No Cooking

Celebrate spring with this beautiful salad of young asparagus, avocado and juicy grapefruit.

What a refreshing way to hydrate and contribute to your five-a-day target. You can experiment with all sorts of fruit, and mint goes with just about anything.

Sweet beetroot contrasts beautifully with sharp, salty feta and bitter leaves in this delicious salad. Perfect as a light lunch, or a side dish.

High on flavour and protein and low on carbs, this tuna bean and basil salad is perfect for a light yet satisfying lunch. Baby capers give it that little bit of extra punch.

We used a baguette for the garlic toast. If making this dish a few hours ahead, combine ingredients, except for cucumber, in large bowl; toss cucumber through just before serving. The longer the salmon marinates with the lime, the more 'cooked' it will be.

A few key ingredients and just 10 minutes preparation and you and your guests can be enjoying these mixed berries with mascarpone; easy, simple, yet oh so good. Use your favourite mixture of berries for this recipe.

Tuna sold as sashimi has to meet stringent guidelines regarding its handling and treatment after leaving the water. It is a good idea to buy it only from a fishmonger you trust, or to seek advice from local authorities before eating any raw seafood. Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Variations nutritional count per serving 4.4g total fat (2.8g saturated fat); 957kJ (229 cal); 38.9g carbohydrate; 4.4g protein; 1.1g fibre You need an apple weighing about 275g (9 ounces) for this recipe. We used a granny smith apple. Note

You can buy sugar syrup from liquor stores or make your own. Stir 1 cup (220g) caster (superfine) sugar with 1 cup (250ml) water in small saucepan, over low heat, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, without stirring, 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature. Store in […]

Caipiroska is a variation of the “caipirinha”, regarded as Brazil’s national cocktail. The caipirinha is made with cachaça (made from sugarcane that’s fermented and distilled), plus sugar and lime. Caipiroska uses vodka instead of cachaça. Note

It's no wonder few can resist when presented with a smooth, creamy bowl of chocolate mousse; a sprinkling of tart raspberries will cut through the sweetness beautifully.

Equipment: 32cm (13-inch) square wooden cake board 18cm (7-inch) square wooden cake board large plaque plunger cutter smoothing tools 5cm x 8.5cm (2-inch x 3½-inch) diamond patchwork cutter 4 wooden skewers paper piping bag (page 221) fine pearl-headed pin tweezers white florist’s tape Decorations 1.8kg (3½ pounds) ready-made white icing cornflour (cornstarch) 1 quantity royal […]

These traffic light yoghurt pops are a deliciously fruity alternative to regular ice-blocks. They make a brilliant after school treat for the kids on a hot day.

When in season, use blood oranges. Note

These vegetable rice paper rolls are a popular dish to serve as a sharing plate with sweet chilli dipping sauce.

Packed full of fruit, nuts and all the good stuff, this is how you take out the stress of the morning rush.

A fresh and tasty dish that's bound to become a firm family favourite, grilled lamb and lebanese chickpea salad works with other meats such as beef and kangaroo as well.

This will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to two days. Note

A spectacular dessert to produce at the end of a very special meal, prosecco and raspberry jellies sprinkled with gold leaf are perfectly pretty.

Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt dip made with cucumber, garlic and sometimes chopped fresh mint. It’s available, ready-made, from supermarkets and delicatessens. Note

Rich smoked trout and tender butter beans are a beautiful contrast to the cornichons and watercress in this delightful salad.

Rich and creamy, this black forest cheesecake is stuffed with juicy cherries and comes with a beautiful chocolate crust. Sinful indulgence at its best.

Home-made icing

White balsamic vinegar (also known as balsamic white condiment) is a clear and lighter version of balsamic vinegar, it has a fresh, sweet clean taste and is available from major supermarkets and delicatessens. Note

Oranges, orange liqueur and Christmas cake form the basis of this incredibly quick and simple ice-cream terrine.

These fresh, citrus cordials make lovely, simple gifts at Christmas time, as well as an excellent pantry staple.

To open fresh coconut, pierce one of the eyes then roast coconut briefly in a very hot oven only until cracks appear in the shell. Cool the coconut, then break it apart and grate the flesh. Note

Try to use the freshest crab meat you can for this dish or very good quality canned crabmeat. To obtain ginger juice, squeeze grated fresh ginger into a sieve set over a bowl. A piece of ginger measuring about 2cm (¾ inch) in length will yield 2 teaspoons of grated ginger; this amount of grated […]

You could use halved fresh figs instead of the rockmelon, if you like.

Sharp feta and crisp pear make a fabulous combination with leaves, sprouts and walnuts in this sophisticated salad.

Delight your guests at your next dinner party with these easy, sophisticated cocktails.

