Warn your guests that the sugar on the pineapple will be extremely hot. Note

Patties can be made a day before the party, keep them covered in the fridge. The sauce can be made a week before the party, keep covered in the fridge. Assemble the burgers up to 3 hours before the party. Note

If liked, use smoked salmon in place of prawns. Note

Cake pans vary in depth, so if you have a little cake mixture left over, use it to make cupcakes. Use bought sugar flowers of your choice, available from supermarkets and cake decorating suppliers. Remove and discard skewers before cutting bottom tier. White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on […]

A quick and healthy pilaf for a busy midweek dinner.

Kumara slices can be baked several hours ahead. Keep covered. Assemble salad and add dressing just before serving. Note

Possums without eyes can be made up to two days ahead. Pipe eyes on the day of serving. Note

Ready-made rich chocolate fudge frosting is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

The hardest part of making this cake is getting the colours right. Use good quality colourings and you’ll have no trouble. It’s been around since 300 BC… but it wasn’t until 1952 that the first checkers programme was used by a computer. Note

Equipment needed: 9cm heart cutter, 20cm 18-gauge floral wire, wire cutters, 35cm round wooden cake board, 20cm round wooden cake board, 15cm round wooden cake board, smoothing tools, 6 wooden cake skewers, and a paper piping bag. The hearts can be made weeks ahead; store in an airtight container. Position them on the day of […]

To fold the cream and egg whites into the chocolate mousse mixture, use a large flat rubber spatula. Note

Brown rice vinegar, made from brown rice, has been called the eastern version of apple cider vinegar, although its mild flavour has a subtle sweetness and about half the sharpness. It is available from Asian grocery stores and some health-food stores Note

Depending on the ripeness of the peaches, peel them using a vegetable peeler or, blanch them by cutting a small cross in the base of each peach; cover with boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Stand 5 minutes, then transfer peaches to a bowl of iced water. Using fingers or a small knife, carefully remove […]

Make sure the rose petals have not been treated with any chemical sprays. Note

You can use gravy beef for this recipe, if you prefer. Note

Fill meringues just before serving. Note

One muffin is to be served per person for breakfast. The remaining muffins can be frozen or eaten as a snack. You could make two large muffins for breakfast and the remaining mixture can be made into snack-sized mini muffins. The ricotta mixture serves 2 people; make a fresh batch before serving the remaining muffins. […]

A hit with every coconut lover, this slice just improves with age. It can also be made as tartlets. Note

We rimmed the cocktail glass with pink sugar; simply add a drop of red food colouring to sugar and mix well. Note

If shiso leaves are unavailable, substitute them with basil leaves. Note

A delicious salad full of crispy roast kumara and crunchy and balanced with fresh pear and cranberries.

Stand the yeast mixture in a warm place to allow it to become frothy. It’s important that the spot you choose is warm, not hot. If it’s too hot you’ll kill the yeast. Note

Equipment 30cm (12-inch) round cake board small new artists’ paint brush The biohazard tape was ordered online from the US. Printing the words `biohazard’ onto yellow tape with a permanent marker adds a visual effect which is just as good, and less expensive. test kitchen tips Use any lollies you like, but make sure they […]

The cake mix is enough to make 12 cakes so you can decorate the remaining 6 cakes into other animals of your own choosing. Note

Confit, from the French verb ‘confire’ meaning to preserve, means both a food item that has been slow-cooked in fat to cover, and also the cooking technique. Confit foods are exquisitely soft and delicately flavoured, so the technique is sometimes used, as in this recipe, simply to achieve this luxurious effect. Note

Sardines are available already butterflied from most fishmongers. Note

EQUIPMENT 25cm x 35cm (10-inch x 14-inch) rectangular cake board 5cm (2-inch) heart cutter 3cm (1¼-inch) heart cutter Use any shaped cutter for this cake, try snowflakes or stars. You can use letter cutters and write the name of the child on the cake. Use coloured sprinkles that suit the occasion of your party. If […]

Thanks to hothouse growing, rhubarb is available all year, so you can indulge in a hot pie or crumble as well as any number of luscious desserts matching rhubarb with berries and cream or mascarpone whenever you like. Be sure to discard every bit of the vegetable’s leaf and use only the thinnest stalks (the […]

Coleslaw is a great crunchy addition to sandwiches. It can have just about anything in it as long as shredded cabbage is the chief ingredient. Most coleslaws also have grated carrot and a mayonnaise or vinegar (or both) dressing. Note

Keeping time: 2 days. Note

Try layering various herb leaves, such as sage, inside the potato wafers. You can also use russet burbank or spunta potatoes for this recipe. Note

Naturally sweet strawberries are the star of these healthy pancakes, which are made fluffy and light with low-fat ricotta. Just drizzle with honey for a guilt-free breakfast treat or easy dessert idea.

You need one medium pomegranate for this recipe. Note

We used wahoo fish for this recipe, but you could use any white fish such as whiting, bream, sole, flounder, dory, perch, snapper or ling. Note

You will need about 1 bunch of rhubarb for this recipe. Note

Soak bamboo skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent them from scorching during cooking. Note

If the potatoes that you purchase for this recipe are young and quite small, scrubbing them well (rather than peeling) will be sufficient. Tuna is at its best if browned both sides Note

Personalise the messages scrawled all over this clever cake, which looks just like an inner-city wall for the cake. Note

These scones are at their very best made just before serving. Eat them hot, straight out of the oven. Note

You can substitute chopped, drained canned peaches or apricots for the pineapple in this recipe. We used Just Right breakfast cereal in this recipe but you can use any flaked and dried fruit cereal, even a muesli or granola-like product. We used Malibu liqueur but you can use your favourite brand. Note

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.

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

Peri peri prawn and coleslaw tortillas

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

The secret for making perfect roast potatoes? Use olive oil instead of other oils or butter because it tolerates high oven temperatures better and gives a delicious taste to the potatoes.

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