A divine starter for a celebratory dinner, these teriyaki salmon skewers with cucumber salad are exquisite. You can alternate salmon chunks with prawns if you like.

You can use an equal weight of prawns or lobster instead of the crab meat in this salad. Make sure your mango is quite firm, otherwise it will not slice well. Note

Warm, hearty and delicious, this spiced red lentil and ham soup is the ultimate comfort food for a hungry family on a cool evening.

Toast fingers can be made the day before and stored in an airtight container. The tomato and cheese can be chopped the day before, and placed in separate small bowls, covered with plastic wrap and stored in the fridge. Parsley should be chopped and fingers assembled just before serving. Note

Sweet mustard dressing gives an extra kick to this warm duck and walnut salad with caramelised apples.

Buy basil pesto, instead of making your own, if liked. Note

Ravioli are little pillows of pasta stuffed with a variety of delicious fillings including meat, fish, cheese and vegetables, and they don't have to be an Italian delicacy. This ravioli with greens recipe takes the basic form and fills it with the spices and flavours of Asia.

Gnocchi with caramelised pumpkin & sage sauce

Melt-in-your-mouth, flaky butter pastry and a delicious seafood chowder filling make these individual fish pies a winner.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

You can substitute gravy beef (or better yet, a ham bone and chicken stock) for the lamb. Black beans, also known as turtle beans, are a common ingredient in Latin American soups, salads and salsa. They have a black skin, creamy texture and sweet flavour, and are a breed apart from Chinese black beans which […]

Crispy pastry, sweet tomato, salty tapenade; flavour and texture sensation wrapped up into one easy recipe!

For this cocktail we used canned passionfruit in syrup, which is available from supermarkets Note

A tasty tapas dish, delicately spiced with fragrant saffron, this platter of olives and cheese makes an elegant addition to a selection of nibblies.

An easy way to tenderise octopus the night before cooking is to tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze. If time is short, bash it with a meat mallet until it is no longer bouncy. Note

serving suggestion Crusty bread. Note

A beautiful and delicious creamy semi-dried tomato and veal from Australian Women's Weekly.

Perfect for parties, serve these simple sweet chilli and coriander prawn skewers with lime wedges and plenty of napkins.

Fire up the barbecue and enjoy these spicy prawn and scallop skewers with a squeeze of lemon.

Always use clean oil for deep-frying; keep it at a constant temperature during cooking. The optimum temperature for vegetables is about 170°C (150°C fan-forced), and is slightly higher for seafood. Japanese seven-spice mix has a hot kick; its ingredients vary according to region. It is available from Asian supermarkets. Note

The portobello mushroom is virtually a larger version of the swiss brown or cremini mushroom. Dense and hearty, it is a great variety to choose when making stuffed mushrooms. You can use swiss browns here but purchase the largest ones you can find.

These simple mushroom tarts are bursting with flavour and make a great lunch when served with a ripe tomato salad.

Take a trip to the fish markets for the freshest produce you can find for these individual seafood mornay pots topped with crispy gratin. They're absolutely delicious.

Soak bamboo skewers in cold water for at least 30 minutes before using to prevent the skewers burning during cooking. Note

Delicious and fresh Italian-style crostino of tomato and basil from Australian Women's Weekly.

These rice-paper rolls because they have a fresh flavour, use healthy ingredients and can be made ahead of time, a real bonus!

This recipe can be made a day ahead. You could use 1kg frozen mixed vegetables instead of the fresh vegetables in this recipe, if you like. Serving per person for each of the five food groups with 1 slice of toast 3½ serves vegetables; 1 serve grain foods; 2 serves lean meat and bean foods. […]

Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Return to room temperature before serving Note

Recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Can be made a day ahead up to step 2, and left covered in the fridge. Note

Choux pastry mixture will come away from side of pan and form a ball Note

Silky smooth and well spiced, this curried pumpkin and coconut soup make a lovely lunch or an excellent starter.

This recipe uses a slow cooker which creates deliciously tender artichokes that pair wonderfully with the salty crunch of garlic anchovy crumbs.

Hearty and warming, this delicious cream of kumara soup makes the ultimate Winter comfort food. Especially when served with this tasty rosemary sourdough.

Asparagus and melted brie make a delicious pair in this easy dish.

These spicy oysters are sure to win over your guests at a barbeque or cocktail party. You can make the spicy dressing in the morning and dress the oysters just prior to serving.

You can also use bintje or desiree potatoes for this recipe. Note

Dip your fingers in cold water when shaping the prawn balls to prevent the mixture from sticking to them. Placing prawn balls on a plastic-wrap-lined tray and refrigerating them for at least half an hour before frying will firm them and help ensure they don’t fall apart during cooking. Prawn balls can be shaped a […]

This elegant Japanese delicacy, like any seafood, is best with the freshest fish.

You need to cook 1½ cups (300g) white long-grain rice the day before making this recipe. Spread cooled cooked rice on a tray, cover, refrigerate overnight. Note

The perfect starter to a dinner party with loved ones, or just an indulgent weekend meal with drinks, these beautiful garlic crumbed mussels are beautiful with a glass of wine.

