Cheese

Equipment: 4 x 10cm (4-inch) (closed) springform pans Everybody loves their own individual dessert ­ here, the tropical flavours blend happily with the creamy cheesecake filling. The mango rose pattern is simple to achieve, but looks impressive on the cheesecakes. We used a plain store-bought sponge for this recipe, you can make your own, if […]

Tortiglioni, a straight tubular pasta with grooves on the exterior, works well when baked with a chunky sauce, such as this one.

A crispy and delicious mashed potato casserole is the perfect accompaniment to roast dinners.

Create delicious Italian pasta at home with this beautiful ricotta and silverbeet gnocchi. Served in a fragrant tomato sauce, it's the ultimate comfort food for a cool evening in.

A light and healthy salad that is full of bright colours and big flavours.

A crispy baked pumpkin and ricotta dish that is a great healthy side to go with meaty dishes.

The classic reuben was always assembled then cooked in a frying pan. Making one in your sandwich press not only saves on washing up but keeps it slightly healthier because the bread doesn’t have to be buttered on the outside as for pan-frying. Plus, the cheese melts inside the sandwich without oozing out into the […]

Blue cheeses are mould-treated cheeses mottled with blue veining. Varieties range from firm and crumbly stilton types to mild, creamy brie-like cheeses. Use a firm and crumbly blue cheese for this recipe. Note

Instead of piping the cream cheese mixture onto the canapés, you can just use a teaspoon to drop small amounts on top of the mini toasts. Mini toasts are available from delis, groumet food shops and some supermarkets. Note

Rigatoni, a ridged, tube-shaped pasta, is ideal for baked dishes because it is wide and the hearty fillings cling to the indentations around the edges. Note

Crispy, fluffy and delicious potato puffs packed full of garlic, onion, bacon and gruyere.

Use a whole-egg mayonnaise for the best flavour. Manchego cheese is Spanish; it is available from specialist cheese stores and Spanish delicatessens. If you can’t find it, use parmesan cheese instead. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the cheese. Note

Pre-baked, packaged pizza bases first appeared in supermarkets during the 1980s. They come in various sizes, some with cheese already in the mix. You need to purchase a large barbecued chicken weighing approximately 900g to get the amount of shredded meat required for this recipe. Note

If taking this meal to work, roast tomato and prosciutto the night before; store in the fridge. Reheat in a microwave oven, on HIGH (100%), about 1 minute or until heated through. Toast the bread and assemble just before serving. Note

The inspiration for this tasty salad is that famous New York deli sandwich, the Reuben, a universal favourite ever since its creation in the early 1900s.

This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

The same amount of ingredients used to top a 30cm pizza will top four mini pizza bases. Note

We used a greek feta, which crumbles well and has a sharp taste. Note

Chicken can be coated with parmesan several hours ahead. Place in a single layer on a plate and keep refrigerated. Cook chicken and prepare salad as required. Note

Use focaccia, bagels, bread rolls or any other kind of bread. Note

Ask the butcher to cut the ribs into pieces that will fit into your slow cooker. Note

A rich and delicious spinach and three cheese cannelloni that is a truly Italian dish.

You'll never have plain old mashed potato again after this delicious bacon and cheesy potato bake.

The seafood can be prepared the night before, as can the dressing. Refrigerate seafood and dressing until you’re ready to start cooking. Note

Preserved lemons can be bought from delicatessens and some supermarkets. Remove a piece of lemon from the jar, discard the lemon flesh. Rinse the rind under water; dry, then chop finely. Note

Adding avocado to this open sandwich not only adds a rich creamy flavour, it also increases its nutritional value. Avocados are a rich source of potassium and healthy monounsaturated fats that help to lower cholesterol. Use a loaf of ciabatta bread if turkish bread is not available. Note

This rocket and blue cheese salad is packed full of big flavours and will be an instant favourite.

