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

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

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 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

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

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

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

This is a very quick and easy cake to make that only involves hand-mixing in one bowl. It is very important to thoroughly drain the pineapple, or else the cake will be doughy and heavy. Toasting macadamias brings out the flavour. There are two ways to toast them: spread macadamias onto an oven tray, toast […]

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

Soak 8 bamboo skewers in water for about 30 minutes before use to prevent splintering and scorching during cooking. Note

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

Not suitable to freeze. You can also marinate the lamb in a large resealable plastic bag. Quince paste can be warmed in a microwave-safe jug in a microwave oven. Quince paste is available from delicatessens and most major supermarkets. Note

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

You can substitute white wine, Grand Marnier or brandy for the red wine. Note

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

40cm (16-inch) round wooden cake board 30cm (12-inch) round wooden cake board 25cm (10-inch) round wooden cake board 20cm (8-inch) round wooden cake board 15cm (6-inch) round wooden cake board 12 wooden cake skewers Medium offset metal spatula We used flaked coconut labelled `coconut chipped’ found in health food stores. Instead of making the ganache […]

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 […]

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!

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

You'll never have plain old mashed potato again after this delicious bacon and cheesy potato bake.

White ready-made fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes), silver luster and cachous can be found at specialty baking and cake-decorating stores. Note

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 […]

Children of all ages will be delighted with a cake that makes one of their favourite games good enough to eat. Note

These peaches will keep for 1 week stored in an airtight container in the fridge. After 2 days, the liquid will increase by half, and the flavours will intensify. Make sure the fruit is covered in the poaching liquid. Keep any leftover poaching liquid to poach other fruit, or reduce to a syrup by simmering […]

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

Bacardi or dark rum can be used, though the slightly darker rum has a stronger flavour. Note

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

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

Vanilla-infused vodka can be bought from an alcohol store or made at home. To make vanilla-infused vodka, combine 250ml vodka and 2 split vanilla beans in a glass jar, cover; stand for about 5 days or until the vodka is infused with vanilla flavour. Discard vanilla beans before using the vodka. Guava juice is available […]

Slice will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. 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 […]

You could buy 4 x 75g salmon fillets instead of the larger fillet. The yellow beans add some colour to the dish; if unavailable use green beans. Note

Sweet chilli relish is available in most supermarkets and delicatessens, or other any chutney or relish would be suitable. Note

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

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 […]

Use any rice you like for this recipe, just make sure it’s cooked properly so every grain is separate. You could use about 3½ cups of cold leftover rice if you happen to have it, if not cook, rinse and drain the rice the day before the picnic. Keep the rice in the fridge. Assemble […]

The cake pops are fiddly to make, but are well worth the effort. We used little sugar roses, bought from the supermarket, to decorate the wedding cakes. Note

We used blue-eye in this recipe, but any white fish fillet will be fine. Peri peri, also spelled piri piri, is a hot chilli sauce used in African, Portuguese and Brazilian cookery. It is available from gourmet food stores and most major supermarkets. Note

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

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

Syrup can be made the night before and stored, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

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

You’ll have ¾ cup of the cake mixture left over, enough for another three cup cakes. Note

Recipe is best prepared as required. Note

If kipfler potatoes are unavailable you can use baby new potatoes. You could also use aïoli, a garlic mayonnaise, instead of plain mayonnaise, and lemon juice instead of warm water to jazz this salad up. Note

You can buy the roast beef, already cooked and sliced, from any deli. Make the coleslaw the night before, and make the sandwich at lunch time the next day. Use whatever cabbage you like; we used red cabbage, but try the chinese variety (wombok), it’s easy to shred finely. Note

Equipment you will need to make this recipe; 30cm round wooden cake board, 15cm round wooden cake board, smoothing tools, 3 wooden skewers, 2 paper piping bags, 5-petal plunger cutter set (small, medium and large), vinyl mat, ball tool, and 2 fine artist’s paint brushes tweezers. The cherry blossom is the symbol of Japan, as […]

You can replace the pork medallions with lean pork fillet. Use a vegetable peeler to slice the carrot lengthways into thin ribbons. The pork can be served warm or cold. Reheat the pork, covered, in a microwave oven on HIGH (100%) for about 1 minute. Note

Use green peppercorns in brine if you can’t find the dried variety, rinse then drain them thoroughly before using. You need to soak eight bamboo skewers in water for at least an hour before use to prevent splintering and scorching. Any firm white fish fillet, such as ling or blue-eye, can be used in this […]

This bright and colourful lime curd, coconut and mango cake is the perfect summertime treat.

Adding avocado to this open sandwich not only adds a rich creamy flavour, it also increases its nutritional value. Avocados are a rich source of potassium and healthy monounsaturated fats that help to lower cholesterol. Use a loaf of ciabatta bread if turkish bread is not available. Note

For this recipe you will need about 12 passionfruit to make 80ml of pulp. This type of cake is best made on day of serving. Note

We used whole pink snapper in this recipe, but you can use any whole white fish. Note

Keeping time: 3 days. Note

This delicious herb-marinated pork fillet is perfect enjoyed with a side salad, or some steamed veggies for a quick and tasty family dinner.

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

You need to cook 200g pumpkin to get the required amount of mashed pumpkin. Note

Velouté, a white sauce made from roux (a cooked butter and flour mixture) and stock, is one of the five “mother” sauces in French cooking from which all other sauces are derived. Note