Modern Australian

Deliciously bright and colourful lentil, gorgonzola and witlof salad.

Heat ungreased gem irons in hot oven for 5 minutes just before use; grease with cooking oil spray. Note

French-trimmed lamb cutlets marry beautifully with this salad, simply grill the lamb until cooked as desired, squeeze with lemon juice and serve alongside the salad. Note

Healthy turkey and sweet cranberry wrap from Australian Women's Weekly.

These buns are best made on the day of serving. Note

Tortiglioni, a straight tubular pasta with grooves on the exterior, works well when baked with a chunky sauce, such as this one. You can substitute it with rigatoni or ziti, if you like, but anything less substantial will get lost amid the hearty sausage and vegetables.

You can also use pink-eye or sebago potatoes for this recipe. Note

Broad beans and mint are a match made in culinary heaven. With the addition of prosciutto and a red wine vinegar dressing, this is the ideal spring side.

Equipment; deep 30cm-round cake pan; 5.5cm round cutter; 40cm-square covered cake board; 3cm round cutter. Decorations; 100s & 1000s; 8 Allen’s Jaffas; 35 vanilla Allen’s Milk Bottle Mania, halved; 36 lime Allen’s Milk Bottle Mania, halved; 19 banana Allen’s Milk Bottle Mania, halved. The cutter we used was about 5cm deep, which made it easier […]

Some occasions call for a more sophisticated kind of sweetness, complex flavours rather than pure sugariness. If you're after something memorable, this rich red wine chocolate cake is an elegant, refined confection.

Paper hearts can be bought at newsagents, or you can place a smaller heartshaped cutter, covered with plastic wrap, on each cake before dusting. Dust hearts with icing sugar. Pour mixture evenly into prepared pan. Use a cutter to cut hearts. Note

You can serve these mango cheeks with lime fresh, or sprinkle them with brown sugar and grill briefly first.

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 the manufacturer’s instructions before using. This recipe is suitable to freeze. Quick release method: Each time the lid is removed from the cooker, the pressure must be released quickly first. […]

There is a little more involved here than simply mixing berries into cupcake batter, but the results are absolutely stunning and delicious.

We used a purchased 800g (1½-pound) fruit cake. Light or dark fruit cake is suitable, use whichever you prefer. Note

Fig and balsamic are a fabulous flavour combination, the fruits fresh sweetness is crisply cut by the mellow acidity of the aged vinegar.

Shake things up with this upside-down beef dish from Australian Women's Weekly.

Serve this spicy eggplant and capsicum salad as part of a mezze-style lunch spread.

A little bit sticky and a little bit spicy, these pork chops won't disappoint, especially not with side of crunchy coleslaw. If you prefer, you could substitute the blue cheese for feta.

Microwave Curried Rice mixture suitable. Note

Trout is such a delicious fish that the secret is to do not much more than cook it well. Here, we've complimented it with a simple lemon and thyme butter and served it with some baby leeks. A perfect dinner for two.

These pies taste wonderful with a fresh rocket salad dressed with 2 tablespoons lime juice, a tablespoon of olive oil and a clove of garlic. Combine this with 100g baby rocket leaves, ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley and ¼ cup fresh mint leaves. Sprinkle with 2 chopped green onions. Note

You will need about 6 fresh cobs of corn for this recipe. Note

Thick, nourishing and deeply satisfying, this lentil, burghul and spinach soup makes a great weekend lunch dish.

Combine remaining ingredients in small bowl, pour over slaw mixture; toss gently, season to taste. Note

Wow your guests with this BBQ perfect balsamic butterfly lamb. Don't forget to rest your lamb. Resting time allows the meat juices to redistribute and meat fibres to relax ensuring tender, moist and flavoursome meat.

For a really rich flavour, marinate the lamb shanks overnight. Serve shanks with flour tortillas, a green salad and lime wedges.

Slow cooked beef pot roast with root vegetables has the house smelling gorgeous all afternoon.

Most cooks put roasted duck into the “leave it to the chefs” basket, but it’s really not that different from roasting a chicken. Once you give it a go, crispy, tender roast duck will become a new favourite.

This is warming comfort food at its best. Don’t let the long cooking time put you off. You’ll spend very little time at the stove before the pan goes in the oven.

Assemble pieces ready to be iced. Use a palette knife to make scales. Position paper pattern on cake. Note

Delicate flaked almonds and piquant anchovies add great flavour to these juicy trout fillets.

Carrot, feta and quinoa tarts with salsa verde.

Dukkah-crusted lamb with smoked eggplant dip from Australian Women's Weekly.

