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Ready to transform pizza from greasy takeout to homemade superstar? Mastering alternative pizza bases is where it starts. Be prepared to think outside the box, because when it’s homemade there’s no limit to what you can do.  There’s nothing like a pizza to feed the hungry masses on a busy weeknight. Not only are they a crowd-pleaser, but with some clever cooking your toppings can make the most of leftovers and that collection of vegies you’re collecting in the fridge.  Why bother with pizza base alternatives?  It’s true, classic pizzas are loved all over the world. But whether you’re having trouble sourcing flour or yeast, want to work with what you’ve got in the cupboard or are trying to cater for some dietary intolerances, there’s no reason you can’t try something new with your pizza base.  Think of your pizza base as a delicious edible plate. Fluffy, crispy and there to offer a helping hand to get dinner on the table. Here are some of our favourite alternative pizza base ideas:   Focaccia pizzas  Part-pizza, part sandwich, entirely delicious. When it comes to working with what you’ve got, bread is a good base. While you can slap toppings onto everything from pita bread to French baguettes, we love the fluffiness of focaccias when we’re after something different.   Want to make your own? Try our traditional rosemary and olive focaccia, or for something different our fluffy mashed potato focaccia with caramelised onions.  Cauliflower pizza base  Wanting to make gluten free pizza? This popular alternative pizza base is gluten free and sneaks some extra vegetables into your diet at the same time. There are many recipe variations, but ultimately you need a head of cauliflower, 1 egg, some parmesan cheese and some seasonings like salt, pepper and garlic salt to add flavour. Simply pulse up your cauliflower in a food processor until it resembles flour, microwave covered for 3-4 minutes so it is cooked through and mix with your other ingredients before pre-cooking it for a crispy base.  Puff pastry pizza  If you’ve got pastry in your freezer you can make a pizza. Be inspired by our Middle Eastern Lamb Pizzas, and transform flaky pastry into crunchy mini pizzas. They can be transformed into open pies with saucy beef and mushrooms, become a vehicle for leftover Moroccan Lamb Shanks, or bring new life to your curries.    Vegetable pizzas  If you are prepared to play it fast and loose with the definition of a pizza, then this bite-sized and relatively health conscious option is one of the fastest. Add passata, cheese and basil to 1cm slices of your favourite round vegetables, for a dinner that blend fast food with salad. Think zucchini, eggplant or even flat-topped mushrooms like portobellos. Slices of prosciutto can add flavour to make these healthier morsels completely more-ish.  Want something a little bit more traditional? Try our Prosciutto and Mozzarella Pizza or our mini Prawn Pizzettas with Salsa Verde.    About NEFF  NEFF is a German-engineered kitchen appliance brand, with a product range that includes ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, coffee machines and dishwashers designed to make life in the kitchen a daily pleasure. For people who love to cook, NEFF gives you the tools to creative meaningful connections, express your creativity and make memories. Because real life happens in the kitchen.  Learn more about NEFF here.  

