School lunchbox

Use very ripe banana for mashing – keep bananas in the freezer until ready in use. Don’t worry about the skin going black – The banana flesh is still perfectly useable for cakes and muffins. Note

These beef and bean burritos topped with creamy guacamole are easy to make, and they are definitely delicious! They're easy to prepare, take practically no time, and are always a treat.

You can use lebanese bread or lavash in place of mountain bread, if you like. Note

You can use other chopped nuts of choice or dried fruit, if liked. Plain milk can be used in place of buttermilk. Makes 12 Note

makes about 20 Note

This can also be made in a 10 x 20cm loaf pan – increase cooking time to 50-60 minutes. Note

makes about 20 Store biscuits in airtight containers – but do not freeze. Note

You could use peanuts, walnuts, macadamias, hazelnuts or brazil nuts instead of pecans. Note

Hawaiian pizza fans with love this cheesy ham and pineapple muffin recipe. Pop in lunchboxes or enjoy as a delicious afternoon tea treat

Sometimes called “chicken nibbles”, drummettes are made from the fleshy part of the wing. Get them from your butcher or supermarket. Use chicken wings or drumsticks if preferred. Accompany with a salad of lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, snipped chives, bacon and croutons with a favourite dressing. Note

Make your own sushi vinegar by combining 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Note

Chocolate chips can be used in place of blueberries – use 3/4 cup each. Raspberry and white chocolate are perfect together. Note

These sandwiches can be made with toasted bread, and there are no limits to the fillings you can try. Note

Make dinner fuss-free with this fantastic egg-free quiche recipe. It's packed with the goodness of broccoli and capsicum, as well as the deliciousness of cheese and ham - so you know it's going to be a favourite!

If preferred, use a slab sponge or madeira cake, or use packet mix and follow the packet directions. Note

If preferred, use slightly wet fingers to press mixture in pan – take care with hot mixture. Note

Slice loaf and freeze in individual slices – it’s great for lunch boxes. Note

This loaf freezes well – either whole or in slices. Note

You can use tortillas, Lebanese bread or mountain bread instead of chappati. Note

Make sure you drain the beetroot well on paper towel. Cook pumpkin the night before, or make this salad with leftover roast vegetables. Note

For a tasty lunchbox snack, sandwich pikelets together with sour cream. Note

We asked our local bakery to slice the loaf this way, but you can do it at home using a good bread knife. You could also use large, sandwich-sized sliced bread with the crusts removed. Accompany this lunch with a delicious vitamin C-packed fruit salad-we used kiwifruit, orange and berries. Note

Perfect hokey pokey and chocolate heaven! To add a twist to the traditional hokey pokey recipe and to balance out the sweetness, dip each piece of hokey pokey in dark chocolate.

Melt chocolate in a microwave- proof bowl (glass or microwave-safe plastic) on MEDIUM (50%) in 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Note

Try this with orange juice instead of lemon juice, if liked. You can add finely grated zest of a lemon or orange to the egg mixture. Note

MAKES 12 Store in an airtight container. Muffins freeze well for up to 3 months. Note

You can replace tortillas with lebanese bread, gluten-free wraps or doubled-over mountain bread. Try changing the fillings and use ham and mushroom, ricotta and spinach or peas. Note

There are few things more universally loved than a delicious chocolate-chip biscuit. Indulge your sweet side with these toll house cookies, packed full of real chocolate bits and macadamias.

Try chicken breast, vermicelli noodles, snow-pea sprouts, cucumber spears and hoisin sauce as the filling. Note

Almonds and mandarins in a freshly baked cake make this a must for every afternoon tea. Serve with a sweet sherry for perfect delight.

MAKES 24 For glace icing, combine 1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar with 20g melted butter and 1-2 tablespoons boiling water. Stir until smooth, adding a few drops of pink food colouring. Note

Enjoy these tasty treats as a lunchbox snack or for tapas with friends. It doesn't matter who they're for, any tuna lover will adore these croquettes.

Replace the sweet chilli sauce with tomato sauce for kids – and adults – who aren’t keen on spiciness. Note

You could also use a 6-hole oversized muffin pan, if preferred. Bake larger muffins for a further 5 minutes. Note

When icing donuts, work quickly. If icing begins to firm, reheat until glossy. You could sprinkle donuts with 100s and 1000s instead of dipping into chocolate sprinkles. Don’t overheat the milk; it will kill the yeast. Note

Make these ahead of time and cook when ready to serve. Great for lunchboxes. Note

Pea, feta and mint fritters

Hot, savoury and tasty egg, bacon and parmesan pies make a great lunch or after-school snack. They're also great for popping in lunch boxes the following day.

Suppli al telefono is a delicious snack from Italy originally named for the melted mozzarella "strings" that resemble telephone wires when one of these croquettes is split open and slowly pulled apart.

