Any small jubes or jelly sweets can be used. Use lightly oiled scissors to cut the jubes. Note

Keeping time: 4 days. Note

Pastry pieces can be cooked a day ahead; reheat in the oven at 180°C about 5 minutes before assembling. The filling is best made just before serving. Note

Instead of piping the cream cheese mixture onto the canapés, you can just use a teaspoon to drop small amounts on top of the mini toasts. Mini toasts are available from delis, groumet food shops and some supermarkets. Note

Rigatoni, a ridged, tube-shaped pasta, is ideal for baked dishes because it is wide and the hearty fillings cling to the indentations around the edges. Note

Ras el hanout is a blend of Moroccan spices available in delis and specialist food stores. If you can’t find it, use a moroccan seasoning available in supermarkets. Note

You will need about two bunches of rhubarb for this recipe. To spread the second layer of cake batter over the crumble, without mixing the two, dollop the batter into each corner first, then gently spread the batter toward the centre. Note

We used Grand Marnier liqueur in this recipe; you can use any orange flavoured liqueur you like. Note

Omelettes can be made up to 3 hours ahead and stored, covered, in the refrigerator, roll and slice just before assembling salad. Note

It’s important to use regular honey in the matzo cake, not the easy-to-pour liquefied version Note

This recipe also makes 12 standard muffins (⅓-cup/80ml capacity holes). Bake cakes for 20 minutes. Note

A fun and delicious gingerbread man that is great for kid's parties.

This Italian-style seafood, bean and tomato stew has a delicious combination of flavours and textures.

Fruit mince is a mixture of dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas and candied peel, nuts, spices, apple, brandy or rum. It is used as a filling for cakes, puddings and fruit mince pies. Note

Use only the lower white part of the lemon grass stem. Garlic, lemon grass and sweet chilli sauce lend a Thai accent to this recipe Note

You could stir some finely chopped and seeded cucumber into the remaining yoghurt. Note

Refried beans are sold, canned, in most supermarkets, as are packaged flour tortillas. Made of pinto beans that are just parboiled then fried with various seasonings, refried beans are also known by their Mexican name of frijoles refritos. You will need to purchase one small iceberg lettuce for this recipe. Note

Pears, parsnips and red onion have a natural sweetness that is enhanced on roasting. This sweet flavour balances beautifully with pork’s creamy, fatty texture making it the perfect pairing. It’s the same reason apple works so well as an accompaniment with pork in all its forms. Note

This recipe will make about 36 balls. You can also use this stuffing to fill the cavity of a whole turkey or 2 large chickens. Note

You’ll be prouder than a peacock when you present this cake at the party. The design is mainly in the placement of the lollies. Note

Allen’s Racing Cars and Pineapples can be found in Allen’s Teeth `n’ Stuff, Retro Party Mix and Classic Party Mix. Note

A delicious and tri-coloured ice-cream topped with dark chocolate and almonds.

Asian-style pork and chicken stir-fry with a wonderfully rich black bean sauce.

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops. You can draw the inner ear, mouth, eye and iris patterns onto cardboard and use these templates to cut the shapes from icing. Be sure to remove toothpicks […]

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. Frying the herbs in butter, rather than adding them directly to the sauce, gives them extra flavour and keeps them bright green. Recipe not […]

When you think the toffee syrup has almost reached the colour we suggest, quickly remove the pan from the heat, remembering that the syrup will continue to cook and darken during this time. Let the bubbles subside, then drop a teaspoon of the syrup into a cup of cold water. The toffee should set the […]

Even though small guests may not be eating the cakes they’ll love the look of a duckling-topped cake. Make sure the ducks are completely dry and firm. The drying time will depend on the weather; if it’s wet or humid, it could take overnight. The ducklings will take less time to dry than the mother […]

We cooked this recipe in two ovenproof dishes,­ each dish will serve three. We have deliberately used dried, uncooked pasta in this dish. The texture of the final dish is a little chewy, but still tender. Note

You will need about 3 large overripe bananas for this recipe; mash 2 of them for enough mashed banana. Note

This playful, and friendly, looking monster will keep the little ones amused with its bright, cheery colours and smiling face. Note

Recreate your favourite Asian starter dish at home with delicious satay and sweet and sour sauces.

