Prep 25minBake 45minMakes 4-6 serves

If you’re not a big fan of fennel then you may just have to reconsider your standing once you have tried this dish. Baked fennel – particularly when teamed with the saltiness of anchovies, the crunch of crisp breadcrumbs and the savouriness of fresh thyme – is one of the best side dishes winter has to offer.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  5 anchovy fillets, chopped
  60g butter
  100g coarse sourdough breadcrumbs
  2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
  4 baby fennel bulbs, trimmed, cut into quarters
  12 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
  250ml (1 cup) good-quality chicken stock

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (180°C fan-forced).
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the anchovies and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or until the anchovies dissolve. Add 30g of the butter and the breadcrumbs and toss until the breadcrumbs are lightly toasted. Transfer to a bowl, toss through the parsley and set aside.
3. Add the remaining oil and butter to the frying pan and heat over medium-high heat until the butter is foaming. Add the fennel in a single layer and cook for 3 minutes each side or until golden and starting to soften.
4. Transfer the fennel, in a single layer, to a 2 litre (8 cup) capacity dish, and pour any pan juices over the top. Scatter with the thyme leaves and pour the chicken stock over. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and bake for a further 20-25 minutes or until the fennel is tender when pierced with a skewer and the breadcrumbs are golden and crisp.
5. Serve immediately.

Prep 35minBake 12-18minMakes 6 serves

Nestled in an aromatic, slightly spicy tomato and capsicum sauce and topped with tangy yoghurt, these baked eggs, originally from Tunisia, make for a wonderful centre-of-the-table brunch dish. Serve with pita bread and let everyone help themselves.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon (20ml/¾fl oz) olive oil
2 red capsicum, deseeded, cut into thin strips
1 red onion, halved, sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes
2 x 400g (14oz) cans diced tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 x 60g (2oz) eggs, chilled
200g (7oz) Greek-style natural yoghurt
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
½ cup coriander leaves, to serve
Pita bread, to serve

Method

1. Preheat oven to 220ºC/425°F (200ºC/400°F fan-forced). Heat the oil in a medium frying pan or saucepan and cook the capsicum and onion over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until tender. Add the cumin and chilli flakes and cook for a further 1 minute or until aromatic. Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until reduced to a good sauce consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Spread the sauce over the base of a shallow 1.5 litre capacity (6 cup/2pt 10fl oz) ovenproof dish. Use the back of a spoon to make 6 indents in the sauce. Crack the eggs, one at a time, into a small dish and then gently slide into the indents, taking care not to break the yolks. Combine the yoghurt, garlic and lemon juice and spoon half of this mixture around the eggs, in about 6 spoonfuls. Reserve the remaining yoghurt mixture for serving.
3. Bake for 12-18 minutes (see Baker's Tips) or until the eggs are just cooked but still soft in the centre. Serve immediately sprinkled with pepper and coriander, and accompanied by the reserved yoghurt mixture and pita bread.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Autumn Brunch.

CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.

Prep 20min (+15min cooling time)Bake 25minMakes 12

I always say that muffins should have substance – they shouldn't have "cakey" character. After all, they're muffins, not cake! Dense with apple, sweet with spice and topped with pecans these muffins are one of my favourites.

Ingredients

150g plain flour
150g wholemeal plain flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
150g (¾ cup, firmly packed) brown sugar
2 (about 180g each) apples (such as Golden Delicious, Pink Lady or Royal Gala), peeled and cut into 1.5 cm pieces
185ml (¾ cup) buttermilk (see Baker's Tips)
80ml (⅓ cup) light olive oil (see Baker's Tips)
2 eggs, at room temperature
1½ teaspoon natural vanilla essence or extract
75g (¾ cup) pecans, coarsely chopped
60ml (¼ cup) pure maple syrup

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Line 12 x 80ml (⅓ cup) muffin tray holes with muffin paper cases.
   
2. Sift together both the flours, the baking powder and cinnamon into a large mixing bowl, returning any husks to the bowl. Stir in the sugar and apple and make a well in the centre.
   
