Breakfast

To blanch vegetables: Place in a heatproof bowl. Pour boiling water over them; stand for 3 minutes. Drain. Refresh under cold water. Drain well. Can use chicken or pork sausages. Note

Melt chocolate in the microwave on High (100%) in 30-second bursts, stirring, until melted and smooth. Use any remaining cherries in smoothies, cocktails or popsicles. Try thawed butter pastry instead. Note

To test that jam gels: Place a teaspoon of marmalade on a cold saucer; place in freezer for 2 minutes. Run finger through marmalade. If surface wrinkles and jam separates, it’s ready. Note

Try chives, parsley or basil instead of green onion. For an even healthier alternative, use light or low-sodium ham. Note

For a kid’s version, replace the brandy with orange juice or extra milk. Note

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. […]

Keep cooked rosti warm in a slow oven while you cook the rest. Note

Quinoa flakes are available at most major supermarket; if unavailable, use extra rice flakes or stir in a puffed quinoa cereal mix just before serving. Note

Quick and healthy chicken pho recipe using chicken stock and barbecued shredded chicken. Create a fragrant and warming Vietnamese noodle soup that is rich in flavour.

Serve with bacon or sausages. Replace chives with basil, parsley or green onions. Egg-white omelets are best made just before serving. For perfectly round omelets, cook them in oiled egg rings or a 7cm round cookie cutter. Note

This easy and light breakfast is a healthy start to a summer's day.

Have all your ingredients ready before you start to cook. Omelettes take only a few minutes to cook. Don’t stir egg mixture in the pan; it will scramble the eggs. For ease of folding, always place filling to one side of omelette. Omelettes should be tender and soft. Don’t overcook or they will become tough […]

Use chopped bacon instead of pancetta. You can use regular white vinegar. Omit bread croutons and serve eggs on toasted sourdough. Note

Replace cured chorizo sausages with cabanossi, and swap red capsicum for green capsicum. Flavour will vary. Note

Swap honey for maple syrup. To make crepes Sift 3/4 cup plain flour into a bowl. Add 3 eggs and 3/4 cup milk until smooth. Stand for 10 minutes. Cook 1/4-cup quantities in a lightly oiled pan over moderate heat for 1-2 minutes each side. Note

For best results, cook pikelets just before serving. Serve pikelets with sliced banana and maple syrup. Note

To make it easy to pour honey from measuring jug, warm gently in the microwave or dip into hot water. Note

Add scrambled egg for a delicious breakfast or brunch. Top potatoes with bought salsa. You can use parsley instead of chives. Note

You can replace prepared pancakes with pancake mix; follow packet directions. Replace macadamias with walnuts or pecans. If you can’t find honey macadamias, use toasted macadamias. Note

For maximum flavour, use juicy ripe tomatoes. Replace bacon with crumbled fetta. Note

No self-raising flour? Add 2 teaspoons baking powder to 1 cup plain flour. Note

Croque monsieur is the gourmet French version of a toasted ham and cheese sandwich. This classic French bistro sandwich is a great way to use up leftover ham and is simply delicious.

Poach eggs in an egg poacher, or by slipping a cracked egg into a frying pan of gently simmering water with a splash of vinegar (this assists in the setting of the egg). Continue simmering, splashing over some hot water during cooking, until the egg is cooked to your liking. To make your own tapenade, […]

Risoni is a rice-shaped pasta available from most supermarkets. Note

If you don’t have a sandwich press, cook sandwich in a frying pan, with a little melted butter. Note

Use very ripe banana for mashing – keep bananas in the freezer until ready in use. Don’t worry about the skin going black – The banana flesh is still perfectly useable for cakes and muffins. Note

These are best made just before serving. Note

If you have fresh passion fruit, spoon some pulp over the muesli before serving. If preferred, replace natural yoghurt with milk. Note

Drain cooked rice on paper towel and chill before using. We used pure icing sugar, because icing-sugar mixture contains cornflour. Note

When mixing muffin batter, 16 strokes is usually enough. Over-mixing the batter will make the muffins dry and rubbery. Note

Not suitable to freeze. Suitable to microwave. Note

Cover custard with plastic wrap to help prevent a “skin” from forming. Remove plastic and stir just before serving. Note

To fry eggs, break each into a lightly greased, heavy-based frying pan (or greased egg ring) on medium heat. Cook, uncovered, for. 2-3 minutes, until egg-white is set and yolk is cooked to taste. ; Use an egg slice to remove. Note

16 strokes is usually enough when mixing muffin batter – any pockets of flour help to give them their characteristic texture. Milk can be used in place of buttermilk. Note

Hot buttered English muffins, smoked salmon, and poached eggs are topped with a heavenly drizzle of homemade hollandaise sauce to create a delicious and indulgent brunch.

