Smoked mackerel salad with beetroot & horseradish dressing

The restaurant trick of giving the same ingredient a couple of treatments turns a simple dish into an impressive starter

Blueberry lemon cakes with cheesecake topping

These neat, zesty cakes are finished off with a smooth, rich topping

Spinach & three cheese cannelloni

A delicious Italian-style veggie main – make ahead and freeze

Hot paprika potatoes with garlic mayo

This spicy accompaniment to barbecued steak tastes even better eaten outside

Posh spice cake

A fruit cake for those who like theirs light, spicy, fruity and moist, with a tart cranberry topping

Venison with quince

Quinces are a perfect balance to rich venison, and spiked with rosemary they offer a heady depth to this prepare-ahead main

Mulled spiced Pavlovas

Traditional flavours of cloves, spices and orange zest work scent these fabulous winter Pavlovas topped with boozy mulled figs

Crunchy corn & pepper salsa

This superhealthy salsa takes just ten minutes to prepare

Orange & caramel custard tart

This indulgent looking tart is actually fairly angelic so even those on a diet can enjoy a slice or two

Gingercrunch & meringue bombes

These simple make-ahead puds use ready-made meringues and gingernut biscuits, but look really impressive