This cured salmon salad is deliciously fresh and light. The process of 'cooking' the fish by bathing it in lime juice and sherry results in a melt in the mouth texture that marries beautifully with the Asian style dressing and crisp salad leaves.

Beef carpaccio is a fantastic appetiser to serve when entertaining guests. Buy the best quality beef you can afford for a luxury, melt in the mouth texture and flavour.

Give your morning pick-me-up orange juice a little extra zing with the addition of ginger. You'll be treating yourself to a hefty dose of vitamin C and manganese. Plus, it tastes great.

One of the true classics from cocktail history, a Tom Collins is a gin based cocktail spiked with lemon, sweetened with sugar and finished off with a maraschino cherry.

This prawn and sweet chilli salad ticks all the boxes. It's full of fresh and healthy ingredients, it looks beautiful on the plate and it is full of those zingy Asian flavours that compliment seafood so well.

Duck is not the first meat that comes to mind when you think of a Thai salad, but its gamey flavour and rich texture are actually perfect, contrasting beautifully with the rest of the crisp, spicy salad.

This quick and simple dessert is perfect for any time of the year. The combination of berries, custard and crunchy biscotti works beautifully together.

If you're looking to give your vanilla ice-cream a little lift, look no further than these chocolate hazelnut ice-cream cones. Just 10 minutes with a few ingredients and you can create something very special.

Ceviche is a centuries-old Latin American dish using citrus juice to 'cook' seafood. We used kingfish fillets in our recipe, but you can use whatever you prefer. ­Just be certain to buy the freshest sashimi grade fish you can find.

Ceviche, pronounced se-vee-chay, is a Latin American specialty. The seafood is marinated in lime juice in order to 'cook' it. We have used redfish fillets here but all kinds of seafood can be served this way.

EQUIPMENT 40cm (16-inch) square cake board Use assorted cream-filled rollettes for a colourful alternative. Note

You need to buy a 1.5kg piece of watermelon to get the amount of chopped watermelon needed for this recipe. Note

Seafood salad does not have to be accompanied by mounds of mayonnaise. Try our prawn, scallop and asparagus salad with ginger dressing for a light, fresh and zingy alternative. For best results, serve with a crisp chardonnay.

Recipe can be prepared a day ahead. Add the dressing up to three hours before serving. Note

These tasty Asian beef rolls are our take of the Vietnamese bahn mi. Enjoy thinly sliced beef with fresh vegetables, chilli and herbs for a tasty lunchtime treat.

You can swap the pineapple for watermelon, if you like. Note

Add a dash of sweet chilli sauce to the chicken mix when making these delicious sandwiches if you want to dial up the drama.

The chilli-infused vodka is also very good with lemonade and crushed coriander roots. Chilli-infused vodka can be made up to 1 month ahead. Watermelon juice separates on standing so this recipe is best made close to serving. For a quick cocktail, replace the sugar syrup and soda water with 2 cups (500ml) lemonade. Note

Grab a handful of this trail mix when you're hungry and after a quick healthy snack that will see you through to the next meal.

Herb dip can be made up to a day ahead. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

A lassi is a popular yoghurt based drink in the Indian subcontinent. You can vary the fruit according to the season and your preference and sweeten with honey if you prefer.

As a variation to this fresh and icy treat, you could make pineapple and mint sorbet; substitute 1 small peeled and coarsely chopped pineapple for the rockmelon and 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped mint leaves for the basil.

The fresh flavours of Vietnam make this plump prawn and crisp cucumber salad an utterly delightful dish.

You could use turkey pastrami as an alternative and add 2 teaspoons of cranberry sauce to the coleslaw. If taking to work for lunch, package coleslaw in a separate container and assemble the sandwich just before eating. If you have one, use a mandoline to cut the vegetables into matchsticks, or you can coarsely grate them.

Create this classic condiment at home using whole ingredients. This mayo is the perfect accompaniment for chips, burgers, seafood and salads.

The acids in the citrus marinade slightly cook the very thinly sliced raw seafood. Use the freshest, sashimi quality fish you can find. We've used salmon here, snapper also makes a lovely ceviche.

The combination of fresh mixed tomatoes, creamy buffalo mozzarella and cured prosciutto works perfectly together in this fresh Summer salad.

Panettone trifle, cheese recipe, brought to you by Australian Women's Weekly

The perfect finger food for a classy dinner party or a light and healthy snack, these crisps topped with goat’s cheese, tomato and basil are bursting full of flavour and texture.

