This is what I think of as an honest cake - not tizzy, just homely, buttery and ever-so more-ish with its tender, nutty crumb and sweet, caramelised pineapple topping. I particularly love the way the sides, through some kind of magical alchemy of heat and sugar, become ever-so-slightly crunchy. There are a couple of little things I've noticed when I bake it - the first is that it cooks better and looks better when baked in a regular, not a non-stick, cake tin. And the second is that it's really important not to overload the tin with pineapple or it will release too much liquid and the centre of the cake will be soggy.

This recipe was featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment with Raf Epstein on Drive, 774 ABC Melbourne, 3:30 PM, courtesy of George Calombaris. George's new book is called "Greek."

I love Christmas my all time favourite time of year. It's also a great time for awesome summer sweet produce. Muscovado brown sugar is a treacle like flavour and makes a welcome texture to a traditional pavlova.

I absolutely adore a rich moist fruit cake laced with brandy. We love this cake in our house and will stay fresh in a airtight tin for months.

This recipe for Mango Alphonso featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment with Raf Epsteion on Drive, 774 ABC Melbourne, 3.30PM, courtesy of Christy Tania, head chef at the Aldelphi Hotel's Om Nom restaurant.

Make homemade mayonnaise once and you'll never go back to store bought. And it's not hard to make.

1/2 cup chicken stock 1 pinch of saffron olive oil, for cooking 1 small brown onion, diced 1 tbsp. tomato paste 150 g Carnaroli rice or Arborio rice Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper 100 ml white wine 60 g grated parmesan finely grated zest of 1 lemon 100 g grated mozzarella 3 eggs 125 ml (1/2 cup) milk 50 g plain flour 160 g panko breadcrumbs (see Note) vegetable oil, for deep-frying

Try your hand at this delicious Golden Chicken Stock creation from Maggie Beer.

6 chicken thighs 1 egg 1/2 cup polenta 1 tbsp. sumac 1 tsp cumin seeds salt flakes and freshly ground pepper, to season 60 ml (1/4 cup) pomegranate molasses Avocado Tzatziki: 1 cup)Greek-style yoghurt 1 ripe avocado, flesh coarsely mashed with a fork 3 Lebanese cucumbers, grated, squeeze to remove excess liquid 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves 1 tbsp. chopped mint leaves juice of 1/2 lime pinch of Himalayan salt

Once you've peeled and cored the quinces there's really little work to do to make this gorgeous dessert. They just bubble away happily for a few hours while the sugar and long slow cooking cast their spell, transforming the quinces' hard, ivory-coloured flesh until it's meltingly soft and an incredible deep-rose colour.

1/4 small watermelon vegetable oil, for deep-frying 50 g vine leaves in brine 1/3 cup plain flour 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to garnish 500 g calamari, cleaned, scored and cut into bite-sized pieces, tentacles reserved salt flakes and cracked pepper 200 g green olives 200 g goat's curd, broken into small pieces

This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, courtesy of Shane Delia. This recipe is from Shane's book, and SBS series, "Shane Delia's Spice Journey".

4 salmon fillets, skin on (175g per portion) 2 tbs soy sauce 1 tbs rice wine vinegar 1 tbs olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tbs ginger, mined 1 small red chilli 1 lime, juiced

140g unsalted butter 200g dark chocolate 100g light brown sugar 100g caster sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 egg yolk 85g plain flour 55g macadamia nuts, lightly toasted, chopped 30g crystallised ginger, chopped Sifted cocoa powder, to dust

A short, crunchy crust that breaks open with a burst of flavour and just a touch of heat.

This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, courtesy of Tez Kemp, La Madre Bakery

Seafood in a different way by the Golden Pig.

1 1/2 cups fine semolina 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 cups Greek yogurt 2 tsps. baking soda 1/2 tsp ground mastic resin, we are substituting ground fennel 3-4 tbsps. butter, melted slivered almonds For the syrup: 2 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups water 1 lemon, cut in half 1/2 tsp. rose water Dash of vanilla extract 1 cinnamon stick

150g panko crumbs 1 clove of crushed garlic 1 tsp. ground ginger 2 tsps. curry powder 1 tsp. ground cumin 2 tsps. ground coriander 1 tsp. black mustard seeds 1 tsp. chilli flakes 2 tsps. caster sugar Pinch of salt 3 free range eggs, beaten 100g plain flour with a pinch of salt 1 cauliflower, broken in to small florets Sunflower oil for deep frying Sauce: Handful of chopped parsley Handful of chopped coriander leaves Handful of chopped mint leaves 1 tbsp. tamarind paste 1 tsp. maple syrup 1 tbsp. olive oil 2 tsps. lime juice Pinch of salt 2 tbsps. water

I seriously love cooking on the Weber more in winter cooler temperature make us feel more cosy and accentuate the taste buds and smell . Replaced the traditional peanuts with our wonderful local macadamias

This recipe was featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, courtesy of Alice Zaslavsky.

The Portuguese have a double gene for flavours. They keep it simple, they rely on extremely good produce. This dish has such a unique flavour. It's ideal with all wines. A good Lisbon paste is the trick!

When you see a Korma-style dish on an Indian menu it generally means it's a rich, fragrant, creamy and very mild curry that includes cardamom, is thickened with nuts and enriched with yoghurt. An absolute crowd-pleaser, wonderful way to introduce curry to children and perfect for cold wet nights.

This recipe featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, shared by Jad Choucair of Mankoushe.

Always something nice about discovering new dishes by utilising left overs from the night before . Seriously who doesn't love a bowl of pasta with a rich ragout of slow braised meat . Add a fresh twist with sweet seasonal peas from the markets .

