Quick and Easy

Instant mash is a dried mashed potato mix reconstituted with boiling liquid to give a light buttery flavour. It is available from most supermarkets. Note

Sprinkle with nuts, season to taste. Note

Choose an oyster-flavoured sauce without any seafood content such as mushroom oyster sauce. Check the label if you are unsure. Note

You can buy cleaned mussels to save time. Recipe is best made just before serving. Note

If you have one, use a melon baller to scoop perfectly round balls of truffle mixture. Note

Pizza fingers can be prepared the day before; put the toppings on, then cover them with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge. Bake when ready to eat. Note

Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Note

Use roti bread instead of the naan, if you prefer. Note

The traditional paella pan is shallow and wide. One large or two smaller frying pans can be used. The mixture should only be about 4cm deep. Note

You need 10 ice-block sticks. If the choc orange balls don’t stick to the cookies, secure them with a little melted chocolate. Note

For a healthier option, use olive-oil spray instead of butter for pastry sheets. School prawns (shrimp) can also be used, or try crab or lobster meat. Note

Checkerboard cookies look and taste wonderful. These biscuits make a perfect gift. Stack the cookies, then wrap securely in cellophane to keep airtight. They will keep fresh for a week or two. Note

Canned whole baby beets can be substituted for fresh beetroot, if preferred. Potatoes, beetroot and peas can be cooked in advance and refrigerated, covered. Combine salad just before serving or beetroot will “bleed” into egg and potato Note

You can use blueberries or cranberries instead of goji, if you like. Store bars in an air-tight container for up to 1 week. Note

We used a chardonnay-style wine in this recipe. This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Wear disposable gloves when preparing chokoes as they will leave a sticky residue on your skin. Store pickle in a cool, dark place for at least three weeks before opening. Refrigerate after opening. Serve with cold meats and cheese. Note

Soba noodles are long, flat thin Japanese buckwheat noodles from Asian food stores and major supermarkets. Note

Dried lavender is available from gourmet food stores and cake decorating stores. Note

The chicken can be marinated a day ahead. Recipe best made close to serving. Note

Mini lamb and mint skewers are a delicious and pretty addition to any platter.

Ginger wine, a beverage that is 14% alcohol by volume, has the piquant taste of fresh ginger.You can substitute it with dry (white) vermouth, if you prefer. Any type or combination of glace fruit can be used in this recipe. Note

This recipe is also gluten-free. Note

A filling, classic, healthy muffin that is simple to prepare. Note

This recipe makes 1 cup panang curry paste. Store leftover curry paste, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze in user-friendly portions for up to 3 months. A store-bought panang curry paste can be used. Note

The perfect Asian starter dish; homemade spring rolls.

See if you can get the 6 orange strips and 2 teaspoons of rind from 1 orange, otherwise you may need to buy 2 small oranges. This recipe makes 6 ­ freeze the remaining 4 muffins for later use. Note

If you’re looking for a nostalgic drink to make, you can’t go past making creaming soda spiders! With only two ingredients you can’t mess this recipe up, and it makes for such a delicious treat! Looking for other drinks ideas? Try making these spider floats. We used creaming soda but you can use any fizzy […]

Éclairs are best made on day of serving, but do not fill until ready to serve. Unfilled éclairs can be frozen. Note

Sandwiches can be made up to two hours before the picnic. Note

Take the traditional Anzac Day biscuit recipe, and add in crunchy Australian macadamia nuts and you'll have yourself a delicious sweet treat for any time of the year.

For an impresive starter or light lunch cut one sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry into four equal squares. Place the pastry squares on an oven tray, bake in a moderately hot oven for 20 minutes or until golden. Serve the pastry squares topped with a dressed salad and a slice or two of pan-fried haloumi. […]

Lamb noisette is a round, rather thick, cut of meat taken from the loin. We used a basil pesto dip from the refrigerated section of supermarkets, but you can use any pesto you like. Some major supermarkets and greengrocers are now selling bunches of baby carrots of different colours. We used a bunch each of […]

Ponzu is a citrus-based sauce and is often used for dipping in Japan. It is readily available from Asian food stores and some major supermarkets. Note

Rice paper is a fine, edible paper; contrary to popular belief, it is not actually made from rice, but from the pith of a small tree that grows in Asia. Rice paper can be found in specialist-food stores and some delicatessens. Note