Quick & Easy

Studded with pistachios, pomegranate seeds and raspberries, this deconstructed dessert is perfect for an elegant dinner party.

You can use any cut of chicken you wish in this lemongrass chicken recipe. Lovely legs are trimmed, skinned chicken drumsticks but full drumsticks and thighs work beautifully too.

You'll be seriously popular after you serve up these hot little banana, chocolate and peanut butter turnovers.

Trotters with ginger is an old traditional Cantonese recipe created for mothers after birth.

An exquisite dish of chicken confit with spinach and pan jus from Australian Women's Weekly.

The beauty of freeform tarts is that they're incredibly easy to throw together, and taste every bit as delicious as a perfectly primped example.

Give your usual fish pies a sophisticated variation with this smoked fish version. They can go straight from the oven to the table in pretty individual dishes and make a lovely dinner party main meal.

These freeform hand-made sushi rolls are easy to make and look spectacular. They are perfect as a starter or for a share platter at a party.

Self-saucing puddings are quite magical really, and the best thing of all is that they’re complete when they come out of the oven. You only need a scoop of ice- cream, custard or cream for serving. Always let the pudding stand for at least 5 minutes before serving. Note

Dust with a little extra sifted icing sugar. Note

Be careful when taking the pumpkin out of the microwave as the bowl will be very hot. Note

A dish that looks wonderful doesn't need to be difficult, as is shown by this mushroom tart recipe.

This spiced lentil and roasted kumara soup is just the ticket for those times when you're after a light, meat-free meal full of vitamins and flavour. Serve with crusty bread.

Full of hazelnuts, walnuts and cherries, this easy fridge slice makes a decadent treat with tea or coffee.

For a simple seafood starter, this dish is one to have in the repertoire. It is so easy to make and tastes great.

Lamb can be prepared and refrigerated the day before, but is best cooked on the morning of the picnic. Fill the pittas as close to departure time as possible. Baba ghanoush is a roasted eggplant (aubergine) dip or spread. It is available from delicatessens and most supermarkets. Note

Ditch the stodgy cafeteria food for this perfect lunch box staple that's simple, quick and absolutely fool-proof.

You can use one quantity basic shortcrust pastry instead of the store-bought pastry sheets. Note

Try this fragrant, easy chicken stir-fry with jasmine rice and a squeeze of lime.

A perfect and fun ten soda and pizza cake for you child's birthday party.

A flavour-packed Asian broth with crispy duck and mushrooms from Australian Women's Weekly.

Simple yet special, the ideal dish to serve up to friends when you're celebrating in a relaxed style.

Juggling is so much fun, people have been doing it since ancient Egyptian times. This delightful fellow is constructed from lots of little cakes, so it's simple to make and easy to decorate.

Rigatoni is a ridged pasta that looks like thick, short penne, its grooves and wide centre help hold chunky sauces. Note

Pappardelle with silver beet, goat's cheese, chilli and lemon

Fresh warm scones with jam and double cream are one of the true delights in the afternoon tea repertoire. If you can get your hands on some proper clotted cream, all the better.

This recipe can be made a day or two in advance. You may need to add some extra liquid when reheating. Add peanuts when serving.

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Carrot cakes

Quesadillas can be cooked in a heated sandwich press, just make sure you gently wrap the quesadilla in baking paper before pressing, to stop the filling from burning the press.

This decadent, crunchy-topped slice is perfect with a morning or afternoon cuppa.

Threading lime dressed prawns on fresh sticks of lemongrass makes for a zesty and fragrant dish.

These potato and goat cheese puffs will make a moreish and tasty addition to your next dinner party hors-d'oeuvre selection. To save on time, make them in advance and cook just before serving.

Celebrate with this tall cocktail in style. Perfect for a hot day in the sun.

Wrap individual muffins in plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months. Defrost muffins as required either overnight in the refrigerator or in the microwave on high (100%) for about 30 seconds. Note

Perfect for an after school snack, or school and work lunches these mini ham and corn quiches are easy and tasty and appealing.

John dory is a mild tasting fish that lends itself well to a multitude of flavours. We've given it an Asian influence here, teaming it with chilli and coconut rice.

Speedy and moreish, the whole family will love this easy chicken pasta.

For a different option, grate the apple coarsely. Note

Once fish has cooked and mussels have opened, serve topped with fennel mix and garlic croûtons. Scatter with chopped parsley in place of the fennel fronds if you like.

Served with a dollop of yoghurt sprinkled with sumac, these beautiful stuffed vine leaves are a perfect dish to share with friends.

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

Although ingredients in five-spice powder vary from country to country, it is usually a fragrant ground mixture of cinnamon, clove, star anise, sichuan pepper and fennel seeds.

