Breakfast

These are best made and served immediately. Note

Don’t have the heat up too high as the hotcakes will brown on the outside but will be uncooked in the middle. Note

Enjoy the full English experience with these tasty treats.

If preferred, use slightly wet fingers to press mixture in pan – take care with hot mixture. Note

Pumpkin and thyme loaf is delicious lightly toasted and topped with grilled prosciutto and poached eggs. Note

Slice loaf and freeze in individual slices – it’s great for lunch boxes. Note

For a lunchbox or picnic treat, add blueberries to batter and make 12 small pikelets. Allow to cool and sandwich with lemon curd. Note

Make a sweet version by adding 1 tablespoon icing sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (in place of parsley). Cook and serve with vanilla ice-cream. Note

Spanish eggs can also be baked in the oven. Note

Butter and oil are often heated together for cooking as the butter gives a good flavour and the oil allows for higher temperatures to be used. If you don’t have raisin toast, use white or wholemeal bread with crusts removed. Note

You could add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 tablespoons honey or syrup, or 3/4 cup of mashed banana, crushed nuts, stewed apple or choc chips to the batter before cooking. Note

If preferred, omit honey and oil and serve untoasted. Note

If liked, add some crumbled feta cheese and chopped semi-dried tomatoes. Note

Poach eggs in a frying pan of gently simmering water with a splash of vinegar until cooked to taste. Note

Use fresh or canned corn kernels in place of frozen. Note

Light and fluffy corn and zucchini fritters are a scrumptious way to make a vege-packed meal. Serve with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce for a great light meal for the family.

Place ramekins on oven tray before baking to make removal easier. Note

Delicious, healthy muesli you can make the night before. Soaking oats and seeds overnight makes them easier to digest, and the muesli will be extra creamy. Great for a quick breakfast.

Toast split bagels before adding topping. Note

This light, flaky golden croissant is beautiful stuffed with fresh ham, eggs and oozy melted cheese to create the perfect lazy weekend breakfast or brunch.

For a tasty lunchbox snack, sandwich pikelets together with sour cream. Note

This is the simplest dish – essentially softly cooked tomatoes, cheese and toast.

We served this with a fresh berry salsa, but any combination of seasonal fresh fruit is ideal – even the humble sliced banana will taste delicious.

Quick, tasty and packed full of flavour, this Asian inspired Chinese noodle omelette is great enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Toast hazelnuts on a tray in a moderate oven, 180°C, about 4-5 minutes, until golden. Note

Soft pears are stirred through warm honey and cinnamon-infused oats for this delightful porridge recipe

Add a splash of dark rum to the sauce, for adults. Resting the batter gives a tender result. Note

Delicious and easy to make corn and bacon fritters can be made ahead of time then reheated and served with tomato relish and salad. They also make the perfect weekend brunch.

Try adding some grated zucchini or chopped red capsicum to the mixture. Note

Use a small buttermilk pancake shake mix for fritter base. Add 1 1/4 cups water, shake, and add remaining ingredients. Continue as directed. Note

Crepes are ready to turn when they start coming away from the edges of the pan. Note

To make mascarpone mix; combine 125g mascarpone with 1/2 cup mixed chopped herbs and juice 1/2 lemon. Note

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

Indulgent classic eggs benedict served on hot buttered English muffins, topped with poached eggs with a heavenly drizzle of hollandaise sauce creates the perfect brunch.

Poach eggs by carefully breaking an egg into a frying pan of gently simmering water with a splash of vinegar (this aids setting of the egg-white). Continue simmering around 1 minute, until the egg is cooked to your liking. Note

Have everything prepared in advance and cook omelettes when ready to eat. Note

These can be cooked in large batches on a barbecue plate. Note

Start your day off on the right tastebuds with this delicious spicy vegetarian omelette.

