Butter bean pâté with melba toast

This speedy pâté is ready in 15 minutes, the perfect last minute starter

Grilled pesto tomatoes on toast

It’s colourful, full of flavour and low in fat – it could be the perfect quick snack

Prawn cocktail on toast

A light supper that’s so easy to make when you get home from work

French onion soup

A deeply savoury soup to use up a garden glut, make sure you caramelise your onions so they’re really rich and tender

Melty onion toasts

Make the onion topping for this simple gastropub-style starter up to two days ahead

Sardines & watercress on toast

A low-fat lunch that’s high in omega 3. You could use any oily fish if you don’t have sardines

French bean & duck Thai curry

Traditionally, this is made with Asian snake beans, which taste very similar to French beans – but are about a foot long

Chillied cheese on toast

A hearty slice of cheese on toast ticks all the boxes when time is short – satisfying, quick to make and popular with everyone

Pot-roast beef with French onion gravy

Silverside and topside are cheaper and leaner cuts of meat, well-suited to slow-cooking. The stock and juices make a great sauce when combined with caramelised onions

Chicken livers on toast

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only
Not just for stuffings and pâtés, pan-fried chicken livers make a good-value starter or light lunch

Prawn & tomato stew with gremolata topping

A fish casserole with healthy prawns, topped with an Italian garnish of parsley and lemon zest – it’s low in fat and calories too

Mushroom stroganoff on toast

Chestnut mushrooms in a creamy sauce on delicious wholegrain toast – ready in around 10 minutes