To tell if an egg is raw or hard-boiled, spin it. If the egg spins easily, it is hard-boiled, but if it wobbles, it is raw. Note

We used chives, parsley and tarragon for this omelette. Note

You can add some button mushrooms to the mixture and more chilli if you like it spicy! Note

makes about 12 These pikelets freeze well – thaw and reheat in microwave on medium for 20 seconds for each pikelet. Note

makes about 3 cups Test by spooning 1 teaspoon of marmalade onto a cold plate. Push with your fingertip and, if it wrinkles, it’s ready. If not, continue boiling until setting point is reached. Alternatively, if setting is taking too long, it may be that the fruit is slightly over- or under-ripe, affecting the amount […]

When scrambling eggs, keep the heat low and even. Stir occasionally – too much heat or stirring will toughen the eggs and cause them to separate. The finished texture should be barely firm and creamy. Serve immediately – scrambled eggs do not reheat well. Note

Cold sausages, left-over vegetables or antipasto vegies could be used in this omelette. Note

Cook scrambled eggs to desired consistency. Longer cooking will result in a thicker, more crumbly texture. Note

If liked, serve with a caper and lemon or lime mayonnaise. Note

This fluffy omelette souffl� gets its airy lift from beaten eggwhites. It emerges from the oven puffy with a lightly browned, cheesy dome top, which is great for brunch or a light supper.

If making ahead, cover with plastic wrap and chill to prevent pastry from drying out. Note

Add a little more milk or water to the batter if it has become thick (mixture should be like pouring cream). Crepes should be thinner than pancakes and can be stacked on top of each other on a plate as they’re cooked. You can use canned passionfruit in place of fresh. Note

Try using other berries in this salad. Smoked chicken, smoked trout or cooked prawns could be substituted for the smoked salmon. Note

You’ll need about 2 zucchinis and 1 carrot for this recipe. Pepitas are edible pumpkin seeds with hulls removed, commonly used in Mexican cooking. They are available salted, roasted or raw. Note

This pie is excellent served hot or cold. For a faster version, use frozen shortcrust pastry, thawed. Note

Use leftover boiled potatoes for this recipe. Salami or ham could be used in place of bacon. Poach eggs in an egg poacher or by slipping a cracked egg into a frying pan of gently simmering water with a splash of vinegar. Simmer until egg is cooked to your liking- splash some hot water over […]

Oatmeal bannock is a wonderful way to use up leftover porridge if you don’t have chooks in your backyard.

Remember to wash the strawberries before you hull them, as this prevents the stem end absorbing water. Note

This bircher muesli recipe is healthy, nutritious and easy to make. Just whip up the night before, place in the refrigerator and you'll have breakfast waiting for you in the morning.

Incredibly versatile and tasty bubble and squeak is perfect for a relaxing meal after a hectic day. It is also a great way to use up any leftover vegetables or mashed potato.

These blini are also delicious with a little salmon roe added to the top. Note

Looking for the all-round perfect and indulgent dessert? Try these decadent and fluffy chocolate crepes with fresh raspberries, whipped cream and a little grated chocolate.

Plain bread or fruit bread can be used instead of brioche. Milk chocolate can be used in place of dark. Make sure the bread is well soaked in the egg mixture before cooking. Note

As an option, a grated cheese can be added to omelette filling. Note

This marmalade is great use of those winter citrus fruits! Orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and mandarin combine in a simple recipe by Woman's Day to create a deliciously sweet-yet-bitter marmalade.

Add other nuts or fruit of choice. Note

Use slightly under ripe fruit as it contains higher levels of pectin – this provides better results for setting. If your fruit is overripe. you may need to add extra dried pectin, such as jamsetta. Sterilise jars in boiling water for 10 minutes. Handling with tongs, place upside down on a baking tray. Heat in […]

When scrambling eggs, keep the heat low and even and stir occasionally. Too much heat or stirring will toughen the eggs and cause them to separate. The finished texture should be barely firm and creamy. Note

Remove fish from the water as soon as bubbles begin breaking. Note

To poach eggs, break into a frying pan of gently simmering water with a splash of vinegar. Simmer until cooked, splashing a little hot water over the eggs during cooking. Fry tomatoes in a lightly greased frying pan until tender. Note

Delicious leek, bacon and egg tart creates a tasty midweek family meal. You can always spread pastry bases with ready-made pesto before adding leek mixture for extra flavour.