To save time, use leftover chicken or bought barbecue chicken, remove all skin and bones before using. Tarragon is the essential flavouring for many classic French sauces and dishes. It is also blended with parsley, chives and chervil to make fines herbes. Note

Ensure the safety pins are removed before serving cake. Assemble cakes then, using image as a reference, cut out cake. Use a toothpick to mark out Joe’s features on cake. To make facial stubble, use toothpicks dipped in black colouring. Note

Decorate cake pops on the day of serving. Note

Wrapping a turkey breast in prosciutto before roasting it helps keep the meat tender and juicy as well as adding lots of flavour to the finished dish.

Tender chicken breasts stuffed with smoked salmon and goat's cheese make for a fabulous dinner party main. You could also make this recipe with double lamb cutlets or butterflied quail instead of the chicken.

A light and creamy guilt-free chocolate mousse, for those times when you really want to treat yourself without over-indulgence.

These caramel macadamia bars are a definite luxury item. Sprinkled with icing sugar, they are a most delicious treat.

If using frozen raspberries, don’t thaw them, as the colour will run. Granny smith or golden delicious apples are both good varieties to use in this recipe. Note

Rich and tender neck chop and lentil stew with a bright and fluffy kumara and carrot mash.

You need to cook 1/2 cup long-grain white rice for this recipe. Note

Hearty and warming, this delicious cream of kumara soup makes the ultimate Winter comfort food. Especially when served with this tasty rosemary sourdough.

These spicy oysters are sure to win over your guests at a barbeque or cocktail party. You can make the spicy dressing in the morning and dress the oysters just prior to serving.

You can also use bintje or desiree potatoes for this recipe. Note

Throw together this delicious dinner in just minutes with the help of a ready-made roast chook and the punchy flavour of blue cheese.

Prepare the bacon, lettuce and dressing on the morning of the picnic. Assemble the salad at the picnic. The ice cubes will “hold”the colour in the dressing. Note

To keep the glossy finish to the frosting, the cake needs to be frosted up to an hour before the party. The frosting soon dries out to resemble cooked meringue. Note

This tart will keep well, removed from the tin and covered, in the refrigerator for several days. Serve tart at room temperature This pastry is very easy and good for any savoury tart, but you can also use thawed ready-rolled pastry sheets, joined with a little egg yolk. Note

Chewy, rich and gorgeously lush, these fudgy chocolate, cherry and coconut cookies are perfect served with a strong cup of coffee.

If palm sugar is difficult to find, you can use brown sugar instead Note

Top this dense white chocolate mud cake with a smooth, sweet ganache for the ultimate cake treat!

Dukkah-crusted lamb cutlets with cauliflower.

Like mushrooms, witlof is grown in the dark to retain its pale colour. Sometimes spelled witloof, and in some places known as belgian endive or chicory, this versatile and bittersweet vegetable is as good eaten cooked as it is raw. You need to purchase a large barbecued chicken, weighing approximately 900g, for this recipe. Note

A classic Italian dish popularised in New York by Italian immigrants.

The whole orange at the heart of this jaffa steamed pudding perfumes the entire dish as it cooks.

You need 1kg of untrimmed spinach to get the amount of trimmed spinach needed for this recipe. Note

You need about two medium carrots to get enough grated carrot for this recipe. Spoon the mixture evenly into the paper cases in pan. Sift the icing sugar into a heatproof bowl. Stir in the butter and enough orange juice to make a firm paste. Put bowl of icing mixture over a saucepan of simmering […]

The perfect starter to a dinner party with loved ones, or just an indulgent weekend meal with drinks, these beautiful garlic crumbed mussels are beautiful with a glass of wine.

Get a green boost from this healthy, energising freshly made silver beet and apple juice.

On a surface dusted with icing sugar, mould the balloon end from the reserved icing Dust your hands with icing sugar then gently mould the icing into a balloon shape When icing is large enough to cover the cake, carefully lift icing over cake using a rolling pin Using a toothpick or skewer, make small […]

deep 25cm (10-inch) round cake pan 35cm (14-inch) round cake board 1 toothpick 2 packets strawberry sour straps 2 rolls yellow fruit and cola wheels 6 coloured sugar-coated almonds 1 Twix Bar 1 mint leaf Make a hole in the side of a Twix Bar with a toothpick. Push one end of the mint leaf […]

Any stone fruit will work in this delightfully simple dessert of grilled nectarines with passionfruit yogurt.

To save time, you can join two sheets of frozen shortcrust pastry together to cover the pie, roll edges together with a rolling pin. Note

equipment 31cm x 34cm teddy bear cake pan 38cm x 47cm covered cake board Allen’s Peaches & Cream and Strawberries & Cream can be found in Allen’s Party Mix. Note

These muffins are best eaten warm. Note

This recipe can be made a day ahead, but hold off on adding the ginger ale until just before serving. Note

Sticky glazed pork with a quick and simple cucumber and cashew salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

As your butcher to bone the lamb loin for you. Slice thickly and serve with roasted vegetables and minty peas. Cold roast lamb is delicious for sandwiches the next day, if there is any leftover.