3. Use a fork to whisk together the buttermilk, oil, eggs and vanilla in a bowl. Add to the flour mixture and use a spatula or large metal spoon to fold together until just combined. (Don’t overmix – the batter should still be a little lumpy.)
   
4. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases, dividing evenly. Sprinkle with the pecans and then drizzle with the maple syrup.
   
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the muffins are golden and cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool for a few minutes in the tin before transferring to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Apples. CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson. 

Prep 30min (+pastry making time)Bake 1hr15minMakes 8-10 serves

Everyone loves a classic apple pie – it is the ultimate comfort food... Especially when teamed with some good vanilla ice cream!

Ingredients

2 quantities Sweet Vanilla Shortcrust Pastry (combine ¼ of one pastry quantity with the other, and then shape each into a separate disc before wrapping and chilling for 30 minutes)
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons milk
1 tablespoon demerara sugar
Vanilla ice-cream, to serve

Apple Filling
2½ tablespoons caster sugar
1½ tablespoons plain flour
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
6 medium (about 140g each) pink lady or granny smith apples
1 orange, rind finely grated and juiced
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
25g (¼ cup) almond meal
20g salted butter, finely diced

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).
2. Unwrap the larger portion of pastry and place on a lightly floured, cool benchtop. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the pastry into a round, about 5mm thick and about 35cm in diameter.
3. Carefully drape the pastry loosely around the rolling pin, place it over an ungreased 20cm (top measurement) metal or ceramic pie dish (see Baker’s Tips) then unroll the pastry being careful not to stretch it. Gently lift the edges of the pastry and ease it into the pie dish to line the base and the sides and settle it into the corners without stretching it, allowing the excess pastry to overhang the edges. Place the lined pie dish on an oven tray and then place in the fridge to rest for while making the filling.
4. To make the apple filling, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl. Peel, core and quarter each apple. Cut each apple quarter into 4 wedges and place in a separate large bowl with the orange rind, 1 tablespoon of the orange juice and the vanilla bean paste. Use your hands or spatula to toss gently to evenly coat the apple slices. Add the sugar mixture and toss gently to combine evenly.
5. Sprinkle the almond meal over the base of the chilled pastry case, spoon the apple mixture over the top and dot with the diced butter. Whisk together the egg yolk and milk. Brush the edge of the pastry with the egg wash. Roll out the remaining smaller disc of pastry into a round, about 5mm thick and about 25cm in diameter. Use a 2cm fluted or plain round cutter to cut out a circle from the centre of the pastry. Carefully drape the pastry loosely around the rolling pin and roll over the top of the pie. Use your fingertips to press the pie pastry top and bottom together around the edge of the pie to seal. Use a small sharp knife to trim the excess pastry from around the edge. Use your fingertips to pinch the edge of the pastry to decorate. Brush the top of the pie with some of the remaining egg wash and then sprinkle with demerara sugar.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C (140°C fan-forced) and bake for a further 40 minutes or until the pastry is golden and cooked through and the apples are tender (see Baker’s Tips). Remove the pie from the oven and stand for 5 minutes before serving warm with ice cream. 
   

Prep 1hrBake 55minMakes 6 serves

Ingredients

75g baby spinach
100g bocconcini, thinly sliced

Pumpkin gnocchi
350g unpeeled butternut pumpkin, deseeded and cut into 6 chunks
650g medium Desiree potatoes, unpeeled
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
110g (½ cup) plain flour, plus extra to dust

Tomato sauce
100g bacon rashers, trimmed and chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons pouring cream
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Prep 20min (+ 5min standing time)55-60minMakes 8 serves

Prep 30min (+ 1hr cooling and pastry making time)Bake 45minMakes 4 serves

Prep 20minBake 35minMakes 8-10 serves

Much more like a cake than a pie, this apple-dense traditional Norwegian dessert is comforting, homely and can warm the soul with just one mouthful – especially when served straight from the oven in generous scoops and topped with ice-cream or a large dollop of thick cream. Don’t overlook the fact that it is also pretty good served like any other cake, cooled and in wedges. The trick to this recipe is not to over-mix – only mix until the wet and dry ingredients are evenly combined.

