Cooking with the Australian Womens Weekly Issue 11

We’re counting down the few weeks left until Christmas and holiday time. No matter what kind of food you’re thinking of preparing over the holiday season, you can be sure that we have it covered in this wonderfully practical, time-saving and stress-free issue. In fact, it’s our mission to help you make this Christmas your best ever! Check out our mouth-watering array of recipe suggestions. Next, work out a menu and make a list of what you need; what has to be ordered; what you can do in advance and, lastly, what has to be done or bought a day or so ahead. Do these simple tasks and you’ll find that the last minute things somehow get done – so don’t panic! If you haven’t yet made a cake or…

I’ve had no success at making pizzas. The bases are soggy, no matter what recipe I use, and I end up hacking them when I try to cut them. Any tips? A Yes. Dusting polenta onto pizza trays prevents the bases from sticking and gives extra crunch to the crust. If you don’t have a pizza wheel, cut the pizza with kitchen scissors – you’ll find it much easier and a lot cleaner than using a knife! I’m new to baking, but have had my first disaster. I cooked a batch of biscuits, I’m sure I followed the recipe instructions, but the biscuits were too brown underneath. What went wrong? A The trays you used may have been over-greased. Excess greasing will burn and, in turn, burn the biscuits. Also,…

For the past 65 years, The Australian Women’s Weekly Test Kitchen has been developing, triple-testing, styling and photographing thousands of recipes for home cooks all around Australia and across the world. Our wonderful chefs work hard to deliver delicious fail-safe recipes for all cooks, young and old. So whenever you see our trademark Triple Tested ‘seal of approval’ stamp, this is our guarantee that what you make at home will turn out looking as beautiful as our photographs.…

FREEDING THE CROWD FOR AN OUTDOOR EVENT, A GOOD-OLD-FASHIONED BARBECUE IS A GOOD CHOICE. SALADS CAN BE PRE-PREPPED; MEAT, POULTRY AND SEAFOOD PRE-MARINATED.IF THE PARTY IS MORE ABOUT NIBBLES THAN A MEAL, A SELECTION OF WARM AND COLD FINGER FOOD AND SELF-SERVE PLATTERS IS A GOOD OPTION. GO FOR A RANGE OF ITEMS RATHER THAN THOSE THAT ARE ALL PASTRY-BASED OR CREAMY. LOOK FOR RECIPES THAT CAN BE LARGELY MADE OR PARTLY PREPARED IN ADVANCE. GET ORANGISED! Make two detailed shopping lists. Decide what items can be purchased in advance and those that need to be purchased fresh either near to, or on the day. Also work out what equipment you need. Do you need to hire tables or chairs? Do you have enough trays, serving bowls, glasses, crockery and…

SPRING Fruit • APPLES• BANANAS• BERRIES – BLUEBERRIES, MULBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES• CHERRIES• GRAPEFRUIT• LEMONS• LOQUATS• MANDARINS – HONEY MURCOT• MANGOES• ORANGES – BLOOD, SEVILLE, VALENCIA• PASSIONFRUIT• PAPAYA, PAPAW• PINEAPPLE• POMELO• ROCKMELON• TANGELOS SPRING Vegetables • ARTICHOKES – GLOBE• ASIAN GREENS• ASPARAGUS• AVOCADOS• BEANS – BROAD, GREEN• BEETROOT• BROCCOLI• CARROTS• CAULIFLOWER• CHILLIES• CORN• CUCUMBER• GARLIC• LETTUCE• MUSHROOMS• ONIONS –GREEN, SPRING• PEAS• POTATOES• SILVER BEET• SPINACH• TOMATOES• WATERCRESS• ZUCCHINI• ZUCCHINI FLOWERS SUMMER Fruit • APRICOTS• BANANAS• BERRIES – BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, CURRANTS (RED & WHITE), RASPBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES• CHERRIES• FIGS• GRAPES• LIMES• LYCHEES• MANGOES• MANGOSTEENS• MELONS• NECTARINES• ORANGES, VALENCIA• PASSIONFRUIT• PEACHES• PEARS, WILLIAMS; HOWELL• PINEAPPLE• PLUMS• RAMBUTANS SUMMER Vegetables • ASPARAGUS• AVOCADOS• BEANS, BUTTER; GREEN; FLAT; SNAKE• CAPSICUM (BELL PEPPER)• CELERY• CHILLIES• CHOKO (CHAYOTE)• CORN• CUCUMBER• EGGPLANT• LETTUCE• OKRA• ONIONS, GREEN (SCALLIONS); SPRING• PEAS, SUGAR SNAP• POTATOES• RADISH• SQUASH• TOMATOES• WATERCRESS• ZUCCHINI…

PLUMP, JUICY CHERRIES - HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE. With their rich colour and subtle lustre, they have inspired artists and poets for centuries. HERE IN AUSTRALIA, cherries are among the few truly seasonal fruits still left in our markets. While imported cherries are sometimes available during the OFF-SEASON, every SUMMER the appearance of locally grown cherries is anticipated with high excitement. MOST OF THOSE THAT COME to market are BLACK CHERRIES - the dark, fleshy varieties. But you will sometimes see BRIGHT RED or ‘WHITE’ VARIETIES, which are actually cream with a red blush. However all cherries have ONE THING IN COMMON. They are absolutely delicious and bring HAPPINESS AND ENJOYMENT TO MANY. Perhaps life is “A BOWL OF CHERRIES” after all! CHICKPEA, BARLEY, ORANGE AND CHERRY SALAD PREP +…