To tell if a peach is ripe, look around the stem of the peach, the absence of green skin plus a strong peach aroma indicates ripeness. If the skin is slightly green, it is not ripe. If peach stones are difficult to remove, leave them during roasting, they will come out more easily after cooking. […]

Equipment: 2 x 12-hole (2-tablespoons/40ml) deep flat-based patty pans 24 standard paper cases (brown) 40cm-square prepared cake board decorations white and black decorating gel The recipe makes 24 cakes, however, we’ve only used 17 in our picture. Encourage the guests to bring their instruments, if possible, to a musically-themed party. A white board would make […]

Postre chajá was created by the owner of a family restaurant in Uruguay. He called his mergingue-based dessert ‘chajá’ after an indigenous bird of the same name, whose abundant white plumage reminded him of the meringue. For even cake layers, weigh the cake batter and put exactly half into each cake pan. Cake can be […]

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

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

Punch is best served very cold. Try freezing some of the berries and lemonade together in shaped ice trays and add these to the punch instead of regular ice. This way, you won’t dilute the flavour. Note

Assemble pastries no more than an hour before serving, refrigerate until required. Note

Equipment deep 15cm (6-inch) square cake pan 20cm (8-inch) square prepared cake board or cake stand small piping bag fitted with small plain tube Cake can be completed a day ahead of the party. You will have some cake mixture left over,­ use it to make cupcakes. Note

You will need to cook about 350g pumpkin for this recipe. Note

A member of the onion family, the leek resembles a green onion, but is much larger and more subtle in flavour. Baby or pencil leeks are beautifully tender and can be eaten whole with minimal cooking, but adult leeks are usually trimmed then chopped or sliced and cooked as an ingredient in stews, casseroles and […]

Flakey baked fish is topped with herbs and crunchy macadamias to create a flavour and texture explosion! Served with lemon infused fresh avocado and snow peas, this is is a beautiful complete dish that can be ready in under 30 minutes.

Filling can be made a day ahead. Store, covered, in the fridge. Note

Pulled beef, or pork, comes from pulling extremely tender pieces of meat apart­ rather than cutting it into slices usually with two forks, which separates the meat into strands. Low, slow cooking is required to produce meat tender enough to pull apart into pieces. Note

Equipment Deep 15cm (6-inch) square cake pan 25cm (10-inch) square prepared cake board If the icing is set on the cake, you can attach the roses using a tiny dab of apricot jam. The ribbon is easier to tie around the cake if the icing is set. The cake can be completed about three days […]

Swiss brown mushrooms, also known as roman or cremini, are light-to darkbrown in colour with a full bodied flavour. Store on a tray in a single layer, covered with damp, absorbent paper and keep where cool air can circulate around them. Note

The sponge roll used for this recipe has a diameter of 10cm and a length of 16cm. Note

Variously called sfinciuni or sfincione in Sicily, we call it delicious - a double-decker pizza with its aromatic filling hidden between the layers.

Best made just before serving; prawns can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Note

Glacé fruit salad is available from specialty food stores and some cheese counters. If unavailable, substitute glacé peaches, apricots or oranges. Note

Soufflés must be made just before serving. 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. Recipe suitable to freeze. Note

Use a 26cm x 35cm baking dish 35cm square cake board. Cake can be made and covered with butter cream a day before the party. Top with popcorn and finish the cake up to three hours before the party. Be sure to remove toothpicks before cutting and serving the cake. Note

Soak 10 bamboo skewers in cold water for an hour before use to prevent them splintering or scorching during cooking. Note

The basil mixture, without the lemon rind and juice, can be made several days ahead; keep tightly covered in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months. Add the lemon just before serving. Make sure you cook the haloumi just before serving, as it becomes tough and rubbery on cooling. Note

Warm sabayon must be served immediately. Note

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 3. Note

You need two large (460g) overripe bananas to get the required amount of mashed banana. Note

Using slightly under-ripe plums gives them a higher pectin level, which helps the paste to set. Note

Now we are six! Celebrate this auspicious occasion with this delightful sssssnakey ssssix cake, by the Australian Women's Weekly. The birthday boy or girl will be delighted!