In all the rush to plan for Christmas, there’s often one thing that gets forgotten: the New Years Eve party. When that clock strikes twelve, you want to be fully in the moment, not stressing about something you left in the oven, or a lack of decorations overhead. Get on top of your to-do list with these entertaining ideas that will make sure it's smooth sailing into the New Year. Sit-down dinner, or cocktail party? At the end of a big year, guests are often in one of two moods: ready to get up and celebrate, or desperate for a peaceful night of reflection. Choose your approach wisely, and start planning your menu and decorations around that. Throwing a cocktail party? Maybe some light canapes would work best. If it’s a sit-down dinner, big shared meals and centrepieces might be more effective. Your midnight menu If you’ve got a theme for your evening, this part might be easy. Perhaps it’s classic Australian cuisine, a light summer menu or an Asian extravaganza. If you’re not too fussed about a theme, be sure browse our recipe collection, or follow the NEFF New Years Eve menu. And don’t forget to head over to the supermarket to stock up on ingredients before the public holidays arrive. Create an (easy) finger food feast The festive season is definitely a time of indulgence, especially when it comes to food! So after recovering from Christmas, a great idea for NYE is to keep things small and simple with finger food. Here's some of our favourite sweet and savoury finger food recipes: Sweet Choc-dipped fruit and nut cookies - Chocolate and cookies are always a crowd-pleaser! Put them together and you’ve got yourself one very popular party snack - just try and stop at one! Baklava - A beautiful and fragrant Egyptian and Middle Eastern pastry dessert that ever and any sweet tooth will devour in seconds. Jam Donuts - Who doesn't love a donut? These deliciously jammy and fluffy favourites will have the party going well and truly into the New Year. Savoury Carrot chips - A healthy take on chips (which means you can have a few extra!). Thai red curry sausage rolls - A delicious twist on a party staple, these Thai Red Curry Sausage Rolls are as filling as they are flavoursome and even great for the day after the night before! Cheesy Garlic Cob Loaf Dip - You know it's going to be a good party when there is cob load involved! Our Cheesy Garlic Cob Loaf Dip will be gone in 60 seconds... Trust us! The best bit? You can make any of these recipes, at the same time, using your NEFF oven's CircoTherm® function. CircoTherm® allows you to cook or bake simultaneously without the flavours intermingling. Have you planned your décor? A good home-cooked party spread doesn’t need glitter or fanfare to make an impact. But it certainly can’t harm you to include a bit of visual flair. As we’re approaching 2020, perhaps a Gatsby-themed roaring 20s party would go down a treat. Plate your meals elegantly, bring in some summer blooms from the garden and make sure you’ve got a playlist worth seeing out the year to. Don’t forget the bubbles There’s nothing better than a glass of champagne for when the countdown begins. Unless your guests are bringing their own drinks, it’s important to make sure you’ve got plenty of options on hand for the final toast  and it gives you a chance to pair your meals with whatever drinks you like. Oysters and Brut? Cheesecake with an Apple and Hibiscus cocktail? And don’t forget your bloody mary recipe for New Years Day. Your NEFF appliances can help Cooking for a crowd can be stressful. Don’t forget to make the most of your NEFF features to make the perfect  spread a whole lot easier. Cook multiple dishes at the same time with Circotherm, keep an eye on your meat temperature with the Multipoint MeatProbe and NEFF’s automatic programs can do some of the cooking for you. Want to learn some new tricks before the festive rush? Come along to one of our free product demonstrations for a NEFF masterclass.

Whether it’s carving a roast on the dinner table or eating cutlets around the barbeque, lamb has a long tradition of bringing people together. Australians love our lamb and we find a way to serve it in any season – but many people are not sure how to get the most out of this popular meat. With the help of NEFF appliances and some delicious recipes from The NEFF Kitchen, we can help you to find a new appreciation for this flavoursome meat. First things first: Get to know your cuts of lamb… Lamb is known for being tender, full of flavour, and high in protein. But the texture flavour and preparation methods will vary from cut to cut. Lambchops are best served pink and cooked on a grill, while shoulder cuts are great for stews and slow roasts. Click here to find out more about different cuts of lamb Once you’ve decided which cut of lamb you’d like to use, it’s time to choose a recipe. From Mediterranean pizzas to Greek souvlakis, there are a number of different ways you can cook your lamb to suit your guests and event. Here are some of our all time favourite recipes… Slow roasted leg of lamb Lamb is one of our favourite winter roasts here in The NEFF Kitchen. Cooked with Circotherm the meat is wonderfully tender, making it a great comfort food for the colder months. Click here for the NEFF recipe.   