Spiced pepper pilafs

This colourful vegetarian supper is superhealthy and freezable in individual portions, so you can defrost as many as you need

Right-every-time roasties

Goose fat, vegetable oil and polenta – the secrets to the perfect roast potatoes every time

Long amaretto sours

Add some glamour to an al fresco lunch by serving these cocktails to start

Reggae reggae nachos

These nachos are a great crowd-pleaser, perfect for sharing with friends over a cocktail

Raspberry coconut ices

A yummy treat on a hot day, get the kids to help make these yogurt-based lollies

Chocolate chunk pecan cookies

You can’t beat American-style cookies with big chunks of chocolate and nuts. The perfect grown-up biscuit

St Clements carrots

Use some of the heap of clementines lying around over the Christmas period to make these sticky, citrussy roasted carrots

Madeira gravy

A good gravy is an essential accompaniment for the festive meal. This one’s enriched with Madeira (fortified wine)

Aubergine with spicy apricot tabbouleh

This aubergine parcel looks very dramatic, but is dead easy

Carrot & sesame burgers

Burgers are always a barbecue staple, and these sesame-scented ones can be dressed up or down