Puffed grains usually have a high GI. To counter this and make a breakfast to sustain you through the morning, add nuts and a few seeds. Note

To test if jam has reached setting point, place a spoonful of mixture on a cold saucer and freeze for 2 minutes. If it wrinkles when pushed with your fingertip, it’s ready. Save time slicing the fruit by using a food processor with a thin slicer attachment. Note

This grapefruit marmalade is a delightful way to bring a burst of sunshine to your breakfast table. With its bright, tangy flavour and just the right touch of sweetness, it’s the perfect spread for toast, scones, or even a dollop on your morning yoghurt. The natural bitterness of the grapefruit is balanced with sugar, creating […]

Freshly sliced ham off the bone is available from delis. Or buy boneless ham and slice yourself. Note

Create a delicious family meal with this tasty leek, bacon and egg tart. Paired with a green salad and a glass of crisp white wine, this tart is perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

You can use soft boiled eggs in place of poached. Place eggs in a saucepan of cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer 3 minutes from this point. Rinse under cold, running water and peel. Note

To sterilise jars, preheat oven to very slow, 120°C. Wash jars and lids in hot soapy water, rinsing well. Place in a large saucepan and cover with water. Boil 10 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to a baking tray. Place in oven until dry. Fill jars while warm. Note

Not so long ago we got our bacon by making it ourselves. In fact, the whole point behind bacon was that brining and salting pork was a great way to preserve it in the days when there were no refrigerators.

These make an easy, cheap lunch box snack and can be made with leftover cooked pasta. If starting from scratch, you will need 1/2 cup dry pasta. Note

Sweet, tart and fruity all in one spoonful. This gorgeous homemade passionfruit and pineapple jam is delicious when spread on a warm scone alongside a hot cup of tea or coffee.

To blanch spinach, immerse in simmering water for 30 seconds, remove then place in bowl of chilled water. Drain well. Note

To check for setting point, drop 1 teaspoon of jam onto a saucer that’s been chilled in the freezer. Cool to room temperature, then push jam with a fingertip. If the surface wrinkles, it’s ready to bottle. If not, cook longer. Note

As a variation serve these pancakes with blueberries and use maple syrup instead of honey. Note

Add a little chopped prosciutto or bacon and a couple of cherry tomato halves, if desired. If preferred, bake in one dish. Note

To make ahead, proceed to the end of step 4. Cover and chill overnight. Bake to serve. To roast tomatoes, arrange on an oven tray and drizzle with olive oil. Season to taste and cook in moderate oven, 180°C, 5-10 minutes. Note

Puffy with a lightly browned cheesy dome top, this delicious omelette souffl� gets its airy lift from beaten egg whites. Serve with a fresh salad for an easy, light and tasty meal.

Try adding a few drops of Tabasco sauce for extra zing. Note

These crepes freeze well. Prepare fill and freeze, then top with cheese and cream when reheating. Note

This granola mix makes a wonderful gift presented in cellophane bags tied with ribbon or in jars. Note

Add some grated cheese to the recipe, or use a jar of char-grilled vegetables in place of the beans. Note

Orange, grapefruit, lemon and mandarin combine in this simple yet indulgent citrus marmalade to create a divine sweet-yet-bitter spread. The perfect way to use those winter citrus fruits.

Swap tomato chutney for caramelised onion relish, if preferred. It is important to rest the pastry after rolling it to fit the pan, as this will help prevent it shrinking during baking. Note

Bounty bars can be replaced with milk or dark chocolate. Note

Classic pikelets that take just minutes to prepare are irresistible when topped with jam and cream.

Goji berries are high in antioxidants and vitamins A and C. Add them to baking, breakfast cereals and smoothies, or eat raw as a snack. Note

These tasty individual baked breakfast pots are packed full of salty chorizo sausages, creamy feta and a thick, fragrant tomato sauce. Enjoy all the delicious flavours together, complete with a runny egg, in this beautiful Spanish breakfast dish.

Light, golden and fluffy, these divine pancakes are stuffed with fresh, juicy apple pieces to create a sweet brunch dish. Serve these fruity pancakes drizzled with oozing maple syrup and topped with a dollop of thick vanilla marscapone for a brilliant weekend breakfast.

Use any type of dried or frozen fruit you already have. Note