Prawn and Noodle Salad

200-300g shelled raw prawns, cooked quickly in a hot wok with garlic and chilli.

Salad: red onion, carrot, red capsicum, cucumber, tomato, coriander, mango, spring onion, lettuce.

Rice vermicilli.

Dressing: oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, sugar.

Result: 4.5. Great for a hot night.

Preparation: lots of chopping, but still quick and easy.

Pumpkin pasta sauce

Butternut pumpkin pieces, boiled in pasta water, and lifted out. Mash.
Saute red capsicum and red onion and add cinzano and chicken stock. Add pumpkin, english spinach, basil, passata and sour cream.

Serve with pasta.

Result: 4

Preparation: very quick and easy

Whole BBQ Chicken

1.4kg chicken. Marinade: lemon juice, smoky paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander powder, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

Cook on BBQ grill with lid down, in fish rack, at about 180 degrees, for 40 mins.

Serve with salad, bread and sauce.

Result: 3.5. Would be heading for 5 if chicken was more moist and less spicy, and a nice sauce was made. Would be great for a party.

Preparation: very easy, but needs to be done ahead.

Baked meatballs with spinach & pumpkin salad

Meatballs: lean mince, mixed with chopped dill, tomato sauce, salt & pepper, milk and farex (rice cereal).

Cut pumpkin into cubes. Put in oven dish with quartered onion and rosemary and rub all with olive oil.

Bake pumpkin and meatballs at 180 degrees fan bake (moderately hot) for about 25 mins.

Salad: spinach leaves, diced feta, bit of basil. Stir in hot pumpkin mix and a little extra oil.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: quick and easy, especially as meatballs are baked.

Christmas Entree

Asparagus spears, blanched for 1 1/2 mins, then run under cold water. Wrap in threes in a slice of proscuitto.

Frittata with zucchini, capsicum, caramelized onion, basil, topped with feta and cheese.

Smoked salmon on large mini-toasts spread with cream cheese, lemon juice, chopped capers and dill mixture, and topped with sprig of dill.

Serve on small plate scattered with rocket and add a couple of olives.

Result: 6. Yummo.

Preparation: frittata takes some time, but not too much effort. About 2 hours all up.

Mango & Chicken Salad

Mango in slices.
Chicken breast, grilled and sliced.
Lettuce, roughly chopped.
Vermicilli, cooked.
Cucumber, chopped.
Cashews.

Dressing: Chilli, fresh lime juice, white vinegar, soy, sugar, fish sauce.

Result: 4

Preparation: quick and easy.

Chicken Burgers

Chicken breast, marinated briefly in lime juice, chipotle chilli powder and cumin powder. Cook in non-stick frypan.
Serve in burgers or sandwiches with caramelised red onion, shredded lettuce, grated cheese, sliced tomato and egg mayonnaise.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: minimal. Can be done in under 20 mins.

Salmon Mornay

Tin of salmon, big bones and skin removed.
Steep 1 1/2 cups milk (heat it up first) with quartered onion, bay leaf and peppercorns. Leave for 1/2 an hour. Strain off milk.
Make white sauce with butter and flour and thicken.
Add salmon and a bit of parmesan.
Serve with rice and steamed veges.

Result: 4

Preparation: White sauce requires attention, but can easily be done in advance. Otherwise quick and easy.

Panang Lamb Curry

Tablespoon of panang curry paste from tin.
Tiny can coconut milk.
4 cubes home-made chicken stock.
Diced lamb (slow-cook preferable)
Large cubes of pumpkin.
Coriander - stems chopped up and leaves chopped separately.
Onion, finely sliced.
Red capsicum, sliced.
Bok choy, washed.
Snow peas, topped & tailed.

Fry curry paste in coconut cream and fry onion and lamb in this. Add pumpkin, coconut milk, coriander stems and chicken stock. Cook slowly for about an hour. Before serving, add remaining veges and coriander leaves. Serve with rice.

Result: 4

Preparation: quick and easy, especially if meat cooked earlier in the day.

Pumpkin & Basil stir fry

Butternut pumpkin, sliced thinly and microwaved for 2 mins.
Green beans, chopped and microwaved for 1 min.
Beef strips. Red onion. Thai basil. Spring onion, in sticks, garlic, chopped chilli.

Sauce: oyster sauce, light soy, sugar.

Serve with rice.

Result: 4.5

Preparation: about 20 mins.