Ingredients

• Melted butter, to grease
• 110g (¾ cup) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 110g (½ cup) caster sugar
• 3 medium (about 150g each) apples (such as golden delicious, royal gala or pink lady), peeled, cored and cut into 2 cm pieces
• 80g slivered almonds, toasted
• 100g butter, melted and cooled
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1½ teaspoons natural vanilla essence or extract
• Vanilla ice-cream or thick cream, to serve

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Grease a 20cm springform tin with melted butter and line the base with baking paper.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and cardamom into a large bowl. Stir in the sugar, apple and almonds. Use a fork to whisk together the butter, egg, milk and vanilla. Add to the flour mixture and use a spatula to mix until just combined.
3. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and spread evenly with the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
4. Stand the pie in the tin for 5–10 minutes before removing the sides of the tin. Serve warm in scoops or at room temperature in wedges with ice-cream or cream.

Prep 30min (+35min pastry making time)Bake 1hr 15minMakes 8-10 serves

Classic apple pie (served with a overly-generous scoop of vanilla ice-cream, of course) is one of the perennial delights of winter and can only be improved by the addition of rhubarb and a deliciously rich vanilla sour cream pastry. This pie just may be a little hard to beat.

Ingredients

Apple and rhubarb filling

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).
2. To make the apple and rhubarb filling, use your fingertips to rub the cinnamon, vanilla bean paste and orange rind through the sugar in a medium bowl. Stir in the flour. Peel, core and cut the apples into thin (about 3 mm) slices and place in a separate large bowl, along with the rhubarb and the sugar mixture. Use your hands to toss gently to combine evenly.
3. Spoon the apple and rhubarb filling into an ungreased 23cm diameter (top measurement) ceramic or metal pie dish (see Baker’s Tips) and then dot with the diced butter. Brush the edge of the pie dish with the whisked egg.
4. Roll out the vanilla sour cream pastry to make a pie lid about 5 mm thick. Use a 2cm round cutter to cut out a circle form the centre of the pastry. Carefully drape the pastry loosely around the rolling pin and place on top of the pie. Use your thumb and index finger to press the pie pastry top onto the rim of the pie dish to seal. Use a small sharp knife to trim the excess pastry from around the edge. Brush the top of the pie with some of the remaining whisked egg and then sprinkle with demerara sugar.
5. Bake for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C (140°C fan-forced) and bake for a further 40-45 minutes or until the pastry is golden and cooked through and the apples are tender (see Baker’s Tips). Remove the pie from the oven and stand for 5 minutes before serving warm with cream, ice cream or custard.

Prep 15minBake 40minMakes 6 serves

The simplicity of these roasted winter root vegetables allows their true flavours to shine – especially when finished with fresh herbs, lemon and ricotta salata.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch baby beetroot, scrubbed, trimmed and halved if large
• 1 bunch baby (Dutch) carrots, scrubbed, trimmed and halved
• 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and cut into 8 wedges
• 3 small parsnips, scrubbed, trimmed and quartered
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
• 40g ricotta salata (see Baker's Tips) or sheep's milk feta, crumbled or coarsely grated
• 1½ tablespoons oregano leaves
• 1½ tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 lemon, zest finely grated
• lemon wedges or cheeks, to serve

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan-forced)
2. Toss the beetroot, carrots, fennel and parsnip with the oil to coat. Spread over the base of a roasting dish and bake for 40 minutes, tossing once halfway through baking, or until the beetroot is tender when pierced with a skewer.
3. Remove the vegetables from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Drizzle with a little more oil. Combine the ricotta salata, oregano, parsley and lemon zest and scatter over the vegetables. Serve warm or at room temperature with lemon wedges.

Prep 20min (+1day macerating, 30min cooling and 1-2hr chilling time)Bake 40-50minMakes 10-12 serves

The secret to a silky smooth baked custard is the balance of eggs to milk and cream and gentle baking. This velvety one is teamed with macerated prunes for a memorable dessert.

Prep 30min (+30-60min standing time)Bake 1hr 10minMakes 10-12 serves