Delicious Australian dish with fresh Lilly Pilly and finger lime spritzer.

This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, shared by Dan Hunter, chef and owner of Otways' restaurant Brae.

This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, shared by Dan Hunter, chef and owner of Otways' restaurant Brae.

2 egg yolks 400ml vegetable oil 20g Dijon mustard 10ml vinegar 1/2 a lemon, juiced Salt and pepper

Medallions of Beef, with pan juice sauce, wilted cherry tomatoes, any old wine and basil. Really nice with a potato salad, with fresh spring peas and crispy bacon pieces. Something I do very often is knock up quick tasty dinner utilising your favourite heavy-based frying pan.

125g butter, softened 1 cup caster sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 and 1/2 cups plain flour, sifted 1 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp. pepper leaf spice, ground 1 cup white chocolate chips 1/3 cup raw macadamia nuts, chopped

Love this time of year where our makers are abundant with the sweet aroma of fresh basil . Here is my take on a fancy potato salad of macadamia pesto , crispy prosciutto, sweet cherry tomatoes

chicken thigh fillets, skinless and cut in to finger length strips 100g melted butter 1 tbsp. native tomato spice mix plum and chilli bottled sauce

I love the texture of a cool tasting coconut custard with market fragrant strawberries macerated in well more coconut liqueur.

Salmon and fennel at its best.

Getting in early with my Christmas recipe to inspire you to move away from the traditional Turkey . Not one for sweet tasting sauces with meat however his works extremely well against the rich sometimes games flavour and the sweet sour notes from the cherry sauce.

This is the biscuit base to sprinkle in top of the cake Make enough to accomodate 22 cm round tin 50 g Unsalted Butter 50 g Raw Sugar 50 g Almond Meal 8 g of Coco Powder Pinch of Salt 40 g plain Flour Beat all ingredients together in machine with k beater Roll into oblong wrap in glad and freeze Cake mix 250 g eggs or 5 x large eggs 75 g of local honey 125 g castor sugar beat all ingredients together 75 g Almond Meal 120 g plain Flour 25 g coco powder 8 g Baking powder sieve ingredients Add to egg mix then add 120 ml of double Cream Melt together 70 g 70% best quality chocolate 75 g unsalted butter

Delicious summer tuna dish.

It's Christmas, the middle of summer, and the outdoors beckons. For me, on a hot day, the traditional Christmas fare of roast turkey, baked potatoes and gravy, with plum pudding and custard for dessert, is about as tempting as a dental appointment. With a little planning and preparation you can impress your family and friends with a beautiful and healthy menu perfectly suited to our climate - and which allows maximum time for the more important tasks of socialising, opening presents and enjoying the spirit of Christmas. King prawns, fresh fish, salads and seasonal fruit are ideal for Christmas lunch. Cooking time is minimal, the aromas of the char-grill enticing, everything is light and fresh. Combine this with some pre-prepared zesty dressings and sauces and perhaps a platter of leg ham and Christmas 2001 will take on a whole new flavour. For dessert, look to cherries served on ice or perhaps plums, paw-paw, apricots, pineapple, strawberries or blueberries. Goat's cheese, cheddar or blue cheese would be an ideal finale, especially when teamed with a sticky dessert wine. Lash out on handmade chocolates to go with coffee. A summer juice of melon, lime and mint is health-giving and goes well with seafood. However, I will start with a sparkling shiraz or Champagne and enjoy a fruity riesling or pinot with the barbecued fish. Merry Christmas.

Nothing like a Pavlova and fresh seasonal fruit. The coconut ice cream provides a refreshing finish.

Always a winner taking advantage of the local summer tomatoes . Who doesn't like flaky puff pastry?

Kathy Tsaples, author of Sweet Greek Life, shared this recipe on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program at 3.30pm.

Kathy Tsaple, author of Sweet Greek Life, shared this recipe on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on ABC Radio Melbourne's Drive program at 3.30pm.

The local lady finger bananas are so sweet and moorish!

400g ripe roma (plum) or pomodorino (baby plum) tomatoes 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped mint 1 teaspoon dried oregano 90g plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt Light olive oil, or sunflower oil for pan-frying 250g Greek-style yogurt 1 tablespoon finely chopped dill Lemon wedges, to serve

This salad is inspired by a good chef friend of mine who cooked with me last weekend. Such a healthy way to enjoy broccoli which is so delicious at the moment. It's wonderful to utilize the whole vegetable and the added fibre in the stalk which we use in the salad.Feel free to explore with certain quantities in this recipe therefore I encourage you to taste and adjust to your own personal taste. You can also add chopped green olives which add an extra dimension.

Nothing beats beautifully roasted vegetables caramelized in their own sugar content to accompany a simple roast dinner or even on their own with a nice salad. The addition of perfumed lemon thyme and macadamia gives a nice touch.

Mango kulfi: 1 cup condensed milk 60g butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract 250 ml (1 cup) mango puree, frozen mangos are fine Oat-ginger crumb: 1/2 cup coconut oil 20g butter 125 ml 1/2 cup maple syrup 90 g (1 cup) rolled oats 1 tbsp. ground ginger 1/4 cup desiccated coconut

This salad is our go-to staple. Everyone loves it. It's healthy, colourful and so, so easy. It can also be made entirely with local ingredients.

This deliciously warming Ayurvedic gluten-free breakfast idea came from my good friend Brenda when she owned Mondo Organics in Brisbane. I've tweaked it a little to suit what was in my pantry today. The perfect brekky after Sunday morning yoga and a great way to start your surfing day. Rolled rice is available at most good food stores and organic outlets. Best to use fresh turmeric for its antioxidant properties and up to you whether you want yoghurt too. I prefer mine with a squeeze of lime. Om Shanti.