We used agnolotti, but any vegetarian-style pasta will work well in this dish. We used a white cheese from the Castello range; it has a mild, slightly tart, flavour. As it matures, it becomes creamier, and develops a fuller flavour. Note

This recipe is best made on day of serving. Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

For this recipe we used small (15cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

Use a soft creamy blue cheese for the blue cheese mousse. The mousse can be made a day ahead and kept, covered, in the fridge. It’s best to cook the beef as close to serving time as possible. Note

Sun-dried tomato pesto can also be used. Note

This recipe would also be delicious using cauliflower instead of broccoli, or a mixture of both. Note

The pasta cases can be made, cooled and removed from the pans one day before the party. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. The bolognese sauce can be made two days ahead; keep it covered in the fridge. Assemble the baskets up to 3 hours before the party. Note

Spaghettini is a very thin spaghetti. It is available from Italian grocery stores and most large supermarkets. Note

We used large (25cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Fontina is an Italian cows-milk cheese that has a smooth but firm texture and a mild, nutty flavour. Mozzarella can be substituted for the fontina. Note

The baking paper strips are used to help remove the cheesecake from the steamer once it’s been refrigerated overnight. Place the steamer upside down on a serving plate, gently pull on the paper strips and the cheesecake will ease away from the side of the steamer. Note

It is easier to spread the sauce on the pasta squares while they are flat on a board. Note

You can buy packaged pizza bases in two sizes: the large ones we’ve used here measure 25cm across; smaller ones measure 15cm across and come packaged in pairs with a total weight of 225g. Use six of the small ones to make individual pizzettas. Note

Any kind of dried beans can be substituted for canned beans, if preferred. Soak beans overnight. Boil until tender; drain. Use patience when spreading polenta into prepared pan; it tends to move and slip but can eventually be worked into corners of pan. Polenta can be made 1 day ahead to the refrigeration stage. Note

Cooking the pizza in a covered barbecue gives it a wonderful smoky flavour similar to a wood-fired oven. If not using covered barbeque, pizza can be cooked in the oven. Place toppings on dough and bake until browned and crisp. There is no need to turn the dough over using this method. Note

You can peel the potatoes in advance and leave them in a bowl of cold water so they don’t go brown. Once they are sliced, assemble the dish immediately. Don’t stand the sliced potatoes in cold water or you will wash away their natural starch, which thickens the sauce. Note

Ground lemon myrtle is available from specialist spice shops and some gourmet food stores. Lemon myrtle is a small tree that grows in sub-tropical and tropical rainforest areas of Queensland. Ground lemon myrtle is a ground mixture of the dried leaf and flower; it has a strong lemon flavour. If you can’t find it, use […]

Use a mandoline or V-slicer to cut the potatoes into paper-thin slices. Note

Pizza fingers can be prepared the day before; put the toppings on, then cover them with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge. Bake when ready to eat. Note

Spice up your breakfast omelette with this popular Indian recipe.

“I love making pizza at home… and this versatile and easy dough can also be used for loaves, rolls, foccacia… anything.” Cynthia Black came to the Test Kitchen in the early 1990s, and left in 1993, continuing her food career at Darling Mills, her family’s restaurant in Sydney. She has now gone into business for […]

Use a mandoline or V-slicer to easily cut the kumara into thin slices. Note

We used large (25cm diameter) packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

A simple but delectable roasted capsicum soup with fried provolone polenta.

An exotic rocket, pear & ricotta fritter salad that is packed to the brim with delicious flavours and textures.

We used large, 25cm diameter, packaged pizza bases for this recipe. Note

Use fresh raspberries if fresh blackberries are not available. Place the unused vanilla pod in a jar of caster (superfine) sugar to make your own vanilla sugar. Note

Rösti can be eaten hot or cold. Swap sweet potato for potato, squeeze excess liquid from potato first. Note

Sandwiches can be prepared several hours ahead. Keep wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until required. Bread is an excellent source of energy-giving carbohydrates. Wholemeal and wholegrain breads are also a rich source of dietary fibre and other nutrients because they contain the natural goodness of the entire grain. Note

We used a mixture of parsley, basil and dill for this recipe, but you can use any herbs you like. If your frying pan does not have a heatproof handle, cover the handle with aluminium foil to protect it from the heat of the grill. Frittata can be served warm or cold. Reheat slices of […]

You can use soft goat’s cheese in place of the feta. Note