Carrot cake is always a winner, and the addition of a little mixed spice to this recipe takes it to a new level. This gluten free version is super moist and perfect for the kids' lunch boxes or after school snack.

If you're in a jam, any jam will do for these delightful almond biscuits. Buttery, crumbly and zesty with lemon, they're a delicious little mouthful.

These crusty cheese and mustard dampers are best served piping hot, straight from the oven. They are the perfect on their own or alongside a steaming bowl of hot soup and will fill your kitchen with the most delicious aroma.

Take a trip back to your childhood with this old fashioned corned beef recipe. Serve warm with creamy mashed potato, mustard, cornichons, caperberries and parsley or with steamed potatoes, carrots and cabbage.

This coconut cherry slice manages to be just a little bit posh while at the same time packing a delicious chocolatey punch. Enjoy with your afternoon coffee or tea.

This Thai chicken noodle soup is full of all those lovely and distinctive Asian flavours and will not fail to please. Best of all, you can be enjoying a steaming bowl in under 15 minutes. What's not to love?

These honey and coconut muesli bars are the perfect energy packed snack for school lunch boxes. For a crispy result bake for a little longer. If you like a chewier bar, then take them out of the oven slightly early.

An empanada is a stuffed pastry or bread that is baked or fried. They are often filled with meat, but this spiced pumpkin version is a delicious vegetarian take on this classic Latin American snack food.

Forget about perfect presentation with these tasty little spinach and ricotta free-form pies because rustic is the order of the day. Dispense with cutlery and enjoy them hot from the oven, or cold as part of your next picnic.

Delicious hot or cold, for breakfast, lunch or dinner, a frittata is the way to go for a quick and easy meal.

Perfect for an after school snack, or school and work lunches these mini ham and corn quiches are easy and tasty and appealing.

Dense, moist and full of flavour, this zucchini and corn bread is fabulous served still warm with a bowl of fresh guacamole.

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 second best part of making my own snacks is that I know exactly what goes into them - the best part is how they taste. The muesli bars in this recipe can be changed to suit any needs. I put linseed and sesame seeds in them, mostly so I can convince myself that I should eat them. Nuts are lovely, although the boys’ school, as well as many others I am sure, has a peanut ban because of serious allergies. Good additions include slivered almonds, pine nuts, choc chips or chopped apricot pieces.

This is also a great family meal served with rice or bread. The tandoori paste is found in the Asian section of the supermarket. Serve the salad in an airtight container that fits inside the lunchbox with a freezer block. Put the dressing into a smaller container to be put on the salad (or dunked into) at lunchtime – if it's put on in the morning, it will become soggy. If your kids are little gourmets, throw a wedge of lemon in as well.

We used butter beans but you can use any canned white beans you like. This recipe can be made a day ahead. Store pitta crisps in an airtight container. Note

Prepare the wraps the night before the picnic; wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Cut the rolls at the picnic. Note

These berry buttermilk muffins are fluffy, delicious and a cinch to make.

Sprinkled with coconut, this chewy date slice is divine with a hot cup of tea.

high GI Note

You can use canned pink or red salmon instead of the tuna. Note

Whip up something healthy and filling for lunch with this spiced chicken sandwich with apricot and kumara.

A huge hit at parties, fresh rice paper rolls also make an excellent lunch, or after-school snack.

Put the kettle on and treat yourself to one of these fluffy, spiced apple muffins.

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.

Black sugar is available from health food stores; brown sugar can be used as a substitute. Note

These moreish cookies go perfectly with a cold glass of milk.

Enjoy the delicious butterscotch flavours of the Anzac biscuit in chewy slice form.

Kids will love quenching their thirst with a homemade lemonade treat. They could even give you a hand in the kitchen to make it.

These little iced thongs are the cutest thing ever to serve up this Australia Day.

This vegetarian pasta dish makes a fantastic quick dinner and is also great for the lunchbox.

Perfect for school lunches or morning or afternoon tea, these fig jam and raisin rolls will not fail to satisfy. Spread them with a little butter and enjoy with your next cuppa.

This colourful pasta salad is easy, delicious and great for the lunchbox.

This recipe makes 24 patty cakes. glacé icing Sift the icing sugar into a small heatproof bowl. Stir in the melted butter and enough of the water to make a firm paste (start with a little and add more if you need to). Meanwhile, half-fill a small saucepan with water. Turn the stove on and […]

Vary the flavour by changing the dried fruit to chopped dried apricots, raisins, seeded dates or seeded prunes, or a combination of any of these. Note

Ideal for the lunchbox, both kids and adults will love this cheesy broccoli frittata.

Whip up a batch of these fluffy savoury muffins with crunchy cheese topping. They're great served warm with butter or packed in a lunchbox.

Change the fruit to suit your child’s taste. We’ve allowed ¼ cup of the snack per serving. Note