Lamb souvlaki with garlic yoghurt sauce Souvlakis are a delicious Greek street food, served with garlic sauce and wrapped in fresh pita bread. Great for eating on the go, they’re easy to prepare and cook using your oven’s grill function. Click here for the NEFF recipe. Lamb Josh Rogan An aromatic meat dish, lamb josh rogan is an Indian curry made with tender meat and fragrant spices. Cumin, coriander and turmeric combine to create a tantalising curry to accompany your tender lamb. Click here for the NEFF recipe. Middle Eastern Lamb Pizzas Want to mix things up and try something new? Why not indulge in these delicious middle eastern pizzas that you can whip up using your NEFF oven. A great finger food, these pizzas are perfect for entertaining guests, and a great way to use your leftover lamb. Click here for the NEFF recipe. Moroccan Shanks As the weather starts to cool down you may find yourself reaching for hearty comfort food. One dish that immediately comes to mind is tender lamb shanks. Served on a bed of couscous and steamed vegetables, these tender lamb shanks are impossible to resist. Click here for the NEFF recipe. Cooking lamb with NEFF No matter which recipe you choose to cook, it’s important to ensure you are using the right appliances. Some NEFF oven features that will help you achieve the perfect lamb are: MultiPoint MeatProbe When it comes to cooking meat, temperature really does matter, but it can be hard to know when your lamb is cooked without cutting it in the centre. Luckily, a wide range of NEFF ovens are equipped with a MultiPoint MeatProbe that monitors the core temperature of your meat and controls the over temperature accordingly. Click here to learn more about NEFF’s MultiPoint MeatProbe. Baking and Roasting Assistant Our Baking and Roasting Assistant serves up cooking suggestions at the touch of a button. It recommends the ideal heating mode, temperature and time for a range of dishes to ensure your meal is cooked to perfection. In the roasting category of this feature you can choose the ‘leg of lamb’ option to get a tender and delicious cut of meat every time. Click here to see NEFF ovens with the Baking and Roasting Assistant. Here are some other articles that you may find handy in the pursuit of the perfect lamb. How to carve lamb roasts Why you should let your lamb rest before serving Lamb marinades that are sure to be a crowdpleaser Quick lamb recipes you can make in less than 30 minutes

Modern kitchens are overflowing with utensils. There are drawers full of spatulas and benchtops that are cluttered with spaghetti servers. While these tools are essential for a home chef, it’s easy to go overboard and forget the basics of cooking with your hands. From pizza dough to homemade bread, here are some recipes that will motivate you to put down your utensils and embrace cooking with your hands. Homemade bread Nothing beats eating a warm slice of bread when you have baked it yourself. Putting the dough on a workbench and kneading it with your bare hands will knock the air out and ensure you get a crusty homemade bread the whole family will love. Your arms will also get a workout which means you can skip your gym session for the day. Homemade pizza While it’s tempting to order in from your local pizza shop, making your own pizza dough is surprisingly fun, quick and easy to do. All you need is yeast, salt and flour to get a crispy base that you can cover with your favourite toppings. You can also get adventurous with your pizza dough by converting it into a bite sized pide that is easy to share with your family and friends. Gnocchi recipe This is a dish that Italian grandmothers have been perfecting for years. There is nothing more authentic than combining flour and potato, then working it on a chopping board until it takes the form of a soft dough. Throw your gnocchi straight into a delicious pot of pasta sauce and it will be ready for family dinner on Sunday night. Cheesy Pull Apart Bread With summer on the horizon, people are bound to start popping in unexpectedly. Make sure you’re always prepared with this freshly baked pull apart bread full of herbs, garlic and cheese. It doesn’t only taste amazing but it will have the whole house smelling divine. It requires a little bit of creativity so I hope your plaiting skills are up to scratch. Nutella and Coffee Scrolls Are you a sucker for a sweet treat? With an amazing combination of flavours, this Nutella and Coffee scroll is sure to hit the spot. While it may look like a challenge, the dessert is surprisingly easy to make and dish up at your next high tea. Team them up with a freshly brewed cup of coffee for the ultimate afternoon pick me up.