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Note

Coated in mildly spiced crispy breadcrumbs and served with a lime-coriander yoghurt, these fish fillets with kumara fries will be loved by the whole family.

This recipe is quick, simple and healthy. A great combination for a light meal on the go.

A rich source of protein and naturally low in fat, seafood is easy to prepare, quick to cook and can be served a wide variety of ways. Look to oily fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines for your Omega-3 needs, while oysters are naturally very high in zinc. If you like, use brown rice […]

Crunchy iceberg cups filled with Thai-style soy and chilli infused chicken salad.

Served with coriander couscous, this speedy Moroccan dish will be devoured by the whole family.

Rich, moist and just sweet enough, this cake is great for any occasion.

For a tasty breakfast or lunch, try these tortillas filled with creamy scrambled eggs and spicy pumpkin seed sauce.

Harissa is a fiery chilli-based North African condiment.

This is a good salad for a barbecue as it keeps well and is not fussy about the temperature at which it is served.

Tasty pork and fennel sausages make a fabulous base for this pasta topping. You can stir through a small tub of ricotta to add creaminess if you like.

Turkish delight, also known as lokum, is a sweet made of a flavouring (traditionally rose, vanilla, pistachio or orange), sugar syrup, nuts and dried fruit bound together with mastic (gum arabic). According to legend, turkish delight was developed by one of the Ottoman sultans to appeal to the hundreds of women in his harem. The […]

This easy stir-fry makes for an speedy weekday meal.

Cool off in summer with this delicious tropical dessert.

Surprisingly light for a cream based pasta, this bacon and broccoli pasta is quick, filling and just the ticket on a busy weeknight.

The toffee nests can be made up to an hour before serving if the weather is cool. Note

A square cutter will make it easier to make perfectly shaped biscuits. However, you can easily cut out well- shaped rectangles from the rolled out dough. Be fussy, roll the dough as evenly as you can, then use a ruler and a sharp knife to cut out the rectangles. Use Kahlua or Tia Maria in […]

Perfect for a lazy lunch with friends, this spinach quiche is quick and delicious. For something rather different, you could use sorrel leaves in place of the spinach.

A great way to use up left-over cooked pasta, this chicken and asparagus pasta salad is simple, tasty and quick to make. You can use most pasta varieties.

Tarts can be prepared a day ahead and kept, covered, in the refrigerator. Reheat just before serving or serve chilled if preferred. Note

When making the dressing, use the `pulse’ button on the blender to just combine the ingredients and lightly chop the dill cucumbers and capers. Using a salad spinner is the quickest and easiest way to wash and dry the lettuce leaves. Note

Lemon feta toasts, feta recipe, brought to you by Australian Women's Weekly.

This meal is so easy to whip up on a chilly weeknight. It's also delicious reheated for lunch the next day.

These beef burgers with roast tomato and caramelised onion will quickly become a family favourite.

To make this mouth-watering recipe a light main course for two, serve it with steamed rice or noodles.

These popular French cakes are light, fluffy and delicious served with a dollop of yoghurt on the side.

An Italian-style raw beef carpaccio with a fresh Thai basil salad.

Impress your party guests with these delicious barbecued duck and ginger tartlets.

Use light coconut cream for a lower-fat version. Note

Served with tomato chutney, these easy bacon and egg tarts are perfect for breakfast or brunch.

Harissa is a North African paste made from dried red chillies, garlic, olive oil and caraway seeds. It is available from Middle Eastern food shops and some supermarkets. Note

Spicy and redolent with garlic, these chilli prawn pizzas are a crowd-pleaser. You can add some torn buffalo mozzarella if you like, and the finished pizzas are great topped with baby rocket tossed in olive oil and lemon juice.

Add some thinly sliced red chilli for a spicy version of this soup, if you like. This is a last minute soup, it doesn’t freeze well. The pasta will become soggy as it absorbs more liquid and the buk choy will discolour. Note

Campari is an alcoholic apéritif (served before a meal to stimulate the appetite) made from an infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water. Note

Get a healthy dose of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals (including potassium, selenium and vitamin B12) plus a super dose of omega-3 fatty acids, all wrapped up in classic Thai flavours.

Chicken can be coated in Rice Bubble crumbs up to 2 hours ahead. Keep covered in the refrigerator and bake as required. Note

As an alternative to the Asian flavours used above, a glaze of orange, ginger and maple syrup also goes beautifully with this ham. Combine 1 cup maple syrup, 1 cup fresh orange juice, ⅓ cup orange marmalade, ¼ cup grated fresh ginger and 2 teaspoons finely grated orange rind in small saucepan; bring to the […]

If making the salad ahead of time, dress the salad just before serving. You could use thick rice noodles instead of the rice vermicelli. Note

Chocolate mixture can be prepared a day ahead. Keep covered in refrigerator and reheat just before serving. Note