You need 1 large overripe banana (230g), to get the amount of mashed banana required in this recipe This recipe is gluten-free and yeast-free The cake batter needs to be spread quite thinly to bake properly. If you haven’t got twox22cm sandwich pans use two x deep 22cm-round cake pans Note

Cool, sweet and fruity, this refreshing mango and hibiscus sorbet is perfect to enjoy on a warm Summer afternoon by the pool. It is only enhanced by a splash of prosecco.

These greek-style omelettes are healthy and full of flavour. For a fluffy omelette, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form; serve with crispy bacon for a complete breakfast or brunch.

Super speedy and full of strong, clean flavours, this delicious pasta is a great starter or main, for entertaining or a family dinner.

We've foregone the classic version of this drink for a little sweetness. James Bond might frown, but we love it.

Cake can be decorated a day ahead; keep frozen until ready to serve. Note

Delicious little tomato, feta and pancetta frittata from Australian Women's Weekly.

If you want to reduce the intensity of the chillies, remove their seeds and membranes before roasting. You can use chopped prawns or diced scallops instead of the crab meat if you like. You will need 3 limes for this recipe. Avocados are grown year round in Australia with varieties peaking at different times. One […]

Take one packet of chocolate cake mix, add bit of creativity and voila! A beautiful looking layered chocolate cake laced with Grand Marnier and sweet ricotta, decorated with toasted almonds.

You can substitute rib-eye (scotch fillet) or sirloin (new-york cut) steak for the eye fillet in this recipe. Note

Topped with golden, flaky pastry these individual chicken, leek and mushroom pies are great for either lunch or dinner.

A roast joint should be rested before serving to allow the meat to relax. The heat of the oven causes the meat fibres to tighten, so as meat rests the fibres will relax, allowing the meat juices to redistribute themselves throughout the joint. Try to carve the joint across the grain so that each slice has short fibres which feel tender to eat.

kipfler potatoes, small and finger-shaped, have a nutty flavour and are great baked or in salads. You will need two bunches of asparagus for this recipe. Note

Tia Maria and Kahlua are both coffee-flavoured liqueurs and would work well in this recipe. Serve it up as a special grown-up treat along with your afternoon cuppa with friends.

serving suggestion Dusted icing sugar. Note

Kingfish fillets work well with this dish as it has a robust flavour that stands up well to the pesto. Served here with spinach, you have a healthy, low carb evening meal.

These tasty little pizzetta bites with pesto, bocconcini and prosciutto make a great share platter for a cocktail party.

The garlic mayonnaise can be thinned with a little boiling water, if you prefer. Note

The perfect balance of sweet, salty and crunchy, these delicious caramel peanut hearts are the perfect weekend snack, or gift for loved ones.

Beef ribs with a subtle and sweet maple and sherry glaze from Australian Women's Weekly.

They are an unlikely pair, but the combination of banana and passionfruit is fresh, healthy and delicious; always a winner. Make sure your bananas are ever so slightly firm, with no blemishes.

Wild rice has a hearty 'nutty' flavour and is well worth paying a little extra for. Teamed here with flavoured with orange and herbs, it makes a delicious and filling vegetarian meal.

If limes are too expensive you can use lemons instead. Any firm white fish is good for this recipe. Note

Grilled lamb cutlets with a bright and colourful pea mash.

Bananas are a good source of the minerals potassium, which helps our brains function properly, and phosphorous, essential for good health. They are also a great source of easy-to-digest fibre. Don’t peel or cut the bananas until you’re just ready to assemble this dessert because they’ll turn brown quickly. Note

You need 1 medium fresh corn cob, weighing about 125 grams after being trimmed. You can cook more than 1 fritter at a time, but don’t overcrowd the pan. Note

Cheesy caraway toasts make a piquant side for this healthy, nourishing carrot and lentil soup.

Recipe is best made just before serving. Note

ham option Sprinkle with finely chopped ham. Note

Grilled zucchini with chermoulla dressing, a pungent Moroccan herb sauce.

The garlic toasts can be made a day ahead; store in an airtight container. Note

Store slice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Note

This pudding is also great served topped with fresh mango slices, instead of the banana, if you like. Sago is a grain often used in puddings and desserts; it is available from some supermarkets and most health-food stores.

If you can’t find dried pineapple you can use the same amount of finely chopped dried apricot instead. Note

Balsamic white vinegar is a clear and lighter version of balsamic vinegar; it has a fresh, sweet clean taste, and is available from major supermarkets and delicatessens. Note

The kids will love these delightful teddy bear biscuits. You can experiment with different coloured smarties to have a variety of coloured noses, if you like.