Serve up these delightful glazed doughnuts at your next kids' party. They are easier to make than you might think.

Gomasio is an excellent seasoning for rice, soups, stews and vegetables. If using an electric blender, do not over process as you want a grainy texture not a paste.

Combine smooth, creamy natural yoghurt with some seasoning and dill to create this lovely sauce. It is delicious with lamb.

Guacamole

Tuna sold as sashimi has to meet stringent guidelines regarding its handling and treatment after leaving the water. It is a good idea to buy it only from a fishmonger you trust, or to seek advice from local authorities before eating any raw seafood. Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

We used a baguette for the garlic toast. If making this dish a few hours ahead, combine ingredients, except for cucumber, in large bowl; toss cucumber through just before serving. The longer the salmon marinates with the lime, the more 'cooked' it will be.

A few key ingredients and just 10 minutes preparation and you and your guests can be enjoying these mixed berries with mascarpone; easy, simple, yet oh so good. Use your favourite mixture of berries for this recipe.

We used butter beans for this recipe, but you can use any white beans. Note

What a refreshing way to hydrate and contribute to your five-a-day target. You can experiment with all sorts of fruit, and mint goes with just about anything.

Sweet beetroot contrasts beautifully with sharp, salty feta and bitter leaves in this delicious salad. Perfect as a light lunch, or a side dish.

Serve with more fresh berries, if you like.

Caipiroska is a variation of the “caipirinha”, regarded as Brazil’s national cocktail. The caipirinha is made with cachaça (made from sugarcane that’s fermented and distilled), plus sugar and lime. Caipiroska uses vodka instead of cachaça. Note

These traffic light yoghurt pops are a deliciously fruity alternative to regular ice-blocks. They make a brilliant after school treat for the kids on a hot day.

A simple but delicious lunch time recipe, the combination of tender roasted beef, spicy horseradish cream and dense rye bread creates the perfect sandwich that will keep you fueled throughout the day.

You could use halved fresh figs instead of the rockmelon, if you like.

These fresh and fragrant dressings match up with oysters beautifully. Indeed, any remaining dressing can be served over grilled fish, or prawns, if you like.

Chopped salad ingredients vary from recipe to recipe, the only common rule is that all the ingredients are `chopped’. You can also place all of the roughly chopped ingredients on a large chopping board and use a large knife to chop them all together. Note

Hazelnuts can be substituted for walnuts in this recipe, and, if you have hazelnut or walnut oil on hand, use one of these, rather than the olive oil. Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Gorgeous spread on toasted panettone, dotted on pancakes or used to sandwich little biscuits together, orange liqueur butter is simple and sophisticated.

The dark blue pigment of blueberries is full of antioxidants, which have been shown to lower cholesterol. They are sometimes referred to as “brain berries” because they may help with brain function. Note

When it comes to canapés, smoked salmon and dill is always a crowd pleaser.

Use yellow Candy Melts in place of tinted chocolate Melts if you like. Note

Figs with sheep milk yogurt and honey

Tomato dip is best made close to serving. Note

You can substitute scotch whiskey for the rye whiskey. Note

Strawberries can also be served with yoghurt or light sour cream in place of creme fraiche. Note

Chocolate and fruit crackles

Use fresh pineapple, if preferred. Note

We used watermelon, mandarins, kiwifruit, mango and strawberries. Use any combination you like. Note

The beauty of smoothies is that you get all that delicious tasting fruit juice, without missing out on the goodness of the whole fruit. Plus, they're a quick way to get your 5-a-day when you're on the go.

Cool, sweet and fruity, this refreshing mango and hibiscus sorbet is perfect to enjoy on a warm Summer afternoon by the pool. It is only enhanced by a splash of prosecco.

We've foregone the classic version of this drink for a little sweetness. James Bond might frown, but we love it.

They are an unlikely pair, but the combination of banana and passionfruit is fresh, healthy and delicious; always a winner. Make sure your bananas are ever so slightly firm, with no blemishes.

Recipe is best made just before serving. Note

Serve with seafood or chicken. Note

There's no need to drink this green smoothie purely for the health benefits. The ingredients combined together are fresh and delicious with a wonderful gingery kick. You could substitute the lime for lemon, or kiwifruit, if you like.

Only fresh blueberries can be used in this recipe, as frozen berries will tint the sangria. Note

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

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

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

You need ¼ small pineapple for this recipe. Note

These mango cremes are quick and easy to make and you can pop them in the fridge early in the day, ready for dessert later in the evening. You could serve them with berries for an extra splash of colour, if you like.