If you’re hunting for a crowd pleasing recipe or need inspiration for your entry into our 50 Best Home Cooks competition, then look no further. These popular recipes from the past year in The NEFF Kitchen sent hordes of readers to our site, and were shared repeatedly on social media. The one thing they have in common? They were able to keep guests coming back for seconds and thirds, begging their hosts for the recipe. Plan your best recipe, cook up a storm and be sure to snap a great photo to upload for our 50 Best Home Cooks competition. Until it’s time to get cooking, here are 10 of our favourite crowd pleasers from The NEFF Kitchen to inspire you: 3 Cheese mushroom lasagne There seems to be a million ways to make lasagne, but if you’re looking for a delicious meat-free option then you’ll love our recipe. It’s a celebration of cheese and mushrooms, and really what more could you want? Get the recipe here. Lemon cheesecake This New York style cheesecake has a rich and creamy filling thanks to NEFF’s FullSteam feature. You’ll want to be careful with your portions because people will definitely be wanting more. Get the recipe here. Lemon ginger lamb ribs Be prepared for sticky fingers because these lemon ginger lamb ribs are too good to stop at one. Get the recipe here. Mixed berry trifle The layers in this delightful trifle will make your guests gasp when it is revealed. It’s a good thing there’s plenty to share because everyone is going to want to dig right in. Get the recipe here. Potato focaccia with caramelised onions A focaccia made out of potato? You better believe it! This tasty trick for soft interior and crispy outside uses mash potato and NEFF’s CircoTherm oven for an unbeatable entrée. Get the recipe here. Coffee Roulade with coffee cream Looking for a new way to get your coffee fix? This roulade only takes 30 minutes to prepare and will satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time. Get the recipe here. The ultimate apple pie With a handful of apples you can make a dessert that’s perfect for the winter without being too rich. The humble apple pie is also a firm family favourite. Get the recipe here. Middle Eastern lamb pizza Looking for a recipe that is packed full of flavour and spice but with minimal plates to clean up? Then you can’t beat these Middle eastern lamb pizzas, which are like mini handheld pizzas the whole family will love. Get the recipe here. Blueberry coconut muffins Breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea, these muffins are a sweet treat so good your friends will beg you to bring extras for them! Get the recipe here. Tomato basil linguini Who doesn’t love a great pasta? This simple recipe celebrates the flavours and can be whipped up in under 30 minutes. That’s a real crowd pleaser on a time crunch! Get the recipe here.

We’re big fans of creating our own toppings. And whether you make your own signature blend of your favourite nuts, or keep them separated but ready to be sprinkled at any second, crushed nuts make the perfect addition to cakes, truffles, salads and more. The best thing is that they usually transcend all different flavours and meals, making them the perfect addition to any breakfast, dinner and your favourite desserts. Here are 5 of the best ways to use nut toppings in your cooking: Roughly chopped for cakes Whether you’re decorating a cheesecake or a chocolate cake, nuts are always a good choice. Keep them a little bit chunky to really highlight the texture and to compliment the smooth, silkiness of your cake. Crushed macadamias and hazelnuts will work best with these sweet treats. Finely crushed for chocolate truffles Chocolate truffles are a wonderful dessert – perfect for snacking or as a delightful gift on special occasions. Finely crushed nuts make a great substitute for coconut to hold your truffles together. Try almonds, pistachios or walnuts for colour and flavour. Add some crunch to your salads Who said salads were dull? A sprinkling of nuts adds protein, flavour and crunchy texture to help take your salads to the next level. Peanuts and cashews are great in Asian-inspired salads, while walnuts pair perfectly with apple slices in Autumn. Want something a little bit extra? Try our almond and hazelnut dukkah for a Middle-Eastern spice mix you won’t soon forget. Top off your breakfast with a nut-filled granola Granola is one of those things that is incredibly easy to make yourself, but not many people bother learning how. Once you master your perfect recipe you can sprinkle it on top of your yoghurt, add it to smoothie bowls or even just use it to supplement your cereal. A mixture of toasted nuts, crushed to a coarse texture, also make a great addition to a warm bowl of porridge in winter. Sprinkled over ice cream for a quick dessert Not all great desserts take forever to make. Keep jars of crushed nuts in your pantry and you’re ready to go with a build-your-own sundae bar! Cover ice cream with chocolate sauce, sprinkle over your favourite crushed nuts and top with a maraschino cherry or two. For extra points use a warm brownie, filled with crunchy macadamias, as your base. Should I be toasting my nut toppings? Regardless of how you want to use your nuts, you’ll want to make sure they’re toasted before you get started on your recipe. Toasting helps to bring out the richness of their flavour and makes the nuts crisp up. Hardened nuts are much easier to chop to different consistencies while maintaining a flakier, powdery feel. Remember, you’ll want to let them cool completely first so they don’t turn into a paste.

