This is another one of those charming cakes that look so great, but is really quite easy and simple to make. Note

For best results use only the reddest parts of the rhubarb stems. Note

Peaches & Cream are found in Allen’s Party Mix. You’ll have about 1 cup of the cake mixture left over; use to make extra cupcakes for the party. Note

The butterflies can be made months ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature. Tylose powder is a hardening agent, it helps the butterflies maintain their wings in an upward position. Cascading butterflies of just about any colour will look splendid on a tiered cake like this. Keep the colour of the cakes pale, […]

Fun, colourful and delicious, this adorable sand castle themed birthday cake is perfect for busy explorers who love spending time at the beach.

A sweet chilli-flavoured tofu was used in this recipe, available already marinated. Various- flavoured marinated tofu pieces can be found, cryovac-packed, in the refrigerated section in most supermarkets and Asian food stores. Note

The tin needs to be coated thickly with melted butter so the roll won’t stick to the inside of the tin. Don’t use cooking-oil spray, as this doesn’t give a good enough coating and the roll will stick and be hard to turn out. If you can’t find nut roll tins, this mixture can be […]

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 […]

Use white Candy Melts in place of chocolate Melts for a whiter finish Note

You can use any fresh berries you like in this recipe. Note

A modern take on the traditional French method of cooking “en papillote” (in sealed paper packets), this recipe uses aluminium foil rather than parchment to enclose the ingredients. Cooking this way intensifies the contained flavours. Note

Sumac is a purple-red, astringent spice ground from berries growing on shrubs that flourish wild around the Mediterranean, it adds a tart, lemony flavour to dishes. It can be found in Middle-Eastern food stores and most major supermarkets. Note

This is a quick version of making a soufflé as the base is not made on a flour-thickened cheese sauce. Note

Recipe suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. Note

Equipment 6-hole (¾-cup/180ml) texas muffin pan 7 x 12-hole (1-tablespoon/20ml) mini muffin pans 1 yellow texas muffin paper case 77 yellow mini muffin paper cases 50cm-square prepared cake board (see basic know-how number 2, pages 160-161) Decorations 85g packet yellow jelly crystals 400g packet Smarties 1 tablespoon orange sprinkles 5cm piece black licorice strap 25 […]

This adorable princess birthday cake is perfect for kids who love all things pretty and pink.

Panettone are easy to find around Christmas time, at other times they may not be as readily available. You can use brioche instead, adding a handful of sultanas, or thick-cut fruit bread. Note

Use small piping bags without a tube or strong plastic bags snip a tiny corner from the bag for easy piping. Prepared cake boards are available from cake decorating and craft stores; you will need one 30cm (12-inch) round board for this cake. Note

Charming little savoury pies filled with a delicious chicken, celery and thyme mix.

Remember that when you put food onto skewers, not to squash everything together. Leave a little space between each item to allow the heat to circulate and to ensure everything cooks through. If you have time, soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes to stop them from burning during cooking, or cover the ends […]

You can swap the chicken stock for water. Soup can be made a day ahead, cover, refrigerate. Reheat in the microwave oven on MEDIUM (50%) in 1 minute bursts until hot or in a saucepan over medium heat until heated through. Note

We removed the roe from the scallops, but it can be left intact, if you prefer. Note

You will need a 60cm square of unbleached calico. If the fabric is new, soak in cold water overnight, then boil for 20 minutes; rinse well before using. Use day-old breadcrumbs for this recipe. Chop all the fruit to the same size as the sultanas. Wrap the pudding in plastic wrap, seal tightly in a […]

You will need 2 large pomegranates (860g) for this recipe. Note

We used a large octopus in this recipe, but you could also use baby octopus. Ask the fishmonger to clean the octopus. Note

You need half a 1kg (2-pound) can plums for this recipe. You can use fresh plums when in season. Fill pastries up to an hour before serving. Note

Keeping time: 4 days. Note

Serve chicken with dressing. You need a large bunch of spinach weighing about 400g to get the number of large leaves required for this recipe. Note

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using your pressure cooker. Note

Prepare the mushrooms ready for grilling the day before; keep covered in the fridge. Mushrooms can be grilled up to 30 minutes before serving. Note

Lassis are yoghurt-based drinks which are an excellent cooling foil for a fiery Indian curry. Note

Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. Stir in coriander. Note

If you can’t find dried cherries, use the equivalent amount of extra dried cranberries instead. Note

To freeze, pack into freezer-proof containers, leaving a 2.5cm space to allow for expansion. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat in a 180°C/350°F oven for 30 minutes or microwave on medium power (50%) until heated through. Note

