Vegetarian eating has never been easier or more enticing than with this fragrant, Thai inspired, red curry soup.

This bold flavoured beverage is a great, fun option for a cocktail party.

Instead of using half a vanilla bean you could substitute 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Note

DOUBLE IT, FAMILY FAVOURITE When you clip the sandwich triangles in the egg mixture, take care to do it quickly and only coat them lightly, as they won’t cook properly if they become soggy from being soaked for too long. Note

Super fast, low kJ, low fat Note

Look for baby rice cereal, such as Farex, in the baby section of supermarkets. Chocolate mint patties and white choc bits are usually gluten-free, but be sure to check the labels on packets when shopping. Note

You can make the gnocchi several hours in advance. Place on a tray lined with baking paper and cook just before serving. Note

This Spanish-style tortilla is made using fridge and pantry staples and is a great lunchbox addition.

Xanthan gum is used in gluten-free baking to improve texture and minimise crumbling. Note

Make your own buttermilk by stirring 1-2 tablespoon lemon juice into 1 cup skim milk. Blini can be made a day ahead. Cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Note

Buy snake beans that are crisp and bright. Store them in the crisper section of the fridge for up to three days. Note

Scrumptious and easy-to-make pecan loaf with grated zucchini brings moisture and a tender texture to this delicious loaf. Cut into thick slices and drizzle with sweet honey if desired.

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 […]

If you prefer, a sprinkling of cinnamon can be used in place of the fresh nutmeg. Note

You can also make this salad with sashimi-grade salmon instead of tuna. Note

Blueberries are antioxidant-rich and have anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties Note

Barbecue duck nasi goreng brought to you by

Quiche is a great way to use up leftover vegetables, and makes a great quick dinner or easy lunch. Note

There are so many nasi goreng variations from region to region it is impossible to count them all. This Bbq duck version by Madison is a riot of flavour most definitely in the top 5.

Barbecue chicken, spinach and pasta frittata brought to you by Real Living

You need ready-cooked Christmas pudding for this recipe. Equipment; medium saucepan; 2 medium mixing bowls; electric mixer; large mixing bowl; large metal spoon; 8-cup (2-litre) pudding basin; cling wrap; microwave-proof jug; platter; large knife Note

Frying in a combination of butter and oil gives you that yummy buttery flavor but with less risk of the butter burning. Swiss brown mushrooms have a stronger flavour than regular white mushrooms. If you don’t have four small visually appealing frying pans for the individual serves, cook the four portions in one large frying […]

This is a terrific luncheon dish to serve friends. Pour into a deep 24cm pie dish, then bake at 200°C/180°C fan forced for 15 minutes or until set. Allow to cool a little before serving. Noodle cake is a great lunch box filler You can use any flavour of 2-minute noodles Note

You’ll need about half a large cooked chicken. You’ll need to cook about 1 1/2 cups rice; cook several hours ahead, then chill. Note

Use 6 slices crustless bread instead of Madeira cake to make a bread pudding. Don’t thaw berries, as they will ‘bleed’ into the custard. Add a dash of vanilla or coconut essence. Note

Hearty, delicious and easy combination fried rice recipe. Feel free to use leftovers or a mix of whatever meat you have on hand. For the best results cook 1 cup of rice a day ahead.

Make them in advance and freeze individually, then pull one out and leave to thaw overnight for the next day.

Sweet, meltingly soft, buttery and light as air... Only the French could dream up such decadence. Surprise and delight your guests with this special occasion dessert from Julie Biuso

Bbq chicken, spinach and pasta frittata

You’ll need about 250g trimmed rhubarb. You can use a precooked shortcrust sweet flan case instead. Note

You’ll need about 3 lemons. You can use orange or lime instead of lemon. Note

Have icing sugar ready in a small sieve to dust souffles as soon as they come from oven. Use hazelnut meal (ground hazelnuts) instead of almond meal. Make your own meal by processing nuts until ground. Note