We’re big fans of creating our own toppings. And whether you make your own signature blend of your favourite nuts, or keep them separated but ready to be sprinkled at any second, crushed nuts make the perfect addition to cakes, truffles, salads and more. The best thing is that they usually transcend all different flavours and meals, making them the perfect addition to any breakfast, dinner and your favourite desserts. Here are 5 of the best ways to use nut toppings in your cooking: Roughly chopped for cakes Whether you’re decorating a cheesecake or a chocolate cake, nuts are always a good choice. Keep them a little bit chunky to really highlight the texture and to compliment the smooth, silkiness of your cake. Crushed macadamias and hazelnuts will work best with these sweet treats. Finely crushed for chocolate truffles Chocolate truffles are a wonderful dessert – perfect for snacking or as a delightful gift on special occasions. Finely crushed nuts make a great substitute for coconut to hold your truffles together. Try almonds, pistachios or walnuts for colour and flavour. Add some crunch to your salads Who said salads were dull? A sprinkling of nuts adds protein, flavour and crunchy texture to help take your salads to the next level. Peanuts and cashews are great in Asian-inspired salads, while walnuts pair perfectly with apple slices in Autumn. Want something a little bit extra? Try our almond and hazelnut dukkah for a Middle-Eastern spice mix you won’t soon forget. Top off your breakfast with a nut-filled granola Granola is one of those things that is incredibly easy to make yourself, but not many people bother learning how. Once you master your perfect recipe you can sprinkle it on top of your yoghurt, add it to smoothie bowls or even just use it to supplement your cereal. A mixture of toasted nuts, crushed to a coarse texture, also make a great addition to a warm bowl of porridge in winter. Sprinkled over ice cream for a quick dessert Not all great desserts take forever to make. Keep jars of crushed nuts in your pantry and you’re ready to go with a build-your-own sundae bar! Cover ice cream with chocolate sauce, sprinkle over your favourite crushed nuts and top with a maraschino cherry or two. For extra points use a warm brownie, filled with crunchy macadamias, as your base. Should I be toasting my nut toppings? Regardless of how you want to use your nuts, you’ll want to make sure they’re toasted before you get started on your recipe. Toasting helps to bring out the richness of their flavour and makes the nuts crisp up. Hardened nuts are much easier to chop to different consistencies while maintaining a flakier, powdery feel. Remember, you’ll want to let them cool completely first so they don’t turn into a paste.

Growing your own herbs ensures you always have the makings of a great flavour combination right at your fingertips. When thinking about pairing herbs with lamb, these flavours are at the top of the list: Rosemary and lamb With its woody flavour, rosemary is the perfect companion for your favourite lamb dish. Originally found in the Mediterranean, its flavours can be tasted in many traditional dishes, often imparting a smoky quality and mustard-like aroma. Cook your rosemary by combining the leaves with a roast lamb before it goes in the oven, or pull the leaves off your sturdy rosemary stalks and use them in place of skewers when cooking lamb kofte. How to grow rosemary This perennial herb (meaning it grows back year after year) is very hardy and can survive without water for lengthy periods. This makes it a great addition to gardens in Australia. Rosemary can be grown quite easily in pots or in the garden, with large growths able to be trimmed into formal shapes or low hedges. Want to get your green fingers out? It will grow best in an open, sunny position with good soil drainage. Mint and lamb Taking its roots from Middle Eastern dishes, mint is often used when cooking more complex lamb dishes. While the Western diets tend to use mint sauce or mint jelly to add a cool tang to their lamb, you can also include fresh mint leaves in lamb salads or mix finely chopped mint with oil and vinegar to create a delicious marinade for your lamb. How to grow mint While mint tends tolerate a wide range of conditions, it tends to thrive best when planted in cool moist spots in partial shade. However, it can also easily be grown in direct sunlight. It is fast growing and grows all year round. If planting in a garden bed be warned that some varieties are quite invasive and may take over all the surrounding plants. To protect against this, try planting your mint in a raised garden bed or pot.  Oregano and lamb While oregano is often used when preparing traditional Greek lamb, it is most commonly known as the ‘pizza herb’. A close relative of marjoram, it is best used dried rather than fresh – this is when it has more intense flavours. A great companion to pizza and pasta dishes, dried oregano can also be used as a dried condiment, sprinkled atop barbeque meat and kebabs. How to grow oregano Different varieties of oregano may offer completely different flavour profiles, from woody through to spicy, so it is best to do your research into the type of oregano you want before you plant it. Generally, Greek Kaliteri variety is a plant with an excellent flavour reputation. Oregano is a low-maintenance herb that thrives in a warm climate, but is likely to grow back pretty consistently. It grows equally well in containers as it does in garden beds, with full sun helping to draw out the intense flavours. It also isn’t too fussy, flourishing with almost anything you want to plant with it. Thyme and lamb Seeing as it’s member of the mint family, it’s no surprise that thyme makes a great addition to your lamb recipes. Remove the leaves and combine with lemon atop your lamb chops or cutlets for a fresh flavour, or include the stalk and all in your roasts. How to grow thyme: Thyme prefers a warmer climate and a sunny position with well-drained soil. It will grow year-round and can withstand drought quite well. If you’re in an area with the potential for snow or frost, thyme can withstand the cold despite its love of heat. A hardy, delicious addition to your garden and dishes!