You need 12 skewers; if using bamboo skewers, soak them in water 1 hour before use to prevent splintering or scorching. Note

You can use a lamb backstrap instead of cutlets. Cook for 3-4 minutes each side and then slice thickly. If fresh broad beans are in season, you can use them instead of frozen ones. Note

Rugelach, while they can be eaten throughout the year, are a Hanukkah tradition. The dough is usually made with cream cheese, and the fillings can include fruits, nuts, jams and chocolate. Sprinkle the dough lightly with ground cinnamon for extra spice. Note

Use a palette knife to press dough evenly over base of pan. Note

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. Note

Use white Candy Melts in place of chocolate Melts for an extra-white finish. Note

Use a mandoline or V-slicer, available from kitchenware and department stores, to slice the fennel and radishes. Substitute salmon fillets for the ocean trout, if you prefer. For decoration and ease of handling either tie the rolls with kitchen string or secure them with toothpicks. Note

Ready-made brownies can be found in the bakery section of most supermarkets. 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

Soak skewers in cold water for at least an hour before using to prevent them from scorching during cooking. Note

When peeling parsnips, make sure you remove all the bitter outer layer. Persillade is a mixture of chopped garlic and parsley traditionally used either as a garnish or to flavour a sauce, as we have done here. The secret to tender calves liver is to make sure you slice it into paper-thin scallops and then […]

We used cannellini beans but you can use any variety of canned white beans you like. Note

We used flathead fillets but use any firm white fish fillets you like; blue eye, bream, ling, whiting or snapper are all fine. Remove the fish when it is almost cooked; it will continue to cook off the heat. Recipe not suitable to freeze. Note

This cute and colourful birthday cake is perfect for young adventurers and little ones that love the outdoors.

School would be much more entertaining, and homework much more fun, if we could all have pencil cases as delicious as this one. Note

Parties for budding artists are popular ­and this cake will get them in the creative mood. It doesn’t matter if these pots tip over, nothing’s going to spill. Tint the icing any colours you like, just make them bright. Lollies could easily be hidden under the glacé icing. You’ll have enough cake mixture left over […]

If seedless white grapes are out of season, simply purchase white grapes and seed them yourself. The high sugar content of this dessert will ensure the gelato remains soft and will not freeze solid. Note

Brighten up your morning with a delicious snack of this raspberry-chia coconut slice. It goes perfectly with a cup of tea, and the goodness of chia seeds will keep you energised until lunch time!

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

This deliciously tender piece of lamb is cooked using traditional Spanish flavours, combining salty chorizo and fragrant garlic and thyme to create a memorable dish for a roast dinner or Christmas lunch.

A row of clown faces on a party table decorated with streamers and party whistles would look great. Pushing the “hair” into the cakes is a bit fiddly, and needs to be done about an hour before the party. You will have enough cake mixture left over to make about another five clowns , you’ll […]

To keep the coconut free of chocolate drips, spread out half the coconut in a tray and coat half the lamingtons before using the remaining coconut for the remaining lamingtons. This gives the lamingtons a clean look. Lamingtons can be frozen for up to 3 months. Note

You will need 2 x 180g packets of Allen’s Killer Pythons for this recipe. Note

Equipment 25cm (10-inch) round cake pans 35cm (14-inch) round wooden cake board Smoothing tools 2cm (¾-inch), 1.5cm (¾-inch) and 1cm (½-inch) round cutters fine artist’s paint brush We used the end of a 1cm piping tube to cut out the smallest dots. What a fun cake this is to have at a party -­ a […]

A deep purple-red spice ground from berries grown on a Mediterranean coastal shrub, sumac adds an astringent flavour to both raw and cooked food. It suits poultry, meat and fish as well as it does a salad. Its piquancy was long only associated with Middle Eastern foods, but these days it is used in many […]

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

You will need about 1⅓ cups (265g) of uncooked rice for this recipe. Note

It is fine to use just the one 300ml carton of cream for the mocha sauce. Note

You’ll need to buy about three packets of conversation hearts to get 16 pink hearts. Note

You can substitute rib-eye (scotch fillet) or sirloin (new-york cut) steak for the eye fillet in this recipe. Note

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