Festive fruit & spice decoration

Decorating a simple iced cake with herbs, spices, nuts and fruit works to great effect and is especially easy for beginners to try

Artichoke & olive dip

Create a laid-back Italian meal for friends with this delicious dip, breadsticks, olives and cured meats

Banana & walnut loaf

This homely and wholesome cake is also light and moist, with the natural sweetness of sticky bananas and the warm toastiness of nuts

Pine nut & honey tart

This make-ahead tart is the ultimate finale for a festive buffet – just make sure you have enough as guests may well want seconds

Tropical treat

Kick start your day with a fruit and nut muesli treat

Rustic courgette, pine nut & ricotta tart

This rustic quiche has been simplified by making it straight on the baking tray without using a tart tin

Crunchy granola with berries & cherries

Make your breakfast a fruity feast – this recipe is full of crunchy goodness

Creamy pesto chicken with roasted tomatoes

A fast and filling, all-in-one chicken dish

Peppery fennel & carrot salad

Savour the spicy Indian-tinged flavours of this fresh and light salad

Stir-fried broccoli with cashews & oyster sauce

Liven up a side dish of broccoli with this simple Chinese dish, full of vitamin C

Sunshine bars

The solution for any picnic or open air event – a no-bake bar packed with good stuff

Stuffed peppers on the barbie

Mary Cadogan’s clever bbq recipe will impress all of your friends and family and have them coming back for more