American

You can reuse oil. Cool to room temperature. Strain through a fine sieve into a glass or plastic container-discard solids. Cover and store in a cool dry place. Note

Mini marshmallows (also called mallow bakes) are in the baking aisle. You can prepare chocolate sauce in the microwave. Place ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on Medium (50%) in 1-minute bursts, stirring, until smooth. Note

You can make caramel sauce up to 3 days ahead. Store chilled. Use leftovers for Caramel Cheesecake. Note

Barbecue chicken pizza brought to you by Recipes Plus

Makes 12 Note

Omit parmesan; add extra tasty cheese. Pasta soaks up liquid on standing. Use small shell-shaped or risoni pasta if you like. Note

Tint icing with food colouring. Note

Omit honey; add 1 tablespoon extra caster sugar. You can sandwich bought diet chocolate mousse between biscuits. Note

Use milk or white chocolate instead of dark chocolate. Note

You can store in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, bring to room temperature, then heat in oven; preheated to 180°C/160°C fan forced for 20 minutes. Note

Replace oregano with 2 tablespoons caster sugar then use dough for sweet pies. Note

You can easily turn this into a vegetarian main meal; replace chicken with 4 sliced, hard-boiled eggs and add cubes of cheddar cheese. Note

Vegetarian: Try cooked soy bacon rashers instead of bacon. You can use 2 large cans of potato instead of frozen potato; drain well. Note

To toast nuts, spread on a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (160°C fan-forced) for 5 minutes. Note

Makes 30 cookies You can freeze raw cookie dough. Thaw in fridge. Bake as recipe directs. Lemon Icing: Makes about 3/4 cup You can tint icing with food colouring. Note

You can make individual servings; cooking time will vary. To save time, replace fresh vegies with 4 cups frozen; look for brands that use large pieces. No soy cheese? Use cheese made with vegetable rennet instead. Note

Corn syrup is sold in delicatessens and health food shops. Pecan pie may puff up while baking, but will settle while cooling. Note

Find fresh bechamel sauce near the fresh pasta in the dairy section. Sauerkraut is pickled cabbage and is often used in a reuben sandwich; it’s in the canned vegetable aisle. You can replace it with baby spinach leaves. Try using leftover sliced corned beef or pastrami. You can cook sandwiches in a frying pan instead […]

The more finely you crush the biscuits, the easier it is to cut the slice. Note

Any short, shaped pasta will work in this recipe. Try any combo of cheeses you like. Use a mixture of cream and cream cheese. Note

The tangy citrus filling paired with pillows of soft fluffy meringue and a crispy biscuit base are a guaranteed hit no matter where you take this incredibly delicious pie.

This no-bake white chocolate banana slice recipe creates the perfect sweet treat!

Try chicken mince instead of beef. You can also serve mince mixture in lettuce cups. Note

Makes 12 To shallow-fry, add oil to a depth of 2cm. To keep cooked hash browns warm between batches, transfer to a baking tray lined with baking paper. Keep warm in an oven preheated to 120°C/100°C fan-forced. Note

Use a tub of neapolitan ice-cream. Note

Make a double batch of caramel sauce; it’s great to have on any ice-cream. Note

For 2 cups mashed pumpkin, microwave 800g peeled chopped pumpkin on High (100%), 5 minutes, or steam until tender. Mash and pass through a fine sieve. Note

Luca Villari presents an exciting seafood dish that will definitely float your boat

To prevent sauce splitting, add lemon juice to hot dairy spread mixture just before serving. Note

Vegetarian: Use bought lentil patties instead of beef. Note

If you like, you could prepare this dish a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Reheat in a moderate oven until golden and heated. Note

To prevent baked goods from sweating, allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Note

Fajitas with grilled chicken tenderloins and fresh homemade tomato salsa are great to share with family and friends. Expect a very sociable communal dinner.

Buttermilk: To make 1 cup buttermilk, place 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice in a measuring jug. Add enough reduced-fat milk to make 1 cup; stir. Mixture will thicken slightly. Bread mix: Bought gluten-free bread mix adds fibre and extra nutrition to the pancakes. You can use regular gluten- free self-raising flour if you like. […]

This moist and sweet banana bread gets an extra zing from the added raspberries. Make this bread ahead, then use for a quick and easy breakfast, toasted and spread with butter.

Glace icing: makes 2/3 cup (enough to ice 8 donuts). If icing sets too quickly, microwave on High (100%) for 20-30 seconds. Note

To soften the wraps, place between pieces of paper towel. Microwave on Medium (50%) in 30-second bursts or until just warmed. Chicken can be cooked the night before. Cover, then refrigerate. You can use any plain or flavoured wrap. Note

Add 1 teaspoon dijon mustard to yogurt dressing. Keep chicken poaching liquid to use as stock. Chicken: Breast fillets and tenderloins are the leanest cuts of chicken. They’ll remain tender and succulent when you poach them. Low-fat natural yogurt: It adds creaminess to any dressing. It also works well with any flavour combination. Nuts: While […]

To melt chocolate, place chocolate in a small, deep microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High (100%) in 30-second bursts, stirring, until melted and smooth. Use any leftover melted chocolate in bowl to dip fruit, such as strawberries. Freeze any leftover evaporated milk or use to make hot chocolate or milkshakes. Note

