Enjoy all the flavour but save time and money with this simplified version of Julia Child's classic, make-ahead meal for wintry weather.

Chicken and leek pies are very popular, but leeks can be pricy even when
in season. We saved by using onion instead along with wonderfully
aromatic dried thyme leaves (Herbies brand for us).

Diane made these with the children to celebrate Chinese New Year using veggies from the school's Kitchen Garden.

An eggplant tart may sound improbable but this one is delicious and the children in the 'kitchen garden' cooking class came back for seconds and the Mums all wanted the recipe! It's a great way to make the most of eggplants when they are at their best.

This slice is an adaptation of a zucchini slice made with silver beet, leeks and herbs. It looks very pretty if halved cherry tomatoes are placed on the slice before cooking.

Everyone loves a pie. These ones are full of flavour and amazingly economical - well under $2 a serving!

This is an easy chicken casserole for a cold evening, but it is light enough to enjoy on warmer days served with noodles or rice.

This recipe makes 4 meaty pot pies plus 4 extra serves of stew that you can freeze for another meal.

Made with ever-so-cheap chuck steak, this curry only takes 20 minutes to prepare, then you leave it to slowly simmer away while the meat becomes succulent and juicy.

This recipe uses delicious fresh fish. It is a complete meal that's on the table in well under an hour.

This pasta sauce is so deliciously tangy you don't need to pay any extra for flavoured sausages, plain, lean thin beef sausages are fine.

This is great for feeding a crowd, or for cooking ahead and freezing. It works out at $3.40 a serving.