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Chimichurri beef skewers with chargrilled corn salsa

Easter egg one-bowl chocolate layer cake with chocolate mousse icing

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Rough puff pastry: raspberry & jam tartletsThere is something so satisfying about making your own pastry — the pat yourself on the back moment when you pull a freshly baked buttery treat from the oven and say, "I made it myself." This rough...

Cumin lamb with a green olive, walnut and pomegranate saladYou don’t have to be a MasterChef to cook for a cause in March! Whether you are hosting a lunch to celebrate Australia’s rich cultural diversity or firing up the barbecue for a dinner party to raise...

Buttermilk pancakes with figs, orange sauce and vanilla mascarponeFigs are only available from late summer to mid autumn. When choosing your figs, select clean, dry fruit with little blemishes. To check for ripeness, give them a little squeeze and they should...

Spicy green gazpachoThe mercury is peaking right across the country and with this sweltering heat comes the need for light, refreshing meals.

White dragon fruit sorbetWhen I travel overseas I feel like I open a live, fully interactive food encyclopaedia! I love to learn, taste and be inspired by the vibrant flavours and colours of local cuisine... it really is...

Valentine's treat: marinated strawberry and rose ricotta cheesecake glassLike every women I love receiving roses, but what I enjoy even more is incorporating beautiful crimson roses in my cooking and Valentine's Day is the perfect time to use the perfumed flavour of roses...

Turkish yoghurt flat bread (bazlama)Aaahhh, Turkey one of the most wonderful and surprisingly enchanting countries I have visited. Turkey's history is deep and colourful, its people charming and the cuisine mouth watering and often so...

Fennel crusted pork cutlet with a crunchy apple and celery saladGrowing up my family never ate a huge amount of pork. Mum pretty much only cooked it on Christmas Day and even then it was mostly a fight with my grandad and brother over who ate the most...

BBQ spiced prawn skewersIt’s holiday time, so it’s time to roll out the BBQ, fill up the gas bottle and throw another shrimp on the barbie...sorry I just had to say that cliché. Prawns, shrimps, whatever you like to...

Velvety chocolate ganacheWe all have delicious memories of eating velvety rich chocolate whether as a cake, truffles or even just chocolate shaved over ice-cream.

Chilli corn cakes with créme fraicheWe are officially entering the silly season and you need to arm yourself with some canapé recipes that will impress and see you through this period without too much fuss in the kitchen of...

Lemon and ginger tea smoked salmon with a cucumber and fennel saladI simply adore hot smoking meat as it fills the house with heady aromas. It is a delicious and different way to cook salmon fillets that will undoutedly impress friends and family.

Rosé sangria tea partyIt's really getting hot ... summer is rolling in at full speed and for me this time of the year screams cool refreshing, party-style drinks. I love embracing the hot months by inviting girlfriends...

White chocolate & buttermilk mousse with mangoes & raspberriesHi, my name is Alana Lowes and I am addicted to chocolate and mangoes. There I have said it, I have revealed my inner darkest secret to the world and now I want you to all succumb to this addiction...

Barbecue Moroccan whole snapper with herbed sweet potato saladI do feel a little guilty when I lavishly present guests with a whole baked fish and they 'ooo and ah' over how fantastic it looks and how spoilt they feel – little do they know that it is one of the...

Alana's stylish cup day menu – prawn rolls and raspberry meringuesMelbourne Cup Day is a feast of food, fashion, champagne and glamour all stirred together. If you plan to celebrate the "race that stops the nation" in style then it is time to put the champagne on...

Alana's Turkish delight flourless chocolate cakeHello and welcome to my new column with ninemsn food. I am so excited to pop into your kitchen each week with delectable recipes, easy how-to videos and fun foodie stories!

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