To scald milk, heat in a saucepan on low heat; simmer until almost boiling. Note

Use salami instead of ham. Mushrooms are high in antioxidants. Note

For extra zing, add 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest to butter mixture. Use frozen raspberries instead of cherries, if you like. Note

To make the hollandaise in a processor, process vinegar and egg yolks. With motor running, slowly add melted butter in a thin stream. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Stir in parsley. Cover the surface with plastic food wrap. The fresher the eggs, the easier they are to poach. Use leftover […]

Scrambling your eggs over low heat will keep them soft and creamy. Note

Extra-delicious with baked beans in barbecue sauce. Huevos Rancheros (Ranchers’ Eggs) is a classic Mexican breakfast dish we’ve adapted. Add a pinch of chilli powder to tomato mixture. Avocado Salsa: To avoid avocado discolouring, make salsa just before serving. Note

Stand sour cream at room temperature for 10 minutes before whisking with eggs. Note

You’ll need to process 2 slices day-old white bread to make crumbs. Note

No flameproof pan? Cover handle with foil to prevent it burning under the grill. Note

Use leftover shredded barbecued chicken or drained flaked canned tuna You need 1 slice of day-old bread for crumbs. Note

You can use prawns or smoked salmon instead of chicken. Note

Pork katsu don is deliciously meaty and has the remarkable ability to satisfy a handful of cravings in one bite as the panko coating on the pork absorbs the sweet and savoury sauce.

You can replace salami with a can of tuna in oil, drained and flaked. Try a combination of potato, pumpkin and kumara. If frying pan handle isn’t flameproof, wrap in foil before placing under grill so if doesn’t burn. Note

Packed full of goodness, this light and healthy roasted potato salad is beautiful tossed with fresh tuna and hard-boiled eggs to create a delicious lunch or post workout meal.

To make it easier to divide beaten egg into 4, beat 2 eggs at a time. Replace bok choy with other leafy greens Note

You can bake frittata in a 19cm-square pan or cook on stove tap in a medium (20cm base measurement) frying pan until just set, then cook under a preheated grill until golden. Replace tuna with thinly sliced, pan-fried chorizo sausage. Note

Try using a Swiss-style cheese or mozzarella instead of tasty. You could also serve rissole stacks in toasted burger buns. Note

Make ahead: Prepare a double quantity uncooked patties for another dinner. DIY idea: Try Turkish pide rolls instead. Note

Protect handle with foil while grilling. Note

To heat Lebanese bread, microwave on high (100%) for 20 seconds or until just warm. Tabouli: You’ll need one large bunch parsley. Before chopping, wash parsley to remove grit; dry well. Note

Take fritter mixture to the picnic and cook on a preheated barbecue. Note

Strawberry mousse cake

For an adult noodle mix, omit honey and cinnamon. Add a touch of curry powder and nuts such as raw unsalted almonds or cashews. Fried rice noodles are also available and are gluten free. Note

If you don’t have a piping bog, drop heaped spoonfuls of pastry onto trays. You don’t have to use strawberries -you can serve profiteroles with any kind of berries. Store unfitted profiteroles airtight in freezer for up to 1 month. White Chocolate Filling: To ensure even setting, stir filling every 5 minutes while chilling. White […]

Egg continues to cook after it’s removed from the heat; don’t overcook or it will become “rubbery”. Replace chorizo with shaved light ham if preferred. Note

For best results, use thickened cream. Don’t wash the strawberries; wipe with a paper towel instead. Use eating chocolate ( not melts) for dipping strawberries Note

Crack eggs one by one into a glass before adding to tomato mixture. Note

Hollandaise sauce is also great served with grilled or beef steak. Try different herbs to flavour hollandaise. Recipe makes about 1/2 cup hollandaise. Note

Have meringue ready when you remove ice-cream mixture from freezer, then work quickly. Make individual serves. Freeze ice-cream mixture in 8 x 1 1/3-cup freezer-proof moulds lined with plastic food wrap; freezing time will vary. Aunt Betty’s Steamed Puddings are in the dessert aisle at major supermarkets. Aunt Betty/s Steamed Puddings, in a variety of […]