Ingredients:

4 beetroots, cooked and peeled
1 red onion, chopped
A handful of chopped mint leaves
Lemon juice
Lemon zest
1 cup natural yogurt
5 gelatin leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon honey
1 ½ fl oz each white wine vinegar, white balsamic vinegar and water

Method:

Line a terrine dish with baking paper. Cut the beetroot into thin rounds and layer some at the bottom of the terrine. Follow with a layer of onion then chopped mint. Repeat and finish with beetroot.

Combine the vinegars, honey, water, salt and pepper and heat together until the honey dissolves.

Soften the gelatin leaves in a covered bowl of cold water. When soft, squeeze the water from the gelatin and add it to the vinegar sauce.

Stir until dissolved and adjust the seasoning. pour the gelatin mixture over the terrine until it is covered.

Press down and refrigerate for at least 6 hours until set.

Mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest and some more chopped mint and serve the terrine drizzled with this sauce.

Serve garnished with mint leaves and fresh pepper and arrange some green salad on the side.

(Serves 6)

Ingredients:

medium shrimp, shelled and deveined

3 teaspoon(s) fresh lime juice

60 mls extra virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon(s) sea salt

1/4 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper

1 large pink grapefruit

1 teaspoon(s) Dijon mustard

1 head(s) (medium) butter lettuce

120 mls arugula

1 avocado, peeled and cubed

Method:

1. Grill the shrimp. Heat a grill to medium. Toss the shrimp with 2 teaspoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and red pepper. Marinate for 15 minutes. Thread shrimp onto skewers; grill until pink and cooked through — about 1 minute each side. Set aside and keep warm.

2. Assemble the salad. Cut the peel from the grapefruit using a sharp knife. Cut out the segments, reserving the juice. Squeeze the juice from the remaining pith and pulp. Strain and measure 3 tablespoons juice. Set remaining juice aside for another use.

3. Whisk the Dijon, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1 teaspoon lime juice, and the reserved grapefruit juice together. Whisk in remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Line 2 salad plates with lettuce and arugula. Arrange the shrimp, grapefruit, and avocado on top of the greens. Drizzle with grapefruit vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

Ingredients:

1/2 pumpkin

Small ball fresh baby spinach leaves

2 spring onions chopped

1 clove garlic crushed and chopped

100 g goat feta cheese cubed

Cracked pepper and salt to taste

1tbs olive oil

1tbs balsamic vinegar

Method:

Roast the pumpkin half in an oven on 220 degrees Celsius until skin is brown, but not overcooked. Peel the pumpkin half, remove seeds, slice and cut into 2-3 cm cubes.

Put the pumpkin cubes into serving bowl; add spring onions, garlic, feta and baby spinach.

Season and toss gently. Serve cold with selection of breads as appetizer or as salad with roasted meat.

Ingredients:

(20 servings)

* 1 package (225g) cream cheese, softened

* 1/2 cup sour cream

* 1/4 cup mayonnaise

* 3 packages (500 g each) frozen cooked salad shrimp, thawed

* 1 cup seafood cocktail sauce

* 2 cups  shredded mozzarella cheese

* 1 medium green pepper, chopped

* 1 small tomato, chopped

* 3 green onions with tops, sliced

* Assorted crackers

Method:

* In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise until smooth.

* Spread mixture on a round large serving platter. Sprinkle with shrimp. Top with seafood sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, green pepper, tomato and onions. Cover and refrigerate. Serve with crackers.

Ingredients:

(serves 16)

* 1 cup mayonnaise

* 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

* 1 cup  shredded sharp cheddar cheese

* 1 medium onion, chopped

* 3/4 cup slivered almonds, chopped

* 6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

* 1 loaf French bread

Method:

* In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce; stir in cheese, onion, almonds and bacon.

* Cut bread into 1.5 cm slices; spread with cheese mixture. Cut slices in half; place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 200°C for 8-10 minutes or until bubbly.

Note: Unbaked appetizers may be frozen. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze for 1 hour. Remove from the baking sheet and store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. When ready to use, place unthawed appetizers on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes or until bubbly.

Ingredients:

(makes 32)

1/2 seedless (hothouse) long cucumber, cut into 32 slices

2/3 cup roasted red pepper hummus, store-bought

1/4 cup snipped chives

1/4 cup finely chopped red capsicum

Method:

1. Lay cucumber slices on a serving platter.

2. Top each slice with about 1 tsp hummus.

3. Sprinkle with chives, capsicums and serve.

One of the easiest recipes!

