Quick & Easy

A north African stew of white bean and lentil tagine from Australian Women's Weekly.

These bite-sized morsels of trout and pomelo salad are mouth-watering with hits of flavour from roasted peanut nam jim, fresh ginger, coconut and lime.

Tia Maria or dark crème de cacao can be substituted for Kahlua. Glass 180ml old-fashioned Note

Making your own pizza bases is not difficult and it’s rewarding, but, if time is short, buy the bases and use the topping ingredients we’ve suggested. Note

Japanese-style chicken and egg on rice is a savoury and satisfying dinner.

Place apples in acidulated water (cold water mixed with either vinegar or lemon juice) to prevent them from browning. Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Ciabatta or sourdough bread are ideal to use for making breadcrumbs. You can make your own breadcrumbs at home using stale bread. Cut the crusts off, tear into small pieces and place in a food processor. Pulse until you get the size crumb you desire. If your bread isn’t stale, it’s important to dry it […]

Sweet and spicy, these stir-fried prawns on a pineapple and chilli salad make a stunning starter or lovely light lunch.

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

Recipe is best made just before serving. Note

Rich and delicious Indian korma with slowcooked tender lamb from Australian Women's Weekly.

A delicious baked pasta dish of chicken penne carbonara with crispy crumbs to keep the whole family happy.

Fast and fresh is what most of us are looking for in a mid-week dinner, this prawn spaghettini recipe is fast, fresh, tasty and healthy. Winner.

This healthy Sichuan beef stir-fry stuffed full of vegetables, is tasty to eat and very quick cook.

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

Fennel adds a fresh astringency to a savoury prawn risotto.

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

You can also cook this recipe in a 180°C (160°C fan-forced) oven for about 2 hours. Freeze individual portions of cooled curry in airtight containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Note

With a crunchy coconut topping, these fluffy banana muffins go perfectly with that morning or afternoon cuppa.

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.

Chana masala is a deliciously spicy vegetarian chickpea curry, best served with steamed basmati rice, yoghurt and naan.

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

This crumble goes well with custard. 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

Moist, fresh and earthy, this cake owes all of its finer points to the inclusion of the beetroot.

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.

serving per person for each of the five food groups 1½ serves vegetables;1 serve grain foods; 1 serve lean meat and bean foods. Note

With hints of cardamom and orange, this rustic cake is delicious for a winter afternoon tea or dessert. Cardamom is one of the world's most expensive spices; it has a distinctive aromatic, sweetly rich flavour and is widely available.

Sweet, sticky and delicious deep-south finger-lickin' wings from Australian Women's Weekly.

You can also make the pastry using a food processor. Process flour and butter until crumbly; with motor operating, add the water and process until ingredients cling together. Or, you can buy ready-made frozen shortcrust pastry. Take leftover quiche to work the next day for lunch. It is great served either cold or warm. Note

Recipe is suitable to freeze. You can use dried cannellini, haricot, navy or butter beans for this recipe. Note

A classic cocktail, this timeless combination of tequila and lime will take you to Mexico with every sip.

There's something divine about the tanginess of lemon curd coupled with freshly made pikelets. Easy to make, they're the ideal mid-morning or afternoon snack.

Creamy rosemary risotto with roasted pumpkin, spinach and grated parmesan.

Serve with seafood or chicken. Note

Healthy and hearty tomato & borlotti soup from Australian Women's Weekly.

We used a thick, caramel-flavoured ice-cream topping in this recipe. Note

Loaded with ginger, chilli and herbs, these sticky beef patties with Chinese broccoli make a delicious meal served with steamed rice.

Drain the morello sour cherries and reserve the syrup for use in the recipe. Note

Make these exquisite veal goulash pies to impress your friends and family.

You can also make this salad with leftover barbecued chicken. Note

This colourful, tasty salad makes a perfect side dish for a summer barbecue.

This colourful vegetarian paella strays slightly from the traditional form, but is well worth the adaptation.

Rich and fragrant Thai pork curry with pickled snake beans from Australian Women's Weekly.

Sometimes nicknamed “yuppie Vegemite”, this classic Provençal preparation is used as a dip for raw vegetables, spread on bread and pizza, and served with fish and meats. Note

Crispy and delicious chicken and ham patties that are great in burgers or for a snack.

This spectacular dish is surprisingly simple, it's a great dish to serve up for a night of relaxed entertaining.

These crunchy Italian treats are perfect with hot espresso coffee.

Suitable to freeze. Note

This delicious recipe uses orecchiette, a traditional pasta from southern Italy's Puglia region, where it is made from semolina, and is served with oil, sausage and leafy greens.