Makes 36 Wrap dough in plastic food wrap; freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Cookies are soft when they come out of the oven but firm up on cooling. Note

Make ahead: Bake brownies up to 2 days ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Fruit puree: To keep low-fat cakes and slices moist, use apple, pear, banana or date puree instead of butter. Add fibre: Swap regular flour for wholemeal flour. Reduce fat: To reduce overall fat content when baking, replace whole […]

Lean beef schnitzels are uncrumbed thin cuts of beef. If they’re unavailable, replace with thinly sliced rump steak. Price will vary Use long white crusty rolls, or Turkish pide bread, instead of white bread. Note

Po Boy is a traditional American-style ‘sub’ known for its crisp crust and fluffy centre. Note

Delightfully sweet with the perfect amount of tartness, try this creamy key lime pie recipe for an indulgent dessert. It has extra lime juice and a pinch of zest for that added depth of flavour.

Coarsely grate extra vegetables, such as carrot or zucchini, and add to mixture before cooking. Make ahead; cook fritters a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Serve cold, at room temperature or reheat gently in microwave Make ahead; cook macaroni a day ahead. Once cooked, rinse under cold, running water to refresh and stop the cooking […]

Swap grated cheddar cheese for parmesan. Make ahead: prepare this dish a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Bake close to serving. You’ll need 2 slices of sourdough bread to make crumbs. Note

Packed full of delicious flavours and topped with an oozy cheese sauce, this macaroni and bolognese pasta bake is perfect for a hungry family. Serve straight from the pan as a warming Winter dinner.

You’ll find all-purpose seasoning in the spice aisle. Note

You can use any type of white vinegar. Note

You’ll need to cook 500g peeled, seeded pumpkin to make the mash. No buttermilk? Place 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice in a measuring jug. Add enough reduced-fat milk to make 1 cup. Mixture will thicken slightly. Note

Vegetarian: Replace bacon with 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato strips. Replace jalapenos with 1 finely chopped fresh long green chilli. To make buttermilk Place 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice in a measuring jug. Add enough reduced-fat milk to make 1 cup; stir. Mixture will thicken slightly. For 1 1/2 cups, place 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon […]

Be careful not to overheat the butter and chocolate mixture once chocolate has been added; the mixture will seize. Rotate blondie halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks and colours evenly. Add 1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts, such as hazelnuts or macadamias. Note

You can use crunchy peanut butter for extra texture or add 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts to the chocolate mixture. Note

These rocky road brownies with a chewy layer of marshmallow and peanuts are sure to go down a treat and the kids will hardly be able to wait until the brownies are cool!

Glucose syrup is in the baking aisle with essences and cooking chocolate. Note

Bake pastry squares up to a day ahead; store in an airtight container. Assemble shortcake stacks just before serving. Note

You can use vanilla essence instead of vanilla bean paste. Assemble with cream and compote just before serving. Note

For a less smoky taste, replace half the smoked paprika with mild paprika. Note

Make ahead: Prepare patties a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. For a ‘works’ burger, add a fried egg, crisp bacon, drained canned sliced pineapple and drained canned sliced beetroot. For quality beef, look for the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) symbol at participating butchers and supermarkets. Note

No individual ovenproof dishes? Use a 3-litre (12-cup) baking dish instead. Cooking time will vary. Cook pasta up to a day ahead. Add a little vegetable or olive oil to drained pasta; toss lightly. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Note

Makes 32 Sushi rolls can be made up to one day ahead of time and kept uncut and tightly wrapped in the fridge. Note

Process 2 slices day-old bread for breadcrumbs. Note

If liked, use low-fat dairy products and a reduced-fat spread in place of butter. Use 2 fresh corn cobs in place of the canned -simply stand on one end and cut down the length of the cob, close to the core, to remove kernels. Note

You can make fresh breadcrumbs by processing chunks of day-old bread. Note

If you don’t have treacle, you could use golden syrup or maple syrup instead. Note

No grill? Bake in hot oven, 200°C, for 20 minutes. You’ll need about 2 cups sliced mushrooms. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

The caramel is available where you purchase condensed milk in the supermarket. Note

To toast pecans, spread them over a baking tray bake for 4-5 minutes until golden. Set aside to cool. Note

Make the dough ahead of time and cook when required. Doughnuts are best served warm. Note

As a guide, cook turkey for 15-20 minutes per 500g (including stuffing weight) plus 20 minutes, until juices run clear when tested. Add chipolatas to pan for the last 20 minutes, or pan-fry just before serving. Note

If you like, you can add some sliced hard-boiled eggs and halved grape tomatoes to the salad mix. Note

Larger ribs may need to finish cooking in a moderate oven, 180°C. Note

Texas muffin pans are 3/4 cup in capacity. If preferred, use a regular 1/3-cup muffin pan and bake for 15-20 minutes. It will make about 8. Note

When boiling eggs, cook for only 3-4 minutes, so they are still a little soft in the middle. Note

We used a mandolin to slice the apple, which gives this visually pleasing effect. Note

There is a reason chicken Caesar salad is a favourite. Chicken, crunchy croutons, shredded parmesan and homemade dressing are a classic combo.