(recipe from Woman’s Day)

Ingredients:

(serves 12)

* 1-1/2 cups orange juice

* 2/3 cup sugar

* 200g dried apricots, chopped

* 1/2 cup dried cherries

* 1/2 cup golden raisins

* 2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot

* 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander

* 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

* 2 teaspoons lemon juice

* DUCK:

* 12 duck breasts with skin

* 1-1/2 teaspoons salt

* 1/4 teaspoon pepper

* 2 tablespoons  olive oil

* ORANGE SAUCE:

* 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

* 1/2 cup marsala wine

* 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

* 1/2 cup orange juice

* 1/3 cup chicken broth

* 2 tablespoons grated orange peel

* 3 tablespoons cold butter

* 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil

Method:

* For chutney, in a saucepan, combine orange juice and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat for 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Add the apricots, cherries, raisins, ginger, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper and cloves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook for 10 minutes or until apricots are tender. Transfer to a bowl; stir in lemon juice. Let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours.

* Season both sides of duck with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, saute duck, skin side down, in oil until skin is browned; turn and cook for 1 minute. Set aside 1 tablespoon drippings.

* Place duck on a greased rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium, a meat thermometer should read 165°; well-done 180°).

* For orange sauce, saute garlic in reserved drippings for 1 minute. Add wine; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until reduced by half. In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, orange juice, broth and orange peel until blended. Stir into wine mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add butter and basil; whisk until smooth. Remove skin from duck if desired before slicing. Serve with orange sauce and chutney.

Note: It can be served as an entree, or as part of a buffet or as main with roasted seasonal vegetables.

By Corbin Tomaszeski

Ingredients:

(serves 4)

* 500g spinach, cleaned and dried

* 1/2 cup bean sprouts

* 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

* 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds lightly toasted and cooled

* 1/2 cup mandarin oranges, segmented

* 1/2 cup red pepper, chopped into thin slices

* 1 apple Granny Smith, sliced into match stick sized pieces

* yogurt dressing (see recipe)

Method:

Add spinach to bowl, add rest of ingredients and lightly toss. Add yogurt dressing and toss again.

Recipe by John Willoughby and Chris Schlesinger:

Photograph by Romulo Yanes

Ingredients:

Serves4 (main course) or 8 (first course or side dish)

* 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

* 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

* 1 teaspoon minced garlic

* 2 teaspoons chopped marjoram or oregano

* 1 large eggplant, trimmed and cut into 8 (2.5cm -thick) rounds

* 350 g baby spinach

* 100 g crumbled feta (1/4 lb)

* 1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted

Method:

*Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over hot charcoal (high heat for gas).

* Whisk together oil, lemon juice, garlic, marjoram, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper in a small bowl.

*Brush both sides of eggplant slices with some of dressing. Season with 1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper. Oil grill rack, then grill eggplant, covered only if using a gas grill, turning occasionally, until tender, 12 to 15 minutes total. Cut into pieces.

*Toss spinach with enough dressing to coat and season with salt and pepper. Add eggplant, feta, and pine nuts and toss again.

Notes: Eggplant can be grilled, in batches if necessary, in a lightly oiled hot grill pan over medium-high heat. Eggplant can be grilled 1 day ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before using.

The slightly sweet, almost flowery flavor of marjoram adds a delicate note to this Middle Eastern-inspired salad, though oregano is also fine. To be sure the eggplant is tender, slice into it before taking it off the grill—when properly done, it will be moist all the way through.

Ingredients:

1 french baquette

150 g can of tuna in olive oil

1/2 cup cooked white beans in brine

1/2 cup cooked brown beans in brine

1/2 cup steamed sliced carrots

1/2 cup chopped green olives

1 Lebanese cucumber sliced

1 punnet cherries tomatoes

100 g feta cheese cubed

salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

lemon slices and basil leaves for garnish

Method:

Cut bread into slices and slightly roast in the pan.

Mix together tuna chunks (with oil from the can), beans, carrots and olives into salad.

Assemble on the bread slices sliced cucumbers, top with tuna mix. Put on top tomatoes, feta cubes and season with salt and pepper.

Garnish with lemon slices and basil leaves.