Use a good quality chicken stock instead of the consommé, if you prefer. Ask the butcher to butterfly the turkey for you. The turkey can be cooked in the oven, if you prefer. Preheat oven to 180°C and cook, uncovered, on wire rack, about 1¾ hours. Note

Cuttlefish or scallops would be an excellent substitute for the squid. Note

Delicious and crunchy buttermilk chicken drumsticks served with bacon-wrapped corn cobs.

Serve with salads that shouldn’t be overpowered by olive oil. Note

If in season, use halved and seeded fresh apricots. Note

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 4. Coconut water is the liquid from the centre of an immature coconut. It is readily available in tetra packs and cans from a variety of supermarkets. Ensure it’s labelled 100 per cent coconut water, and that it is not sweetened. Note

Give your regular yo-yos a citrusy, nutty twist with these orange and hazelnut flavoured morsels. Perfect to enjoy with your morning or afternoon cuppa with friends.

Roasted pumpkin with bacon and fetta from AWW May 2008

It's the mixed spice, a blend of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, coriander and ginger, that makes this carrot cake so heavenly.

These flavour filled little tarts make a great shared platter for a cocktail party, or a starter for a special meal.

If you're in the mood for something deeply indulgent, you can't go past this moist flourless chocolate and hazelnut cake. As a bonus, it is gluten-free, wheat-free and yeast-free.

Rice noodle cakes. This recipe is gluten-free, wheat-free, yeast-free, dairy-free and nut-free. Best of all, it's delicious and makes a perfect light snack or meal for the kids.

A roast beef rib still on the bone is the indisputable king of roasts. Served here with a homemade mustard bearnaise sauce, this is a meal worth celebrating for.

This divine bacon wrapped chicken recipe is beautiful enjoyed straight straight from the pan served with fresh veggies for a tasty family dinner.

Spice up a dull evening with this nourishing and tasty lentil and garlic soup with yogurt.

The beauty of this hearty soup lies in its versatility. You can use whatever winter veggies that take your fancy - cauliflower, broccoli or even mushrooms - and it will still taste just as good.

Get your iron Popeye-style with this cream of spinach soup with lemon fetta toasts.

Spread this cut & keep butter cake with a simple glace icing and sprinkle it with hundreds and thousands before the icing sets. It will be a big hit with the kids. Try substituting the caster sugar with brown sugar for a light caramel flavour.

These pretty little morsels combine the flavours of strawberry and coconut for a wonderful teatime treat that can be devoured in two bites.

A true classic of British cooking, steak and kidney pie is a rich and sumptuous dish. If you haven't cooked with kidneys before you could ask your butcher to prepare them for you.

Give yourself a healthy dose of 'good morning' with this delicious fresh sunrise smoothie. Full of a healthy dose of vitamin C and energy rich banana, you'll be set up for the entire day.

The key to making a success of the meal on a big day is all about planning and preparation. If you’re not already a list-maker, become one; having a list will make everything seem so much easier. The special meals, like this wonderful lobster dish, will come together nicely.

You will need 450g of fresh peas in the pod or 2 cups (240g) frozen peas for this recipe. Note

Exquisite and flavourful pan-seared lemon and anchovy chicken with garlic pumpkin.

If breadcrumbs are not brown, place dish under hot grill for a few seconds, until crisp. We used cannellini beans, but you can use any white bean if you like. Duck marylands have the leg and thigh still connected in a single piece; the bones and skin remain intact. Note

Full of flavour and pretty as a picture, these prawn sandwiches are perfect for a fancy high tea.

Fresh spinach and ricotta agnolotti is found in most supermarkets’ refrigerated sections. You can substitute ravioli or tortellini for the agnolotti, but none should contain meat or poultry in their filling. Note

These bite sized olive and cheese fritters and packed full of savoury flavour and crunch - the perfect finger food for a birthday party or event.

Vegetable juicing is vital to good health because it is an important source of raw food. We all need raw foods every day for optimum health, and juicing is an excellent way to satisfy the health requirements in a taste- tantilising way. Note

Serve these tasty little pots of smoked salmon topped with poached eggs for a delightful brunch.

Mozzarella or fontina cheese can be substituted for feta cheese, if preferred. Note

You can serve these butterscotch apples on their own, with cream or spooned over a steamed pudding.

To segment oranges, cut top and bottom from oranges with a small sharp knife. Cut remaining rind and white pith from oranges, following the curve of the fruit. Holding the oranges over a bowl, cut down both sides of the white membrane to release each segment. Squeeze membrane to release any juices into the bowl. […]

Sweet and sticky lamb loin cutlets with a plum glaze make a nice change from the usual. Continue the Chinese theme and serve with fried rice.

Featherlight sponge cake layered with luscious raspberry cream makes for a stunning and delicious treat.

Buttery cake topped with a tangy and freckled icing - it's a fairy tale cake come to life.