Slow cookers back in fashion

Daniela Elser As slow cookers win more converts, hearty meals are on the menu, writes Daniela Elser. Once commonplace on Australian kitchen benches in the 1970s, the slow cooker has made a comeback, and it's not hard to see why.

MasterChef unveils its newest ingredient: kids

Scott Ellis and Mia Burns FIFTY children aged between eight and 12 are vying to become finalists in Australia's first Junior MasterChef competition as the television juggernaut finds yet another way to cash in on its omnipresent profile.

Chefs reveal bolognese secrets

Nicole Sosnowski Italian chefs reveal their secrets to the perfect bolognese sauce recipe - handed down through generations.

Homemade pasties

An easy recipe you can use to encourage the littlies to try new vegetables. Make different sizes depending on the age of those who will eat them.

11 kid's party food ideas

Looking for some healthier options to chips and hot dogs for your next children's party? We've found 11 fun food ideas, from classics like frogs in a pond to surprising new favourites like sushi and dumplings.

EB Picks: Kids in the kitchen

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Essential Baby have found some great little foodie products to make cooking and feeding time fun.

Italian meatballs with tagliatelle

Yum! A classic dish that the whole family will love.

Eat well, reduce your footprint and save money

Marion Turner Get together with your family, friends and neighbours to create your own Fruit & Veg Co-op! Here's how we run ours.

Recipes your children will love

Paula Goodyer Mix and match... Combine any number of vegetables with cheese and pasta for a delicious and nutritious dinner.

Food machine takes aim at child obesity

Julie Robotham A computerised device that keeps track of how much, and how quickly, the user is eating can help obese adolescents lose weight

Kids in the kitchen

By Lara Zamiatin Hand your junior cook a whisk or wooden spoon and they might surprise you, even if they still don't eat broccoli. These top chefs share their secrets for giving children a taste for good food.

Home-made best for baby

Fiona Purdon It seems home-made baby food is the best health option and the cheapest in today's economic climate. Fiona Purdon reports

The junk food rules

Karen Fischer Just because you want your child to be healthy doesn’t mean you have to put a lifetime ban on all junk food. However, it’s a good idea to control or restrict how often they consume unhealthy treats because they can promote poor concentration, tantrums and fussy eating habits.

Mother lode

Jeremy and Jane Strode A beautiful meal is always a lovely gift, either enjoyed at a restaurant or at home. The following recipes are ones the whole family can help cook, except mum, of course.

Good news for vegetarians

Bone density among the 105 nuns, who live in temples and monasteries across Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, was found to be the same as non-vegetarian women matched in every physical respect.

Dinner time dollar savers

Sonia Williams To cut costs in these tough economic times you need to be smart about how and where you spend your money to make it go that bit further.

Beat breast cancer with mushrooms

Mushrooms and green tea could be the simplest way for women to reduce their risk of breast cancer.

Extra miles all add up

Sue White When you next sit down for breakfast, you've probably only travelled from the bedroom to the kitchen. But chances are your meal has racked up substantial food miles en route to your table.

Mushroom, tomato and zucchini tacos with avocado

A tasty nutritional twist on tacos!

Flash-grilled lamb chops with Spanish-style potato salad

Hot, scorched lamb chops are best eaten with the fingers, alongside a simplified version of a Spanish potato salad.

Turkey schnitzel with potato and pea salad

A deliciously easy recipe that all the family will love. There won't be any leftovers!

Quick Roast Chicken

You get heaps of flavour cooking the meat on the bone. The prosciutto acts as a protective layer, keeping moisture in. Also, you don't need any extra oil in the pan and the potatoes soak up the extra juices.

Mediterranean Chicken

This dish is simple and so delicious… and cooks in just one dish, so less washing up!

Chocolate macaroons

With their popularity growing from the MasterChef challenge, let's enter the macaroon world with these delicious chocolate macaroons.

Chocolate & Apricot Brownies

Suzi Lamont's son Ned is five years old. When making brownies, he breaks up chocolate, chops apricots with his fingers curled inwards - like a professional - adds vanilla and cocoa powder, mixes and tastes for good measure.

Roast beef burritos

Looking for something to do with leftover roast? Any leftover beef, chicken or lamb can be used as a filling in these tasty burritos. Also, vegetarian burritos are just as satisfying.

Easy chicken and leek pie

A quick and kid-friendly dinner. A creamy chicken pie filling topped with a light golden flaky pastry.

Caramelised apple and rice pudding

Rice puddings feature in many cuisines, usually in the form of sweetened rice slowly cooked with a creamy liquid.

Pumpkin, pine nut and rosemary risotto

A delicious, family meal using pine nuts

Carrot fritters

How about something kids can cook? Try these golden, crispy fritters.

Massamam curry

Meals by Mel Who can go past a creamy Massamam beef curry? Meals by Mel has a simple version for you to try takeaway food at home.

Recipes

Potato pot pies

Meals by Mel Little individual pot pies topped with mash will be a winner at your house.

Sticky pear pudding

The use of dried pears instead of fresh ones gives the pudding its intensity.

Pregnancy power salad

Quick to make, contains protein in the form of tuna and eggs, carbohydrates (and protein) with the canned beans, and a serve of the all-important five vegetables.

Lemon polenta sand cake

With its lemony tang and ever-so-slightly sandy crumb, this lovely cake is an English teatime favourite.

Gremolata-crumbed veal with warm roman bean and walnut salad

This salad is especially rich in vitamin B6, folate and thiamin, making this a great first trimester dish.

Pear pancakes

Make scrumptious pear pancakes - there won't be any left!

Eggplant bake

A quick, contemporary, vegetarian family meal that is wheat, nut and egg free.

Barbecued sausages with chunky tomato relish

Quick, delicious and popular with the kids - and on the table in 20 minutes!

Crepes

Pancakes can be sweet or savoury, thick or thin - and provide a great excuse to eat maple syrup.

Sweet Chilli lamb salad

Meals by Mel This tasty salad can be on the table in just 20 minutes. Make sure you use a mild sweet chilli sauce for the kids (some brands are hotter than others.)

Recipes

White Chocolate and Raspberry Trifle

Express Cook This recipe is luscious dessert from Express Cook, the new book by Guy Mirabella. Fantastic value for money with extra features like handy menu planners, 'cheat' tips, recipe variations and lots of practical information.

Tuna and Potato rissoles

These easy little gems are only 10 mins to prepare & 15 mins in the oven.

Chicken rice paper rolls

There's no need to go out when you can have it all at home.

Apple crumble

A simple and classic & kid-friendly favourite.

Features archive

Satay Kebabs

Essential Baby member, Mum of two, food editor and stylist Melinda Henry whips up a family friendly meal.

Crunchy chicken strips

Melinda Henry Essential Baby member, Mum of two, food editor and stylist Melinda Henry whips up a family friendly meal.

Parmesan and parsley crusted chicken drumsticks

A quick recipe using chicken drumsticks the kids will love.

Mum's marble cake

Easy no stress cake for the kids to help with. They will love creating the marbling effect.

Chicken, saffron and nutmeg pie

A luscious pie that will have everyone wanting more! Serve with salad leaves mixed with plenty of parsley, dill and chives to complement the nutmeg and saffron.