Make your own hand-cut garlic and herb wedges from Australian Women's Weekly.

Drizzled in sweet passionfruit icing, this delectable tart is perfect with a morning or afternoon cup of tea.

A smooth, colourful and flavoursome zucchini, pea and corn purée from Australian Women's Weekly.

Keeping time: 1 week. Note

Compote is traditionally a dessert, but as shown here it can also be served over warm porridge as a breakfast dish.

These black forest brownies feature that classic combination of rich dark chocolate and cherries.

Freeze individual cooled patties in airtight containers for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the fridge; reheat in microwave or eat at room temperature. Note

A quick and easy before-school tummy filler. Add a bit of crisp bacon or even a few pan-fried mushrooms to the omelette, if you like.

This tart, citrus-based sauce is one of the mainstays of Japanese cuisine. It is usually made with a citrus fruit called yuzu, which is not easy to obtain outside Asia. It is a perfect accompaniment to char-grilled sliced beef, steamed fish, tofu and asian greens.

Crispy and crunchy oven-baked parmesan chicken with a curly endive and olive salad.

Spicy and well spiced, these chilli, lime and coriander chicken skewers make a great starter or share plate for a party.

To roast cashews, place nuts in a dry small frying pan; stir over low heat until fragrant and just changed in colour. Remove nuts from pan immediately to avoid them burning. Note

Any leftover mashed vegetables can be used to make the tofu and vegetable patties, just be sure to use a total of ¼ cup (3 tablespoons) of mash along with the 2 teaspoons of rice flour. Note

Aromatic Thai-style green vegetable curry from Australian Women's Weekly.

Make this home-made zucchini relish to impress your guests; from Australian Women's Weekly.

This is such a useful little recipe, you can serve these crispy spiced fish pieces as a starter, main or as finger food to pass around at a party.

A rich oxtail stew with red wine and port; the perfect winter dish.

This easy chicken recipe is delicious served with a crisp green salad or beans.

These crispy, tasty little tarts make wonderful finger food.

Spice up your olives to make the perfect complement to your tapas evening.

Sticky lemongrass beef served in lettuce wraps.

Healthy and vibrant wok-tossed greens with oyster sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

This creamy vegan dip combines healthy broad beans with the flavours of mint, lemon, cumin and paprika. It's the perfect addition to your next party menu

A delicious and fragrant tandoori lamb with cucumber raita from Australian Women's Weekly.

This date loaf comes out tremendously moist and is great served fresh with melted butter, but also keeps nicely for a rainy day.

Anchovy and chilli lamb neck chops with creamy polenta from Australian Women's Weekly.

Spicy chorizo adds bite to the creamy mushroom sauce, to finish you can sprinkle finely grated parmesan cheese and coarsely ground black pepper over individual servings, if you like.

Sweet and delicious Vietnamese coffee crème caramel tart from Australian Women's Weekly.

Onion jam can be made a day ahead; keep, covered, in the refrigerator. To serve warm, place in microwave-safe bowl, reheat in microwave on MEDIUM (50%) until warm. Note

This zesty crumbed fish is packed with flavor and crunch. Perfect for a simple dinner with family or friends.

These tender beef steaks with creamy mushroom sauce go perfectly with homemade fries.

Any type of sashimi-quality white fish can be used for this recipe; we used kingfish. Note

Purchase frozen fresh prawn cutlets, not crumbed prawn cutlets; they come in 1kg (2-pound) `ready-to-cook’ packets. If you can’t find them, use frozen uncooked prawns, instead. Note

PASTRY For information on how to wash leeks, see page 112. Note

A delicious dhal-stuffed flatbread, paratha, that originated in the Indian subcontinent.

Quick, easy and delicious Japanese stir-fried pork and rice noodles will surely satisfy all of the family. Sprinkle some freshly chopped chilli if you like some heat.

This rich mocha cake with coffee syrup is pudding-like, darkly sweet and entirely satisfying.

Serve thick slices of this herby crumbed chicken with a big green salad for a delicious, speedy dinner.

Wombok is also known as chinese cabbage. Note

Served in the most basic of bistros to the poshest of gastro pubs, the ubiquitous sausage and mash never fails to please. We've teamed it with a hearty onion gravy here, you're going to love it.

Tender chunks of spiced, marinated chicken and yoghurt dipping sauce make these lemony chicken kebabs perfect for a weekend lunch with rice or bread and salad.

It is very important to allow biscuits to cool completely before you attempt to remove them from trays, to avoid breaking Note