Wrapped up like adorable bonbons, these delectable seafood parcels make a very special dinner offering for guests.

This incredibly simple summer garden salad with avocado and tomato is the perfect side dish for any lunch.

Crunchy croutons and dill add bite to this luxurious smoked salmon salad.

the spices can be prepared several hours ahead. The recipe is best assembled close to serving Note

Turkish bread is also called pide by some bakers and in some supermarkets. It is also available in individual rounds. Note

When it comes to canapés, smoked salmon and dill is always a crowd pleaser.

The dark blue pigment of blueberries is full of antioxidants, which have been shown to lower cholesterol. They are sometimes referred to as “brain berries” because they may help with brain function. Note

Chopped salad ingredients vary from recipe to recipe, the only common rule is that all the ingredients are `chopped’. You can also place all of the roughly chopped ingredients on a large chopping board and use a large knife to chop them all together. Note

Hazelnuts can be substituted for walnuts in this recipe, and, if you have hazelnut or walnut oil on hand, use one of these, rather than the olive oil. Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Zucchini have a lot of water in them; squeezing the water out of the grated zucchini, prevents the sandwiches from getting soggy. For information about how to grate a carrot see page 121. Put the grated zucchini in a fine sieve over a small bowl. Use your hands to squeeze the liquid out. Use a […]

This colourful, nutritious salad would be perfect served with grilled meat.

Gorgeous spread on toasted panettone, dotted on pancakes or used to sandwich little biscuits together, orange liqueur butter is simple and sophisticated.

Use un-iced, unfilled plain biscuits for this recipe. Note

Figs with sheep milk yogurt and honey

If you love prawns, you'll love this incredibly zesty prawn salad with a mint and lemon dressing.

You can substitute scotch whiskey for the rye whiskey. Note

Served alongside some sliced barbecued duck, this zesty Asian salad is full of spice and packs a punch.

Strawberries can also be served with yoghurt or light sour cream in place of creme fraiche. Note

To make chilli-infused vodka, combine 250ml vodka and 4 fresh red thai chillies in a glass jar, cover; stand for about 5 days or until the vodka is infused with chilli heat. Discard chillies before using. Note

This passionfruit mousse makes a light and tropical change from the usual chocolate version. Tofu is the perfect ingredient here because it provides the amazing texture, and absorbs all of that delicious passionfruit flavour.

You need only small quantities of pineapple and rockmelon, so buy the smallest fruit you can find. Two passionfruit will supply the right amount of pulp. Honey yoghurt can be made a day ahead; store, covered, in the refrigerator. Note

Affogato is a popular Italian dessert that often combines coffee with ice-cream and often, a splash of booze. We've used Irish cream here, but you could substitute your favourite liqueur.

Delight your child with this gorgeous (and easy) orange birthday cake.

You need a loaf of the larger-sized bread (slices measure 12cm across). Ham slices can be used instead of the shaved ham, if you like. The little cut-out hearts can be used to make fairy bread or sandwiched with a cut-out heart of sliced cheese, held together with a toothpick and grilled until browned. Sandwiches […]

Equipment: 45cm (18-inch) round wooden cake board (page 208) 30cm (12-inch) round wooden cake board (page 208) 25cm (10-inch) round wooden cake board (page 208) 20cm (8-inch) round wooden cake board (page 208) 15cm (6-inch) round wooden cake board (page 208) smoothing tools quilting tool tape measure embossed rolling pin plastic ruler pizza cutter small […]

Tomato dip is best made close to serving. Note

These chocolate and sultana crackles are one way to sneak a little bit of fruit and fibre into unsuspecting kids at a party. Happily, they're so delicious you're bound to get away with it.

Chocolate ice-cream celebration cake

We used watermelon, mandarins, kiwifruit, mango and strawberries. Use any combination you like. Note

The beauty of smoothies is that you get all that delicious tasting fruit juice, without missing out on the goodness of the whole fruit. Plus, they're a quick way to get your 5-a-day when you're on the go.

Like a cocktail in a glass, this piña colada mousse is the perfect dessert to top off a special dinner party. You can leave the rum out if you like.

Fresh, tasty and very moreish, chicken rice paper rolls make a great starter or share plate for a party.

Each takeaway barbecued chicken we used in this chapter weighed about 900g; when skinned and boned, this results in 3 cups (480g) of shredded meat, or 2½ cups (425g) of coarsely chopped meat. Note

Broderie anglaise, French for `English embroidery', is characterised by cutwork, lace and small eyelet patterns, just like we've used in this cake.

Carpaccio, usually served in Italy as a “primi piatti” (literally, the first plate), a first-course salad, can be made with finely sliced fish as well as the traditional beef fillet. Be certain that the meat you buy is as fresh as possible and from a reliable source. Note