Italian

Toss a little shredded parmesan through pasta with asparagus and peas. Note

Put a healthful twist on a traditional pesto pasta recipe! This creamy avocado pesto is indulgent without being overly rich, thanks to heart-healthy avocado and a touch of olive oil.

If necessary, you can use toothpicks to secure the eggplant rolls – but remember to remove them before serving. Note

Marinating the tomatoes extracts the juices, creating a sweet and tangy dressing. Note

Makes 5 cups This sauce freezes really well. When it’s cold, spoon serving quantities into a freezer container or freezer bags. Note

If you prefer a spicier version, you could replace cabanossi with smoked chorizo and add a pinch of dried chilli flakes. Note

If preparing this salad ahead, do not add the rocket leaves or dressing until ready to serve. Note

These easy skewers are perfect for your next BBQ!

Roast kumara on an oven tray lined with baking paper. Spray with olive oil and bake in a moderate oven, 180°C, 20-25 minutes, until tender. Note

Popular and delicious Italian-American chicken parmigiana with mouth-watering flavours consisting of golden crumbed chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella.

This dish is traditionally made with poached boneless veal. Note

Vincotto can be replaced by balsamic glaze or red-wine vinegar with a little sugar added. We used a mixture of green and red witlof. If witlof is unavailable, use other bitter leaves such as radicchio or peppery baby rocket. Note

You can use other blue cheese or mild grated parmesan, if preferred. Note

For added “bite” add 1 sliced birdseye chilli after baking. Makes 2 Note

Use oil to add flavour to pasta, stir-fries, dressings or marinades. Note

You will need a 250g packet of sponge fingers for this recipe. Note

If you like, keep the poaching liquid to make a syrup. Remove pears and return to stove top on medium-high heat. Simmer for 20 minutes until liquid is reduced and syrupy. Note

To prevent lumps, ensure the melted chocolate is cooled to room temperature before adding it to the cream mixture. If you have an espresso or coffee pod machine, the instant coffee and hot water can be replaced by a hot shot of espresso. Note

For added flavour, add a squeeze of lemon juice to your seafood pasta. Hot-smoked salmon steaks are available in the ready-to-eat section of the supermarket fridge. Note

This carbonara is made the traditional way and is perfect for those avoiding dairy.

Place prosciutto in a single layer on the oven tray so it crisps evenly. Note

We used a mixture of dark and white chocolate. Lightly spray trays with a little oil, to keep the baking paper in place. Makes 24 Note

A classic Australian pub dish, the combination of golden crumbed chicken, eggplant and oozy cheese is unbeatable for a delicious lunch or dinner.

With macaroni, melted cheese, garlic and butter there is absolutely no way this hearty Italian meal could possibly disappoint.

There's absolutely no hassle involved in this easy Italian dish. With a creamy sauce, melted cheese and juicy mushrooms this is one gnocchi recipe you'll be saving for later.

Not suitable to freeze or microwave. Note

Instead of feta, toss buffalo mozzarella through hot pasta just before serving. Note

Try wedges of camembert or brie in place of mozzarella. Note

For gremolata, combine 1/4 cup chopped parsley with finely grated zest 2 lemons and 3 chopped garlic cloves. Note

Crisp and garlicy sourdough topped with prosciutto, tomato and melted mozzarella creates a delicious and mouth-watering Italian melt. Grilled to perfection, this is a quick and easy lunch option

Garlic sourdough topped with prosciutto, vine-ripened tomatoes and melted buffalo mozzarella is the basis of an incredibly delicious Italian lunch melt that�s grilled to perfection.

Sink your knife into this decadent Italian coffee and chocolate mousse cake. Enjoy a slice for an indulgent dessert or afternoon sweet treat.

For some heat, you could add some sliced red chilli to serve, if you like. Note

Shave zucchini into ribbons using a vegetable peeler or mandolin. Note

MAKES 10 Don’t have a piping bag? No worries. Note

This macadamia and chocolate biscotti is crunchy and satisfying as it�s chocolatey yet nutty and buttery yet crispy. This would be the perfect afternoon treat with a hot cup of tea.

With the addition of saut�ed cabanossi and cherry tomatoes, this macaroni and cheese recipe is taken to the next level. Toss parsley through the mixture then serve with crusty bread.

Roasting tomatoes on a low heat prevents splitting and bursting while enhancing their natural sweetness. Note

Use a vegetable peeler to shave zucchini into thin ribbons, or slice thinly into strains. Note

Creamy mussel risotto with grated parmesan and lemon zest. Arborio rice is simmered in chicken stock, creating a delicious complement to the white wine-steamed mussels.

If liked, drizzle this pasta with a little extra olive oil and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese before sewing. Accompany with a mixed salad. Note

If necessary, add a little water when cooking sauce to thin consistency. Note

This dish can also be baked, covered, in a very slow oven 120°C, around 3 hours or until the meat begins to fall off the bone. Note

Panforte is a classic Italian Christmas treat. It's a very dense, rich confection loaded with nuts, dried fruit, and spices. It keeps so well that you'll have delicious leftovers.

Crumb mixture can be sprinkled over risotto, vegies or salad. Note

This is a quick and easy meal, great for kids. For picky eaters, try serving this meat sauce over quirkily shaped pasta and take out the chilli if you think this could be a problem.

The words seafood and pizza are enough to make you reach for the salad, but our recipe is minimal fat and maximum taste!

When coating the pasta with sauce, it’s easier if you stir in half the pasta first, then the remaining half. Note

If zucchini flowers are in season, use as an alternative to the zucchini, and place on top of the pasta when serving. Zucchini flowers are usually available from November to May and at their best from January to April. Note

We used pork and fennel sausages, but if you are using plain pork sausages, add 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds for flavour. Note

Don’t be tempted add extra flour to your gnocchi, or it will become heavy and chewy. Note

Pasta will take 10-12 minutes to cook. Or you can use fresh pasta, which will take only a few minutes, making this an even speedier dish. Make this dish even faster by using a ready-made pesto sauce instead of making your own gremolata. Note