with some icing sugar for a quick and tasty baked dessert.

This pretty marbled chocolate thins are easier to make than you'd expect, marbling the chocolate can be almost therapeutic once you get the hang of it. Avoid rapid cooling and don't put the sheets in the fridge to set, you want the chocolate to be set firm but not brittle when you're ready to use the cutters.

The delicate flavour of ocean trout makes it the perfect fish for this crisp, tender three bean salad. Buttermilk makes for a creamy yet light dressing. Altogether lip-smacking.

This pear and hazelnut bread are a delightfully fruity and crispy accompaniment to your morning or afternoon brew. They also make a lovely and thoughtful homemade gift.

Austalian Women's Weekly brings you this delicious veal stroganoff pies with carrot salad.

Colourful and delicious warm cabbage and bacon salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

Baked on lollipop sticks, these raspberry and lemon curd heart biscuits will be a smash hit at kids and grown-up parties alike.

these delicate biscuits can be coloured to suit your theme; they look lovely in one colour, or layered using different colours, however, it is quicker and easier to ice the biscuits in the same colour. equipment 6.5cm (2½-inch) round cutter 5cm (2-inch) round cutter 3.5cm (1¼-inch) round cutter 6 paper piping bags (page 221) tweezers […]

The cake is best made on the day of serving. Note

Prepare the wraps the night before the picnic; wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Cut the rolls at the picnic. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note