Spooky spider cakes

Children will have great fun decorating these at Halloween parties

Salmon & Puy lentil salad with olive dressing

Use up leftover poached salmon in this stylish main-meal salad with punchy dressing

Gunpowder chicken with dried red chillies & peanuts

This classic dish from the Chinese province of Sichuan isn’t as spicy if you remove the chilli seeds – complete with a sticky, sweet and rich sauce

Blood orange, mozzarella & rocket salad

Tear creamy Italian cheese – or burrata if you can find it – into a fresh and citrussy salad with mustard dressing

Rudolph cupcakes

Get the kids into the kitchen to decorate these individual chocolate sponges with frosting and sweets

Spice-rubbed chicken with pomegranate salad

Apply a light touch to your Indian meal with a sweet pomegranate and mint dressing instead of heavy curry sauce

Perfect pasties

Reawaken childhood memories of summer holidays with Sara Buenfeld’s eat-by-the-sea favourite, the humble pasty

Potato and pea samosas

Healthy little pastry pockets of potato and peas flavoured with Indian spices, samosas are ideal for afternoon tea, canapés or a buffet

Little coffee cakes

These individual cupcakes with coffee frosting are easy to make and look great on a cake stand

Salmon with salsa verde

A delicious and fresh Mediterranean baked fish dish with herby green sauce, olives and lemon

Herby feta & nectarine salad with lemon poppy seed dressing

Contrast salty Greek cheese with sweet and juicy fruit, fragrant mint, dill and coriander

Rum babas with poached pineapple & vanilla ice cream

A restaurant-style pudding you can make ahead for a relaxed end to your dinner party