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You can also make the pastry by hand. Simply sift flour into a bowl, stir in sugar and use your fingertips to rub in butter. Add egg to form a dough. Note

This gorgeous homemade passionfruit and pineapple fruit jam is sweet, tart and fruity all in one spoonful. This jam is delicious when spread on a warm scone or fruit bread.

Fish is cooked when flesh flakes easily when tested with a fork. For added ease, omit the marinade and simply brush with sweet chilli sauce before baking. Note

If your salmon fillet is too long to fit in the pan, cut into 2 pieces. The Cooking time will vary depending on thickness. Note

To test if pork is ready, insert a skewer in the thickest section-juices will run clear. Note

Acidulated water is water with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent discolouring. Scallop roe can either be retained or removed. Add extra stock to get the soup to the consistency you prefer. Note

Fresh, tasty and packed full of goodness, this delicious potato and bean salad is easy to make and makes a perfect side dish to go alongside your next dinner spread.

As a variation replace seafood with shredded barbecued chicken or duck. Serve salad on a bed of cooked rice noodles for a more substantial dish. Note

For vegetarians, add more protein with sliced avocado or a dollop of Greek yoghurt. Place eggs in a saucepan of cold water, loving to boil, reduce heat, summer gently 3 minutes. Cool under cold running water, peel and set aside. Note

Check quinces during cooking and top up with extra water if required. Note

To check for setting point, drop 1 teaspoon of jam onto a saucer that’s been chilled in the freezer. Cool to room temperature, then push jam with a fingertip. If the surface wrinkles, it’s ready to bottle. If not, cook longer. Note

Make chocolate curls using a vegetable peeler run lengthways along the edge of a block, to create small curls. Note

You’ll need an 80g packet of pistachios. Note

Make the salad with 80g packet baby rocket leaves, 1 cored, sliced pear and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Note

Also try using other sweet scones, or even muffins. Note

You need 150g sourdough bread, or about one large roll, to make 2 cups sourdough breadcrumbs. Note

Make these rice puddings with leftover cooked rice. Note

Sprinkle pork with combined green onion, chilli and nuts, if liked. Setting up a serve-yourself salad bar is a good idea for entertaining, as guests can pick and choose to suit their dietary needs or preferences. Note

Use any type of fish you like – even fish fingers or oven-baked fish. Note

Puffy with a lightly browned cheesy dome top, this delicious omelette souffl� gets its airy lift from beaten egg whites. Serve with a fresh salad for an easy, light and tasty meal.

If preferred. use your favourite chicken pieces. lf you segment the chicken yourself. use a sharp knife to cut off legs with thighs through the joint. the wings with some ot the breast. then cut the rest of the breast into chunks. The yoghurt helps to tenderise the chicken. Don’t worry about it separating during […]

You have never had cupcakes like these before – they are the best. We decorated them with passionfruit icing and topped each one with an edible flower.

Use whatever fillings you desire in this yummy suggestion.

Your typical oaty cookie steps things up a notch with the addition of delicious chocolate.

This cake is best eaten the day it’s made. Serve warm with a mixture of whipped cream and unsweetened plain yoghurt. We added a few blueberries to the mix for contrasting colour.

These muffins are a wonderful stand-by food for weekends when unexpected visitors arrive for lunch or coffee.

Whipped cream can be used instead of cream cheese. To test cakes are cooked, insert a skewer into the centre. If it comes out clean and dry, the cake is cooked. Note

Add some grated cheese to the recipe, or use a jar of char-grilled vegetables in place of the beans. Note

Slice the cookies you need from your freezer dough, then refreeze the rest for next time. To make chocolate biscuits, you can replace 2 tablespoons self-raising flour with baking cocoa and roll out until 1cm thick. Sandwich the cooled biscuits together with ready-made vanilla frosting (found in the baking aisle of your supermarket). Note

COOKING TIPS Cat chicken into similar-sized cubes, about 2cm, to ensure even cooking. Soaking skewers helps prevent scorching during cooking. FLAVOUR TIP For a variation, replace Cajun spice mix with a mixture of 1/S cup Greek yoghurt and 2 tablespoons tandoori paste. BUDGET TIP To reduce costs, make your chicken stock using stock powder or […]

MAKES 12 Note

Replace canned cherries with 400g can pie apple or 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries. Note

An easy go-to midweek meal that the whole family will love. Chicken and broccoli topped with tasty cheese make a delicious combination in this mouth-watering bake.

SERVING TIP We served a salad using 1/2 punnet of halved snow pea sprouts, 1 shredded carrot and 1/2 a shredded capsicum, tossed in 1 tablespoon of time juice. Note

Make your own hazelnut meal by processing peeled hazelnuts. Serve these while still warm for a gooey caramel center. Note

Wrap cooled loaves in a layer each of plastic wrap and foil, and store in an airtight container for up to one week. Note

To create 2 separate layers of ganache filling, ensure dark layer is set firm before adding milk layer. Resting the pastry helps prevent shrinking during baking. Note

Earl Grey tea has a strong flavour which works well in baking, but you can use any variety often. Note

Pearl couscous is also called Israeli couscous or Moghrabieh. It can be replaced in this recipe with risoni. Note

If figs are unavailable, use other fruit in season such as kiwifruit. Cheesecake will be slightly wobbly in the centre – cool it slowly, to prevent cracks from forming. Note

lf preferred, you can use frozen chestnuts (available from some grocers) or fresh chestnuts, if in season They must be scored and baked in a very hot oven, 220°C, for 15 minutes. Remove the shell and papery skin while still hot. Use as required. Note

Serve with crusty bread for mopping up pan juices. Note

For pickled vegetables, combine 1 bunch sliced baby radishes, 1 bunch quartered Dutch carrots, 1 cup small cauliflower florets, 1 thinly sliced red onion, 1/3 cup white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons caster sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir to dissolve and set aside 1 hour. Note

You require a high temperature when cooking pastry to ensure a puffed, crisp result. Note

This warming, hearty and delicious tomato and bean soup sprinkled with parsley by Woman�s Day makes the perfect meal for lunch, especially when accompanied with crisp cheese croutons.

A small pinch of salt added to the chocolate mixture will enhance the sweetness. Note

You’ll need 1 cup pumpkin cubes for this. Note

Don’t have an ice-cream machine? Pour mixture into a shallow metal container, cover with foil and freeze 6 hours. Roughly break up with a metal spoon. Transfer to a bowl. Beat with an electric mixer (or in food processor) until smooth. Return to container. Cover with foil. Freeze 4 hours, until firm. Note

Baked rice pudding

Smoked tarakihi with crispy bacon and minted, warm new potato and fennel salad

Lychees are an unexpected delightful touch to this delicious dessert

Test pudding with a skewer – if it comes out clean and dry, the pudding is cooked. Note

To prepare eggs, place in a small saucepan of cold water. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 3-5 minutes. Drain. Cool under cold running water. Peel and chop. Note

Nothing could be simpler than these tasty Italian baked goodies. With just five ingredients they're a sweet treat you won't resist.

This soup freezes well – but do so after pureeing and before adding the cream. When reheating, simmer 3 minutes, reduce heat and swirl in cream. Note

Roasted potatoes, baby beets and feta

An easy, tasty gift idea.

This great dessert is enhanced by the use of buttermilk. It lightens the topping and gives a slightly sour flavour that contrasts superbly with the intense caramel base. It's so simple to prepare.

The perfect partner to a crisp biscuit or nutty biscotti, these are a real crowd pleaser and no-one will realise they are eating yoghurt!

Canned crabmeat can be used instead of fresh. Note