Baby pak choy has green, shaped stems and soft leaves with a mild flavour. If unavailable, use baby buk choy, which has white stalks and firmer leaves. Note

This classic custard with a soft caramel on top is eaten around the world.

Top chef Tony Astle shares his 80-year-old recipe for meringue.

Chocolate crepe baskets with chocolate mousse

Cover pie with foil if browning too quickly. Note

To make boiled eggs easier to peel, refresh first under cold running water. Pan-fry or hard-boil eggs instead, if you desire. Cook eggs at the last minute so yolks are warm and ooze when cracked. To blanch asparagus, cook in boiling water for 1 minute; drain. Refresh under cold water. Note

Clafoutis is a French baked dessert For best results, make clafoutis just before serving. Note

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

The ultimate lemon meringue pie recipe with a crispy base, tangy citrus centre and a fluffy meringue top makes this pie simply to die for. Serve with fluffy whipped cream.

You can spoon meringue mixture onto baking trays instead of piping it. Note

You can use a 250g packet thawed frozen chopped spinach instead of fresh. Using hands, squeeze excess liquid from spinach. Add to white sauce. Replace corn with 100g finely chopped shaved leg ham. Note

Serve bread warm or cold with soups and casseroles. Note

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

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

Aromatic and delicious Singapore noodles with thick shredded chicken and prawns are flavoured with sweet teriyaki in this Asian stir-fry that is low-fat and low-calorie.

Omit almonds. To ensure berries keep their shape during cooking, use them frozen, not thawed. Don’t overcook the berries or they’ll become mushy. Use frozen raspberries, frozen blueberries or halved frozen pitted cherries instead of mixed berries. Price will vary. Best flavour: Choose fresh fruit that’s ripe, with no soft patches. Golden colour: For a […]

To save money, use vanilla essence instead of vanilla paste. If you don’t have 4 cake pans, bake each cake layer separately. Wash pan. Grease, then re-line with baking paper. Note

Makes 8 Note

Don’t discard the baking paper used for rolling out pastry. Use one to bake pastry blind, the other to line the tray for roasting the vegetables. Quiche is cooked when a knife inserted at centre comes out clean. Note

Make a large meringue instead of individual ones. Cooking time will vary. Note

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

These little treats are easy to make.

You’ll need 2 slices of bread to make 1 cup breadcrumbs. Note

Make the shortcrust pastry. Omit thyme. Thaw pastry at room temperature. Note

Slightly under cook the muffins so they don’t dry out when you return them to the oven to brown the meringue. Use eggs at room temperature. This will give the mixture more volume and help the muffin aerate during cooking. Don’t over mix Muffin batter should be light and fluffy; a few lumps in the […]

Wash coriander roots and stems well. Use in curry pastes or stir-fries. Note

You can halve this recipe if you only have one loaf pan. Try honey- flavoured greek-style yoghurt instead of natural. Note

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 […]

No ovenproof frying pan? Cover pan handle with several layers of foil to protect it while under the oven-grill. Quick ideas: Use 2-minute noodles to bulk out stir-fries, soups, omelettes and salads. Save money: Check the unit price on bulk packs; they’re usually significantly cheaper. Note

You’ll need to process 4 slices of day-old white bread to make 1 3/4 cups breadcrumbs. Buy fresh ricotta at the deli counter. Don’t use smooth ricotta (sold in tubs); it has a higher moisture content. Note

To scald milk: Heat milk in a saucepan over low heat; simmer until almost boiling. Note

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

Use sultanas, raisins or dried dates instead of fresh figs. Note

For a lower carb option, we've switched the usual burger bun for a tender, flavoursome mushroom. Packed full of protein, this dish is perfect for a quick lunch or post workout meal.

Always bake a cake as soon as batter is ready so it rises well. When done, stand in the pan to cool. Note

Add 100g finely chopped firm tofu for added protein. Use leftover sprouts in salad sandwiches. Use a mandolin or V-slicer with the fine grater attachment for super-thin cucumber matchsticks. Note

Swap butter for reduced-fat dairy spread. Note

You’ll need to cook about 1 cup rice. Peel eggs in a bowl of cold water. Note

For non-vegetarians, add canned tuna or pink salmon to kedgeree. Note

For a lower-fat version, you can make the omelette with 6 egg whites instead of whole eggs. If preferred, you could use goat’s cheese in place of feta. Note

Use 2 chopped tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. Use rice, bean thread or hokkien noodles instead of Singapore. Low-fat: Use reduced-fat coconut milk. Refresh boiled eggs in chilled water until cold to prevent yolk browning. Note

You’ll need to grate 1 small carrot. Swap carrot for zucchini. Note

Replace feta with fresh ricotta. Use 200g sliced cabanossi instead of cooking sausages. Note

Cook a day ahead. Cover, then refrigerate. Low fat: use 4 eggs, 3 egg whites and replace cream with 1/2 cup skim milk. Use reduced-fat cheese. Note

You can use any flavour of berry jam you like To prevent water seeping into puddings during cooking, tightly secure foil lids using string. Don’t let overhanging foil touch the water bath. Using a jam of thin consistency will result in a thinner, more runny sauce. Don’t rush! When pouring sauce mixture over pudding before […]

Dip pudding basin in hot water for 10 seconds before turning onto serving plate. Note

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

Always cover yeast mixtures with a clean tea towel or plastic wrap, and place in a warm, but not hot, place. Note

Cannels are small French vanilla and rum-flavoured cakes, taking about 1 hour to cook for the tops to turn dark brown. Note

Indulgent chocolate mousse packed full of delicious ingredients, making this heaven for chocoholics. Topped with decadent chocolate curls this elegant dessert is the perfect pick-me-up.

Makes 12 If prefered, top with choc chips or grated chocolate Note

It is important to use a clean, dry bowl and heaters to ensure optimum volume. Do not overbeat egg-white before adding sugar as it will break down. Note

Use any regular eating chocolate in these recipes, rather than cooking chocolate. Note

Do not over-beat egg-whites before adding the caster sugar, as the foam will collapse. Always use a clean bowl and beaters when beating egg-whites, to achieve optimum foam. Note

If preferred, you can use buttermilk or natural yoghurt in place of sour cream. Store in an airtight container. This cake also freezes well. Makes 12 Note

Egg-whites produce the best foam when at room temperature. Note

If desired, use fresh or frozen corn kernels. “Egg flowers” can be omitted if preferred. Note

Cr�me br�l�e�s seductive secret lies in the contrast between the brittle caramelised topping and the smooth, creamy custard beneath. Best served immediately after caramelising.

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

If you prefer sweeter tarts, use frozen sweet puff pastry or make your own sweet shortcrust. Note

It is important to wash leeks thoroughly. Slit lengthwise and splay open the layers as you hold the leek under cold running water. Place pastry in a pie dish if you have trouble keeping it in shape. Note

When cutting tops off cakes, make a small recess to allow for the cream. Note

When cooking steaks, place in a preheated frying pan, char-grill or barbecue. Cook for 2-3 minutes to seal and turn to cook the other side. This will glint rare steak. Cook for a minute or two longer for medium. Note

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

Some sultanas or chopped dates would be delicious in the pudding. Note