Workday lunches

Place pretzels in a zip-lock plastic bag; crush roughly with a rolling pin. Combine pretzels with butter and cheeses in a medium bowl. You can make the candied bacon a day ahead; store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

Turn the traditional vegetable stew into a tasty soup and elevate it with a fresh basil pistou.

Panzanella is a refreshing Tuscan summer bread salad. We’ve put our own spin on it by using little cubes of radish sandwich instead of the traditional bread pieces. Note

Gluten-free bread mixes are available in plain and wholegrain, we used plain in this recipe. Note

To spoon the thick cream layer off the top of the coconut cream, don’t shake the can as the thick cream will separate from the liquid underneath. If you shake it, you have to wait until the liquid settles into layers again. Note

Savoury pancakes are just as delicious as sweet and it's these ricotta and basil pancakes that will wow. Served with a tomato and rocket salad, this healthy, tasty meal is perfect for any time of day.

A simple and versatile Spanish-style roasted capsicum sauce.

A very quick and easy family meal with sweet and sticky maple pork sausages.

Skordalia is a thick dip in Greek cuisine usually made of garlic and potatoes.

To prevent them from drying out, keep finished ura-maki wrapped in plastic, uncut, until ready to serve. Goes well with sesame dipping sauce, and oysters osaka. Note

Use regular beef mince, not lean, for a nice, juicy patty. Note

While this recipe is geared for autumn, you can swap ingredients for the seasons; in spring, use broad beans instead of borlotti beans and bitter salad greens instead of radicchio.

Serve risotto quickly after stirring the radicchio through the rice, as the radicchio will discolour from the heat. This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Vindaloo curry paste can be made up to a week ahead and kept, covered tightly, in the refrigerator. Making this dish a day ahead helps intensify the flavours. Note

Meat filling can be prepared a day ahead. Note

A bold and hearty stew that celebrates the warmth of fresh spices and tender beef cheeks. This winter staple is best made in an electric pressure cooker which significantly cuts down on the cooking time.

Vongole (clams) will need to soak in salted water for 30 minutes before starting this recipe. Fast-cooking clams are packed with a good dose of iron, B vitamins and the mineral chronium, which the body needs to regulate blood glucose levels. Note

Pancetta, an Italian unsmoked bacon, can be used, sliced or chopped, as an ingredient in recipes rather than eaten on its own. It’s also great used as a pizza topping. Note

You need to buy half a large barbecued chicken (450g) to get the amount of shredded meat required for this recipe. Note

Croutons can be prepared a day ahead. Keep in an airtight container. Prawns can be shelled several hours ahead and kept covered in refrigerator. Prepare salad as required. Note

We’ve used penne pasta in this recipe, but feel free to use spaghetti, if you prefer. Stir in ⅓ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves just before serving, if you like. Note

We used beef sausages here, but this snack would be just as good with chicken, pork or lamb sausages depending on your child’s tastes. You can replace the baba ghanoush with hummus. Note

This is Vietnam’s famous beef noodle soup. Note

Delicious little French confectioneries that literally mean 'small oven'.

The perfect summer lamb dish for cooking on the backyard barbecue.

These slow-roasted beef shanks will melt in your mouth.

Spinach, capsicum and feta pizza

This soup is great for lunch at the office or for a picnic. If a microwave is not available for reheating the soup, pack it in a preheated insulated flask. Note

Healthy, delicious and authentic Asian-style chicken and water chestnut tofu pouches.

These pork rolls are a tasty starter before a main course of fried rice or a bowl of chicken broth with rice noodles.

Butterflied chickens are available from specialist chicken and butcher shops. Note

In a pressure cooker these sticky and saucy pork spare ribs can be whipped up in no time.

To test if turkey is cooked, insert a skewer sideways into the thickest part of the thigh then remove and press flesh to release the juices. If the juice runs clear, the turkey is cooked. Alternatively, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, without touching bone; it should reach 90°C. This […]

These crispy Moroccan-style sweet potato fries are the perfect side dish.

Be careful when working with silken tofu as it is very soft and breaks easily. Use a mix of basil and mint leaves if you cannot find japanese mint. Note

Thai sticky rice (also known as glutinous' or sweet' rice) is a short, fat and chalky white rice that becomes soft and sticky once cooked.

Delicious little French croquettes with a tangy caramelised onions from Australian Women's Weekly.

Each of the topping recipes here makes enough to cover four mini pizza bases. You can buy prepared pizza bases from the supermarket, they can be found in the refrigerated, freezer or bakery sections. Note

It’s a good idea to turn filo triangles halfway through cooking. Use spray oil in place of butter, if preferred. Note

It’s always a good idea to rinse capers before using them as they are very salty and their brine has a strong flavour which can overpower the other ingredients in the recipe. Note

Make the sauce a day ahead; store, covered, in the refrigerator. Beans are an Italian staple and are often served with spaghetti in the same dish. Note

A light and summery salad with sweet and spicy margarita-infused pork chops.

Ready-made seasoned bean-curd skins and seasoned gourd (kampyo) strips are available from Asian specialist grocery stores. For rice vinegared water, add 1 tablespoon rice vinegar to medium bowl of cold water. Note

A rich, warming and filling slowcooked Italian beef casserole from Australian Women's Weekly.

Tender spiced lamb with a fruity couscous packed full of oranges, dates and walnuts.

This curried beef and lentil dish is simple, spicy and so easy to make.

A healthy and delicious spinach and chorizo salad that is packed full of flavour.

Our Chinese-style pancakes are packed with an easy mu shu pork filling for a flavoursome lunch or dinner idea - they're savoury pancakes at their tastiest!

Recipe is suitable to freeze without the parsley. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a saucepan and sprinkle with parsley to serve. Note

Tender and flavoursome rabbit and hazelnut terrine - the perfect addition to your next dinner party or afternoon tea!

Barbecued duck and peking duck pancakes can be bought at Asian food shops. Note

Ask the butcher for a 2-metre (6½-foot) length of unlinked sausages. Alternatively, you can unlink a length of sausages and use short lengths together to form the spiral. If your barbecue doesn’t include a flat plate, cook the capsicum mixture in a heavy-based frying pan on the barbecue. Note

Bonito is an oily fish which, when dried and flaked, is widely used in the Japanese kitchen. You could serve the beans with Japanese mustard instead of the bonito and use dry white wine instead of sake. Note

A warming and delicious spicy prawn and bean hotpot from Australian Women's Weekly.

There are some great gluten-free wraps and pizza bases available at supermarkets; to save time use these for the pizza base. Note

These char-grilled vegetables are healthy, delicious and pack a real spicy punch.

This hearty roasted pumpkin and tomato soup is a fantastic warming winter dish.