As the sauce is heated, the alcohol can ignite. It generally burns off in a matter of seconds, but shaking the pan will extinguish the flame. Keep a lid nearby, exercise caution and don’t use your exhaust fan when making this sauce. Note

To make chocolate curls, run a cheese slicer down the back of a slightly warmed block of chocolate. For smaller curls, run a vegetable peeler down the side of a block of chocolate. Note

You will need to watch the sugar syrup carefully while it simmers for 5 minutes. It may be necessary to lift the pan from the heat several times to help maintain the correct temperature. For perfect results, use an accurate candy thermometer. Note

Sago and tapioca, while similar, are not the same and can’t be substituted for each other. Sago may be found labelled as `seed tapioca’ on some packets. It is available from most health-food stores and supermarkets. Note

Green (unripe) papayas are readily available in various sizes at many greengrocers, Asian food shops and markets. Select one that is very hard and slightly shiny, which indicates it’s fresh but not too unripe to grate or chop. Note

Recipe is best prepared as required. Note

You need a 7cm (2¾-inch) and a 5cm (2-inch) starshaped cutter. It’s best to use food colouring pastes rather than liquids. Roll, cut and bake one portion of dough at a time. While those biscuits are cooking , roll and cut the next batch, ready for the oven. Note

Cooking time for plums will depend on the ripeness of the fruit. Note

These delicious savoury potato pancakes are absolutely beautiful enjoyed with smoked salmon and dill cream. Perfect any time of the day, this dish is a real winner!

You need 25 foil petit four cases for this recipe. Note

You can use drained gelatinous noodles instead of the cellophane noodles. Note

These come from the Charente region of south-west France. The name generally refers to a nut-shaped puff from that region.

This cake is at its best eaten on the same day as baking. Keeping time: 1 day. Note

Crispy, crunchy and golden minted tuna triangles that are perfect for sharing with friends at the bach.

This is a great recipe for entertaining in the cooler months. Lamb shoulder chops and chump chops are also suitable for this recipe. Note

Small disposable aluminium baking dishes work well for this recipe. Chickens can also be roasted in the oven on shallow oven trays at 220°C (200°C fan forced) for 40 minutes. Do ahead: Chilli sauce can be made a day ahead, refrigerate in an airtight container. To make the chicken easier and faster to barbecue, it […]

For a vegetarian twist on an Italian classic, look no further than this delicious spinach, pesto and parmesan lasagne, for a quick and easy dinner.

Silver leaf, available from cake decorating stores, is delicate and fiddly to handle but worth the effort. Note

This recipe also makes 6 texas muffins (¾-cup/180ml), bake about 25 minutes. Note

Light and delicious French-style passionfruit and raspberry eclairs from Australian Women's Weekly.

Sticky, smoky American-style pork ribs with a zesty and crunchy slaw.

A lolly-packed party piñata that the kids will love.

There’s no need to cover the pudding steamer with foil or a lid because it is covered when the lid is placed on the cooker. Note

You’ll have about 1½ cups of the cake mixture left over to make more cakes for your party. Note

You can buy sponge cakes for this recipe, if you like (preferably jam and cream filled). You could also buy a large meringue as well, to break up and use to fill and decorate the cake. In this case, you’ll need half the meringue ingredients only, to make the meringue sticks. Note

These nuts are so moreish it will be hard to hand them over; to prevent such a dilemma, double the quantity and the problem is solved! Note

You need two medium pomegranates (640g) to get the required amount of pomegranate pulp. Note

For an earthier flavour, barbecue the whole eggplant. First prick the skin all over with a fork, then cook the eggplant for about 30 minutes – depending on its size and the heat of the barbecue – or until the eggplant collapses. Cool the eggplant, peel away the skin, then proceed with the recipe. Mini […]

This gorgeous layered cake is the perfect balance of sweet and nutty. It's the perfect celebratory cake to serve at Christmas time.

This recipe also makes 6 texas muffins (¾-cup/180ml); bake about 35 minutes. Note

Mad about marmalade? Then, this muffin is for you. Marmalades come in a range of flavours sweet through to bitter and everything in between. Try a bitter marmalade first, it teams so well with the almonds and the sweetness of the syrup. Note

You can crumb chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Place in single layer on tray, cover and refrigerate. Tonkatsu sauce is available from Asian food stores. Note

Cake can be baked and cut into shape one day ahead; keep, covered, in refrigerator if weather is hot. Finish cake on day of serving, as per recipe. The remaining purple jelly can be used to make extra jelly cups. Young explorers will love this cake. The swamp is filled with murky (but delicious) jelly, […]