Growing your own herbs ensures you always have the makings of a great flavour combination right at your fingertips. When thinking about pairing herbs with lamb, these flavours are at the top of the list: Rosemary and lamb With its woody flavour, rosemary is the perfect companion for your favourite lamb dish. Originally found in the Mediterranean, its flavours can be tasted in many traditional dishes, often imparting a smoky quality and mustard-like aroma. Cook your rosemary by combining the leaves with a roast lamb before it goes in the oven, or pull the leaves off your sturdy rosemary stalks and use them in place of skewers when cooking lamb kofte. How to grow rosemary This perennial herb (meaning it grows back year after year) is very hardy and can survive without water for lengthy periods. This makes it a great addition to gardens in Australia. Rosemary can be grown quite easily in pots or in the garden, with large growths able to be trimmed into formal shapes or low hedges. Want to get your green fingers out? It will grow best in an open, sunny position with good soil drainage. Mint and lamb Taking its roots from Middle Eastern dishes, mint is often used when cooking more complex lamb dishes. While the Western diets tend to use mint sauce or mint jelly to add a cool tang to their lamb, you can also include fresh mint leaves in lamb salads or mix finely chopped mint with oil and vinegar to create a delicious marinade for your lamb. How to grow mint While mint tends tolerate a wide range of conditions, it tends to thrive best when planted in cool moist spots in partial shade. However, it can also easily be grown in direct sunlight. It is fast growing and grows all year round. If planting in a garden bed be warned that some varieties are quite invasive and may take over all the surrounding plants. To protect against this, try planting your mint in a raised garden bed or pot.  Oregano and lamb While oregano is often used when preparing traditional Greek lamb, it is most commonly known as the ‘pizza herb’. A close relative of marjoram, it is best used dried rather than fresh – this is when it has more intense flavours. A great companion to pizza and pasta dishes, dried oregano can also be used as a dried condiment, sprinkled atop barbeque meat and kebabs. How to grow oregano Different varieties of oregano may offer completely different flavour profiles, from woody through to spicy, so it is best to do your research into the type of oregano you want before you plant it. Generally, Greek Kaliteri variety is a plant with an excellent flavour reputation. Oregano is a low-maintenance herb that thrives in a warm climate, but is likely to grow back pretty consistently. It grows equally well in containers as it does in garden beds, with full sun helping to draw out the intense flavours. It also isn’t too fussy, flourishing with almost anything you want to plant with it. Thyme and lamb Seeing as it’s member of the mint family, it’s no surprise that thyme makes a great addition to your lamb recipes. Remove the leaves and combine with lemon atop your lamb chops or cutlets for a fresh flavour, or include the stalk and all in your roasts. How to grow thyme: Thyme prefers a warmer climate and a sunny position with well-drained soil. It will grow year-round and can withstand drought quite well. If you’re in an area with the potential for snow or frost, thyme can withstand the cold despite its love of heat. A hardy, delicious addition to your garden and dishes!