Ricotta, fig & prosciutto crostini

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only
Little Italian toasts topped with creamy cheese, sweet fruit and salty ham – a killer combination to be served as a nibble

Plum & almond pastry

This open fruit tart looks and tastes fantastic for very little effort – frangipane flavours complement sugar plums

Cheat’s cheesy focaccia

Use a simple packet mix to roll out an Italian flat bread with blue cheese and parmesan, drizzled with olive oil

Easy caponata

Caponata is a chunky aubergine sauce that is great for dipping bread sticks into or spreading on toast

Frozen blackberry fool

Falling somewhere between an ice cream and a syllabub, this berry-rippled dessert is seasonal and spectacular

Prawn, chickpea & parsley salad

A perfect sharing salad that requires no cooking – mix shellfish with canned pulses, herbs and lemon

Silly twits ice cream

You don’t have to own an ice-cream maker to enjoy a homemade, freezer friendly staple