Zucchini

These ricotta and parmesan cheese stuffed zucchini flowers make for standout finger food, a simply good lunch or crispy snack.

Take a different approach to a classic family lasagne, adding this versatile summer vegetable to a spiced pork and veal mince filling.

Prepare this delicious meatloaf for your family any day of the week. Veal mince is layered with char-grilled vegetables and sprinkled with crumbly feta to create the tastiest weeknight dinner.

Crispy bacon and thinly sliced zucchini are beautiful tossed with fettuccine in a creamy sauce to create this tasty pasta dish in no time at all, creating a flavoursome and nourishing meal for your family.

The delicious savoury filling of marinated vegetables makes this traditional breakfast dish worthy of being eaten any time of day.

Lamb, zucchini and olives bring the flavours of the Mediterrean to your table. This slow-cook meal will delight the family and dinner guests alike.

With zest and spice this vegetarian pasta is simple to make but delicious and full of complimentary flavours.

This simple pasta dish needs minimal ingredients and yet it's bursting with flavour. It's a perfect weeknight meal ... or for emergency entertaining.

This classic tasty cheese and ham omelette is perfect for brunch or picnics.

No one will guess this classic lamb barbecue only took 20 minutes to create! With creamy polenta instead of mashed potato and tasty parsley oil it's a Sunday roast with a twist.

Zucchini and parmesan are a wonderful flavour combination. This quick and creamy soup can be served by itself or accompanied by crusty bread.

A dish worthy of being eaten breakfast, lunch or dinner; these delicious roast vegetable and pesto polenta stacks are beautiful served straight out of the oven with fresh baby spinach leaves.

This zucchini and walnut loaf is beautiful served warm or toasted with a generous spread of butter. The addition of zucchini gives a wonderful texture to the bread, and you can be assured you're serving your family their dose of vegetables, disguised in a sweet, nutty slice.

This light and easy tart is great finger food for your next party or family gathering. Or you can cut into slices and serve with salad for lunch.

Cooks can never have too many pasta recipes in their repertoire. This easy vegetarian dish gets some added nutrients with ricotta cheese and toasted pine nuts.

The flavours of this fresh salad brighten the whole meal.

Warm savoury treats always go down well at a party, so make plenty or prepare ahead and freeze. These tartlets have a simple base, but the creamy feta and sweet-and-sour onions make them flashy and flavourful. Note

Luca Villari takes Silver Fern Farms’ premium beef Porterhouse Steaks and cooks them to perfection for a fast family dinner or easy entertaining with friends.

Brown rice takes longer than other rice to cook. Note

You can also bake these in a hot, 200C oven 15 minutes, turning halfway. Note

Salad ingredients can easily be added and substituted – use your imagination!

This delicious warm lamb salad with fresh flavours is definitely a meal on its own and is the perfect dish for something heart-warming, yet filled with fresh summery flavours.

This recipe also works well with shortcrust pastry. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Note

Forget the breakfast club, have a sleep-in then get the crew together forJulie Biuso’s delicious vegetable-based brunch dish

When renovating a house one of the most unsettling things is having to make do without a kitchen. Rather than resigning yourself to takeaways every night, borrow an electric frying pan and a gas ring if you don’t already have them and have a go at turning out these dishes. It’ll keep you healthy, sane and on budget.

Cornmeal is ground dried maize. Look for it in the flour section of Coles Supermarkets. Do not over-mix muffin mixtures or the muffin will be dense rather than fluffy. The mixture should be a little lumpy. Note

I love giving everyone their own little bottle of dressing when having a dinner party.

Parcooked fresh lasagne sheets are also suitable and are available in the cold section of your local supermarket. You’ll need fewer sheets, as they tend to be larger. Note

Lebanese eggplant may be used instead of zucchini, but allow a longer cooking time. Note

Stir through flaked cooked chicken or canned tuna for added flavour and protein. Note

Use a vegetable peeler to slice unpeeled zucchini into ribbons. Note

Try to factor in enough time, before having to get dinner on the table, to rest the meat. Steaks need only a couple of minutes, but it makes such a difference to their juiciness. Note

In the heat of summer, impress your friends and family with this refreshing and flavour-packed raw pasta dish by Megan May

Canned tomatoes are convenient, plus because they have been cooked and processed, their level of lycopene is higher than that of fresh tomatoes. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and is responsible for making tomatoes red. It has been found to reduce the risk of some cancers, particularly prostate cancer. Note

Large shell pasta is ideal for scooping up chunky sauces such as this one. Drain shells well after cooking to ensure there’s no water inside. Note

Light, fresh and tasty, this healthy zucchini, asparagus and broad bean salad makes the perfect side dish for an outdoor Summer dinner party.

Roasting the vegetables for the ratatouille helps them caramelise and melt in the mouth. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Harissa is available at selected supermarkets and delicatessens. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

You will need one bunch of silverbeet for this recipe. Note

These are perfect for an entrée or starter.

Green chicken curry goes exceptionally well with a golden, crispy pastry lid.

There's no need to wait for a family gathering or until you get a group of friends together before you can enjoy a roast meal. Sit down together to our roast chicken for two and enjoy!

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

To make the free-form cases: cut 10cm squares from baking paper and press into each greased pan hole. Note

This dish is also delicious topped with a mixture of 1/2 cup grated parmesan, 2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs and 2 tablespoons shredded basil leaves before baking. Note

SUPER EASY, MAKE IT AHEAD To substitute fresh broad beans with frozen, use 1 1/2 cups (225g) frozen broad beans. Vary this recipe by using other in-season green vegetables or different types of nuts. Note

Healthy benefits : Karen says this easy-to-make dinner, packed with peas, zucchini and spinach, is great for fibre but she still suggests teaming it with a leafy salad for an even bigger boost. Why? Because then it’ll have the recommended daily five serves of vegies in one meal. Note

For perfectly fluffy fritters. use your hands to squeeze the grated zucchini, and extract as much moisture as possible. Note

A deliciously moist and easy-to-make zucchini and pecan loaf. Grated zucchini in the batter brings moisture and a tender texture to what is essentially a spice cake.

Scrumptious and easy-to-make pecan loaf with grated zucchini brings moisture and a tender texture to this delicious loaf. Cut into thick slices and drizzle with sweet honey if desired.

If you have the time, drain the ricotta through cheesecloth to prevent the bake being too wet. If the bake is set but the top isn’t quite golden, pop it under a hot grill for a minute or so to give it a bit more colour. For the meat-lovers in your household, you can add […]