Modern Australian

Gingerbread cases can be made 3 days ahead; store in an airtight container. Assemble tarts on the day of serving. Top with caramel shards just before serving, as they will slowly melt, especially in humid weather. Note

You need 24 bamboo skewers, soak them in cold water for at least an hour prior to use to prevent them from splintering and scorching. Note

Chicken casserole is a classic one-pot winter warmer dish. We've elevated it to 'posh' status here, with the addition of mushrooms, celeriac and juniper berries.

This recipe is gluten-free, wheat-free, yeast-free and dairy-free. Use a hot dry knife to cut the cake. storage Note

With a cloud-like, marshmallowy centre, this pavlova is the stuff dreams are made of. Serve with lashings of whipped cream, and fresh berries.

This savoury dip is quick and easy to make and goes equally well with corn chips, crudités, or vegetable sticks. It's perfect for a gathering of family and friends, or an after-school snack.

Brushing the whole piece of tuna with olive oil 3 hours ahead of cooking will help keep it moist and soft when it’s grilled. Note

TODDLER TIP Give your toddler one mashed or chopped fish burger with a little of the carrot and lettuce. Note

dairy-free egg-free nut-free Note

Lemon myrtle is a native Australian herb with a pleasant intense lemony taste, without the acidity. It’s available from the spice section of major supermarkets. Substitute 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon rind or 2 very thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves. Note

Incredibly easy to make and seriously delicious, this smoked trout pâté is perfect for pre-dinner nibblies with friends.

A sweet and summery salad with witlof and nashi from Australian Women's Weekly.

Plump prawns, crisp lettuce, mayonnaise, lemon and chilli make these mini prawn cocktail rolls an absolute winner in the party food stakes.

An updated version of the Armenian nutmeg cake, this cake uses different spices and is more like a slice having a cake-like topping. Any nuts, such as almonds, pecans, walnuts or hazelnuts, can be substituted for the pistachios. Butter should be chopped while still refrigerator-cold. Using a medium- to large-sized food processor or large blender […]

We used butter beans for this recipe, but you can use any white beans. Note

Add the peppermint essence to suit your taste. Start with what we have recommended and add more until you achieve a nice balance between the chocolate and the mint. Note

Heart, healthy, fast and easy vegetable and red lentil soup from Australian Women's Weekly.

These divine fig galettes make a beautiful dessert with a mug of hot coffee. The combination of buttery pastry and juicy fruit is a match made in heaven.

The turkey buffé, or breast, is perfect if you don't require the entire bird to feed the hoards on Christmas day. The special stuffing and paprika rub add a touch of festive cheer.

Punch phora literally means 'five spices' and is a spice blend of cumin, brown mustard, fenugreek, nigella and fennel commonly used in Eastern India and Bangladesh.

This recipe is best served immediately. Use lamb fillet if you can’t find back-strap. Note

medium GI We used bream fillets in this recipe but you can use other firm white fish, such as whiting or john dory. Note

Horseradish is sold in various forms; make sure you use the prepared white horseradish in this recipe, not horseradish cream. You need about four large bunches of spinach weighing about 1.6kg to get the amount of trimmed spinach required for this recipe. Note

Sweet beetroot contrasts beautifully with sharp, salty feta and bitter leaves in this delicious salad. Perfect as a light lunch, or a side dish.

The fruit needs to stand overnight before starting the recipe. You can swap the dark rum with brandy or sweet sherry, if you like. This cake is overflowing with cherries and currants rather than the typical variety of mixed fruit. Note

You can melt the chocolate in a microwave oven; cook on MEDIUM (55%) about 1 minute, stirring twice while cooking. Note

Give your regular chicken cacciatore some pizzaz by topping it with this delicious and piquant gremolata mix. Serve with crusty bread or mashed potato for a complete and hearty meal.

These cheesy corn and bacon muffins are delicious served both warm and cold. They make a great morning tea or after-school snack, and are perfect for packing in a lunch-box.

The perfect accompaniment to a big breakfast: quick and simple onion and potato hash.

Button or portobello mushrooms can also be used in this recipe. Note

For added pizzaz, you can layer the cashew cream in glasses and top with the fruit for a more formal dessert. Try roasting other stonefruit such as plums and apricots.

