Cheese dish

These ricotta and parmesan cheese stuffed zucchini flowers make for standout finger food, a simply good lunch or crispy snack.

Melted, oozy cheese and tasty leg-ham is sandwiched between thick slices of fluffy, buttery brioche and baked to perfection to create the ultimate French breakfast or brunch.

A family favourite, serve yourself up a big slice of the classic cheesecake recipe. This irresistible dessert has a beautiful buttery, crumbly crust, with a rich yet light, cream cheese filling.

This dish is as healthy as it is tasty, with zesty undertones to complement the crumbly feta, juicy currants, cauliflower and superfood red quinoa

This recipe isn't fussy, just pure and simple beefy flavour with lashings of tart cheddar cheese for a bit of bite. This Kiwi staple makes a damn fine meal.

Keep those hungry teenagers fed well with this cheese, salami and tomato bake.

Get the party started with these easy to make cheese twists. Great for lunchboxes as well!

This recipe for cheesy fondue makes vegies fun and tasty for kids. Serve with rainbow vegies, and the warm, gooey dip will have them going back for more.

This vegetarian version of traditional lasagne is so flavoursome that even the family carnivores won't notice it's meat-free.

Give a savoury spin to this traditional French dessert with the classic combination of ham, peas and cheese.

Nachos

Brown rice takes longer than other rice to cook. Note

If preferred, prepare in advance and bake in a moderate oven, 180°C, 15-20 minutes, until hot. Note

For a tasty variation, top with tomato paste, 1/2 cup grated mozzarella, 1/2 sliced cabanossi stick, 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 6 halved, pitted olives. Cook as above. Makes 2 Note

These may be served without being fried. Note

This is a simple, no-fuss canapé option. The prosciutto could be substituted with bresaola or mortadella.

This spread makes the ultimate Hawaiian sandwich.

Parcooked fresh lasagne sheets are also suitable and are available in the cold section of your local supermarket. You’ll need fewer sheets, as they tend to be larger. Note

Try filling these pastries with leftover cooked mince combined with peas. Makes 12 Note

For an adult version, replace stock with wine. Note

Mornay sauce is a bechamel, or white, sauce enriched with cheese. It’s a favourite for baked dishes that include cauliflower, cooked pasta, spinach, eggs and fish. Certain vegetables, including potato and pumpkin, need to be cooked in order to be digested, but it’s important to avoid overcooking your vegies, as valuable vitamins and minerals can […]

Try to factor in enough time, before having to get dinner on the table, to rest the meat. Steaks need only a couple of minutes, but it makes such a difference to their juiciness. Note

These muffins are perfect for a quick lunch. Cut them in half and top with slices of ham or chicken, or serve them plain with carrot and celery sticks and a piece of fruit. Note

Makes 15 Wipe down your frying pan with paper towel between batches to stop the pikelets becoming too brown. Note

Tickle your taste buds with these quick and tasty morsels.

Continue the tradition of festive feasting with a boxing day lunch.

These nuts are a great stand-by when you need a little nibble with drinks for pop-in guests.

These are sensational! Although this isn't a traditional Italian dish, the flavour combination of lemons, tomatoes and a strong cheese is definitely Italian. Serve these as a light lunch or a starter.

Four ingredients are all you need to create this quick, satisfying breakfast or snack.

Health tip: Even if you’re on a low-fat diet, don’t be afraid to add parmesan to a dish for flavour. It has such a strong taste that you only need to use a little bit. Note

Antioxidants in berries protect body cells from damage by free radicals, which cause oxidation – a process that is thought to contribute to ageing and disease. Note

Try combining either gruyere or jarlsberg with emmental. Note

To make a smoother ricotta sauce, biend it in a food processor. You can use either full cream or low-fat ricotta in this pasta dish. Note

Not suitable for freeze or microwave. For variation, you can add sliced mushrooms when cooking the bacon, or green onions or corn with the capsicum, if desired. Note

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Use wholemeal bread if you prefer. Note

MAKES ABOUT 32 Serve cheese fingers with cheese, chutney and fruit. Note

Toast your own pine nuts by quickly dry-frying them in a pan on high. Note

This is all about playing favourites. Papaya’s sweet fruitiness finds a plate-mate with prosciutto. Lemon washes away the saltiness of haloumi and mint adds a fresh top note. Every harmonious mouthful seems better than the last. Simply moreish.

You can toast the tortilla wedges in the oven, if you like. Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan, place wedges on baking trays and cook for 2-3 mins, until crisp. Note

If you have the time, drain the ricotta through cheesecloth to prevent the bake being too wet. If the bake is set but the top isn’t quite golden, pop it under a hot grill for a minute or so to give it a bit more colour. For the meat-lovers in your household, you can add […]

You will need to process 2 slices of day-old bread to make enough breadcrumbs. Note

To help the anchovies melt into the oil, squash them with the back of a stirring spoon. Note

Burrata is a cow’s milk mozzarella and is available from selected delicatessens. Note

Bresaola is an italian air-dried beef. If you can’t find it, prosciutto makes a good substitute. Note

Don’t wash the arborio rice it’s the outer coating of starch on the grain that ensured a creamy texture. Note

Croque monsieur is a traditional French hot sandwich snack. It’s usually filled with bechamel sauce, but this version simply uses eggs to soak the bread. You can make a Croque Madame by placing a fried egg on top! Note

For best results, cook pasta until ‘al dente’ – firm to the bite but not hard. Note

Bread absorbs liquid on standing. Note

Chorizo is paprika flavoured pork sausage. Note

Use regular white crusty bread. Replace basil with parsley. Basil can bruise easily – chop just before using. Use any leftover basil in soups, casseroles and dips. Note

A creamy tuna mornay bake recipe packed full with vegetables and topped with lemon zest breadcrumbs. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this is the perfect dish for those quick midweek dinners.

The Italian name for this tasty treat is Mozzarella in Carrozza. Instead of fresh basil leaves, try spreading bread with bought basil pesto. Note

Silverbeet is not spinach; it is a chard and related to beetroot. Note

Haloumi only needs a quick sear – be careful not to overcook it. Note