Tender pork loin stuffed with capsicum and ciabatta crumb and served with a rosemary gravy.

Kids love funny faces so Merv is bound to create peals of merriment Note

Be careful when frying mint as it will spit. Note

Store in an airtight container at a cool room temperature until ready to serve. Cake pops will keep for up to a week. Use red Candy Melts in place of tinted chocolate Melts if you like. Note

This deliciously tender slowcooked spiced chicken in coconut sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

Dry sherry can be used instead of mirin. Note

Make sure the rose petals are chemical-free. Organic petals can be found at specialist cake decorating shops and some delicatessens. If fresh organic rose petals are unavailable, sprinkle cake with chopped rosewater-flavoured turkish delight. Rosewater will vary in strength between brands. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste. If using rosewater essence, start […]

Pie can be made a day ahead, keep, covered, in refrigerator. A deep-dish pie with generous helpings of fruit – perfect after a Sunday roast. Note

If vanilla bean paste is hard to find, you can use 3 teaspoons vanilla extract instead. Note

Celeriac is a tuberous root with knobbly brown skin, white flesh and a celerylike flavour. Keep peeled celeriac in acidulated water to stop it discolour ing. In addition to being boiled and mashed, as we have done here, celeriac can be grated and eaten raw in salads; used in soups and stews; or sliced thinly […]

An exquisitely Mediterranean breakfast dish served with a gorgeous capsicum olive relish.

If you don’t like heavy fruit cake, this light fruit cake may just hit the spot. Note

It is fine to use just the one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Note

White icing is also known as fondant (it’s the traditional icing used on wedding cakes). It is available in packets from the supermarket and cake decorating shops Tiny heart cutters are sometimes sold as `aspic cutters’. We’ve scattered Allen’s Sour Rush Jelly Beans, Allen’s Milk Bottle Mania and Nestlé Melts White Cooking Compound around the […]

This cake can also be made in a deep 18cm (7¼-inch) square cake pan. Note

If taking this salad to work, pack the dressing separately and add to the salad at lunch time. note Rice vermicelli is similar to bean thread noodles, only longer and made with rice flour instead of mung bean starch. It is available from supermarkets Note

Soak bamboo skewers in water for at least an hour to prevent scorching during cooking. Yoghurt, cream or milk can be used instead of the buttermilk. Note

Instead of individual dishes, use a single large shallow 3-litre (12-cup) baking dish for this recipe. The cooking time will be the same. Note

Some butchers sell a pork and veal mince mixture, which is what we call for here. If it is not available as a mixture, buy 500g pork mince and 500g veal or lean beef mince. This recipe is suitable to freeze at the end of step 4. Note

You can use any flavoured jelly you wish. Note

The best French dessert of all time: delicious mini french éclairs with rich praline and smooth vanilla custard.

Substitute pork with chicken. This recipe is best made just before serving. Note

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure, your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. This dish is traditionally German or Eastern European, but France adopted it when it annexed the Alsace region in the mid 17th century. It […]

Many cooks think pecans are only suitable used in desserts, but they are just as good in salads, stuffings and main courses. They are also great tossed in curry spices then roasted or coated in chocolate or toffee. Studies show that pecans contain the most antioxidants of any nut and about 60 per cent of […]

Equipment: Deep 30cm-round cake pan 2 x 20cm x 30cm lamington pans 2 bamboo skewers 3cm, 4cm, 6cm and 9cm-round cutters 40cm x 1m prepared cake board Decorations 3 rainbow sour straps, cut yellow strips from strap Note

A light and zesty Italian-style dish that is a great summery dessert.