If you don't have any skewers handy, you could use rosemary sprigs instead, they'll infuse the fish with a lovely flavour. Soak them well first, to prevent burning. For the fish, we've used blue-eye but any white fish will do.

Soak eight bamboo skewers in cold water for an hour before use to prevent them splintering or scorching during cooking. Note

Salsa verde gives this dish a splash of colour and a delicious flavour. Teamed with crispy roasted potatoes, there should be no complaints at the dinner table.

Quick and fun toffee chocolate spoons from Australian Women's Weekly.

A classic modern pie with beef and caramelised onion from Australian Women's Weekly.

A few key ingredients and just 10 minutes preparation and you and your guests can be enjoying these mixed berries with mascarpone; easy, simple, yet oh so good. Use your favourite mixture of berries for this recipe.

This recipe is suitable to make in a slow cooker and pressure cooker. Note

We used blue sugared almonds, available from confectionery and speciality nut shops, but you can use any colour you like. Note

Tuna sold as sashimi has to meet stringent guidelines regarding its handling and treatment after leaving the water. It is a good idea to buy it only from a fishmonger you trust, or to seek advice from local authorities before eating any raw seafood. Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. 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

Make this exciting and fun cake for your child's birthday party.

Freeze cheese for 10 minutes to make crumbling easier. Note

To save waste you could use the different coloured fondant sections from the licorice allsorts and decorate each cake with a different colour. Note

Bright, fruity and packed with flavour, raspberry and orange cordial is a great base for a refreshing soft drink or used as a mixer for vodka or white rum.

Although these crisps make a great snack on their own, you can also use them to accompany dips or soup. Make crisps in two large sheets, then break into shards to serve. Add sesame seeds to the mix if you like.

Rich, sweet and earthy, this hazelnut butterscotch self-saucing pudding is an excellent way to warm up this winter.

Fresh pomegranate seeds can sometimes be found in the fridge section of supermarkets or good green grocers. If unavailable, cut a whole pomegranate in half and scrape the seeds from flesh with your fingers while holding the pomegranate upside down in a bowl of cold water; the seeds will sink and the white pith will […]

Fishmongers and major supermarkets should have fresh shelled prawns with the tails intact. If you can’t find them fresh, prawns are also available frozen. Thaw in the fridge during the day, so they are ready to cook when you get home. Note

As with the word casserole, tagine also has two different culinary meanings. Originally from Moroccan kitchens and now found in many of ours, a tagine is the earthenware, cone-lidded vessel in which the spicy, fragrant North African stew with the same name is cooked. The lid serves as a vent, allowing the steam to escape, […]

Grilled piri piri drumettes with a spicy coleslaw from Australian Women's Weekly.

If you can’t find rocky road confectionery, use a tub of chocolate rocky road ice-cream instead. Note

If using bamboo skewers, soak them in water for at least an hour before using, to avoid splintering and scorching during cooking. Note

Simple, fast and full of flavour, the ideal mid-week dinner recipe.

Braising is a cooking technique that is usually used for tougher, less expensive cuts of meat. The meat is seared, or browned, and then simmered in liquid on a low heat in a covered pot. The resulting meat is beautifully tender and flavourful. Slow cooker: suitable to the end of step 6. Pressure cooker: suitable […]

After microwaving food for children, it is very important to thoroughly stir it to distribute the heat evenly. Then, you should ALWAYS test the temperature against your skin (dip in a clean finger, or place a small quantity of food on your lower lip). ­It should feel warm, not hot. Note

Create this gorgeous green dip by switching chickpeas for soy beans!

Refresh yourself and cleanse your palate with this zesty lemon sorbet.

Fresh and colourful tropical salad with lime and ginger syrup from Australian Women's Weekly.

It is fine to use just 1 x 300ml carton (tub) of thickened cream. When spreading the cream mixture over the sponge, don’t go too close to the edges, the cream will spread a little when you add the next layers. To make dark chocolate ganache; bring cream to the boil in medium saucepan; remove […]

Golden filo pastry filled with lemony spinach and feta cheese and fragrant with dill and mint, this pie is a winner.