Whip up this light and delicious bruschetta for a quick lunch or appetiser.

Polenta is the bread of northern Italy, particularly around Venice. One of nature's 'good' carbohydrates, it is extremely versatile; for this recipe it can be kept refrigerated and fried just when required.

Serve with salads that shouldn’t be overpowered by olive oil. Note

These flavour filled little tarts make a great shared platter for a cocktail party, or a starter for a special meal.

Rice noodle cakes. This recipe is gluten-free, wheat-free, yeast-free, dairy-free and nut-free. Best of all, it's delicious and makes a perfect light snack or meal for the kids.

Get your iron Popeye-style with this cream of spinach soup with lemon fetta toasts.

Ask the fishmonger to clean the cuttlefish for you. Note

The key to making a success of the meal on a big day is all about planning and preparation. If you’re not already a list-maker, become one; having a list will make everything seem so much easier. The special meals, like this wonderful lobster dish, will come together nicely.

You will need 450g of fresh peas in the pod or 2 cups (240g) frozen peas for this recipe. Note

This light and full-of-flavour starter is the perfect way to start your five star meal.

Mozzarella or fontina cheese can be substituted for feta cheese, if preferred. Note

Dolloped with whipped tomato mascarpone and crispy prosciutto, these olive pikelets are fantastic for a party.

Delight your guests or the family with these zesty, fresh rice paper rolls.

To jazz up this recipe, cook 375g fresh papardelle pasta and toss with sliced cooked chicken and its juices, 50g fresh baby rocket, 100g torn fresh bocconcini and a light drizzle of olive oil.

This green pea soup couldn't be easier to make, and is livened up immeasurably with the addition of mint pistou. A great light supper on a warm summer evening.

Succulent lamb shank pieces combine with chunks of vegetables to make this spice infused soup.

Warm, comforting and packed with gorgeous veggies, this soup acts as a perfect pick-me-up on a cold day.

Check the seasoning of your chutney before serving. It should be hot from the chilli; sweet from the nuts and yoghurt and salty and sour from the lime juice. Note

There's no need to spend hours making the perfect starter; this spicy seafood dish takes just a few minutes to make and will be gobbled up just as quickly.

These cassia spiced lamb cutlets cooked on stone, pathar ka gosht, are excellent as a starter or as part of a banquet meal.

This appetising soup is jam-packed with as many spices as it is vegetables. From chorizo chunks to paprika, cumin and saffron you'll be wowed with the amount of flavour packed into every mouthful.

Add some juicy seared scallops to a classic Asian salad with chillies, coriander, mint and fish sauce.

Salt cod is a Mediterranean delicacy and can be bought from speciality stores.

This classic Japanese miso soup combines silken tofu with prawns for a light, soothing meal that can be enjoyed all year long.

For a fresh, fabulous and easy mid-week dinner you can't go past these roasted beetroot, feta and rocket pitta bread pizzas. They're easy to throw together and simply delicious.

A rich, smooth and warming soup that makes a great starter, a lovely light dinner or a warming winter weekend lunch. This roasted capsicum soup goes well with fried polenta slices.

Dashi is the basic stock used in nearly every Japanese dish, from a spoonful or two in dipping sauces to greater amounts in the broths of one-pan dishes, such as the udon noodle soup we've made here.

Warm your body and soul with this creamy sweet potato and fennel soup. It's beautiful served hot straight off the stove-top, topped with crisp parmesan wafers to create a delicious dinner.

These tasty little spinach and corn pasties are sure to be a firm favourite with young and old. Great for lunches, after-school snacks and lunchboxes.

If you're looking for a simple, tasty and appealing platter for a party then marinated baby bocconcini with prosciutto is your friend. Salty meat wrapped around mild, sweet cheese and spiked with basil. Perfect.

Piquant tomato vinaigrette makes a wonderful dressing for tender steamed asparagus spears. Serve as a starter, or as a side dish for a meat, chicken or fish main.

The contrast between soft, silken tofu and crispy fried noodles is just one of the things that makes mee krob so utterly moreish. Good thing it's good for you too!

This Thai dish with succulent baby eggplants, tender snake beans and plenty of spiced pork mince is great as part of a banquet-style spread, or served with noodles as a light dinner.

A creamy Thai chicken curry that will become a family favourite in not time.

The secrets of making perfect tempura are: use the freshest vegetables you can find; make sure both the vegetables and the batter are really cold (this prevents the batter from soaking up too much oil); maintain a constant temperature by only frying a few pieces at a time; make the batter just before required; finally, don't over mix the batter - lumpy is good.

One of the most popular Italian antipasti - perfect for platters and sharing plates.

Creamy, garlicky tzatziki is fabulous served with roast lamb or on kebabs, but also as a dip with a pile of crisp, freshly cut vegetables, crackers or twists.

Nutty parmesan is the perfect accompaniment to fresh, crisp sliced fennel.