Summer

BLT makes for a delicious sandwich but if you’re looking to swith it up, take all those best bits (that would be the bacon, lettuce and tomato) and turn it into this pasta salad. We love this as a side dish but this is also great for lunches. Looking for other pasta salad ideas? Take […]

Escape to summer with this heavenly dessert! Sweet soft roasted peaches with a crunchy nutty coconut crumble - simple divine!

Sweet and crunchy cos lettuce, perfectly paired with crispy croutons and the all-new creamy Caesar dressing – it's a classic that’s sure to be a hit with everyone, no matter the age! Whether you're feeding the whole family or indulging in a solo treat, this delicious combination is the perfect way to bring a burst of flavour to your summer meals.

The traditional New Zealand Christmas dinner of a perfectly glazed ham, carrots, spuds and peas followed by a berry-packed and boozily indulgent trifle is still incredibly hard to beat. Sophie Gray aces a classic boiled new potatoes with minty herb butter, perfect for summer dishes.

Indulge in a taste of the tropics with this delicious eton mess all topped with fresh mango slices and tangy passionfruit.

A delicious summer salad, perfect for an al fresco dinner

Summer meals don't get much easier (or more delicious) than this! Baguettes are filled with barbecued pepper steak, crunchy cos and sharp dijonaise, making a sandwich that is perfect for a light dinner or picnic lunch.

This fragrant curry goes a step further with the famed combination of chicken and apricot, resulting in a simple but delicious dinner. It's such a fantastic way to experiment with fresh summer fruit!

The oven does most of the work in this fantastic courgette and corn skillet bake - which is a delicious way to put a glut of courgettes to good use. Serve with a simple green salad and you’ve got dinner sorted!

If you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that you can get heaps of fresh cherries for cheap, this is such a fun pie to make and eat. However, feel free to use frozen cherries (which have the bonus of already being pitted).

Chocolate, hazelnuts and peaches combine in this sweet and sticky pudding, which might just become your new go-to. Enjoy as a decadent summer dessert, served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Celebrate summer with this gorgeous nectarine and almond tart. With a shell of crispy vanilla pastry, a layer of homemade almond paste and a topping of beautifully arranged nectarines, this tart looks and tastes like a ray of sunshine.

It’s hard to resist freshly crumbed and fried fish, especially during the summer, but what if you’re keen to avoid using bread-crumbs? Polenta can be gritty and rice flour sandy, but this nut crumb is just right!

This tart is a total summer treat using lovely Central Otago apricots. It works equally well with nectarines or peaches too, so just use whatever you have available!

If you’ve never tried asparagus, egg and prosciutto (or ham or bacon) together, then you’ve been missing out! All the components of this dish pair beautifully together - making it a perfect BBQ side dish.

This rosemary and mustard-glazed pork loin is a winner for long summer nights. For a flavour explosion, serve alongside our delicious pickled peaches - you're sure to impress with this brew up your sleeve!

This delicious plum and blackberry crumble is one to put at the top of your must-try list - especially if it's paired with a dollop of homemade spice yoghurt. One helping will never be enough!

With a crown of softly whipped cream and juicy plums, this dessert is simply sublime - and the fact it’s gluten free just makes it even better! Enjoy for a decadent baked treat this summer.

This salad is a riot of flavour and texture! Beans, tomatoes and basil combine with char-grilled corn and pieces of crispy flatbread to create an all-round delight. It's the perfect side for your next summer barbecue.

These barbecued chicken burgers with fennel and herb slaw are perfect for a summer dinner on the deck or patio. Just add cold beers or sangria, a jug of iced cordial for the kids, and some great company!

This scrumptious asparagus and feta frittata can be made ahead, stored, then reheated later for an easy summer lunch or dinner. You could even whip one up to take on a family picnic - it's so quick to make!

Grilled on the barbecue is our favourite way to eat courgettes. If you want to dress them up, add some sweet peas, mint and, if you like, a little soft feta, ricotta or marinated buffalo cheese like in this recipe.

Fresh, zingy and oh-so-colourful, this raspberry and honey-baked haloumi salad is packed with goodness. Serve this flavoursome dish as a side salad or a vegetarian main course this Christmas!

Embrace the joy of a summer Christmas with this heavenly trifle recipe. With interspersing layers of raspberries, cream, sherry-spiked sponge cake and silky homemade sabayon, it's a dessert that is sure to delight.

This jewel-bright jumble of kūmara and goat’s cheese is the perfect side salad for a festive feast. Whether you're hosting Christmas at your place or need a great dish to bring along, this recipe is bound to be a hit.

Even if you don’t make your own pastry that often, this recipe is so simple that it’s worth the extra effort. The topping could also be tropical fruit or roasted rhubarb, just make sure whatever you use it’s generously piled high.

Making a tub of creamy, homemade ice cream doesn’t come any easier than this! You don't even need an ice cream maker for this recipe - simply combine all the divine ingredients and let the freezer do the rest of the work.

Combine plum pureé, homemade custard and mascarpone cream and you get this magical gelato, which makes a silky, fruity and luxurious treat. Could there be a more delicious way to cool down when the days start to get warmer?

Save money by turning cheap ice cream into incredible gourmet flavours by buying a two-litre tub of ice cream and creating never-ending flavours from the most wonderful combinations. Here are two of our favourites.

This rice salad is healthy, delicious and easy to make. It also makes a fantastic packed lunch.

Enjoy this sweet/salty take on oysters with a fresh watermelon salsa topping. It's summer in a shell!

Add some grilled prawns and crusty bread to make this salad more of a meal.

The salty-sweet combination of watermelon and feta is unbeatable, and when served with thin ribbons of beef and radish, it's next level good.

This French dessert is made by layering meringue discs and ice cream - our tropical version uses sorbet and an array of gorgeous tropical fruits.

With summer vegetables as good as they are right now, you barely need to do anything to them to make a sensational meal. Here I’ve combined what’s in my garden with a fantastic dressing that brings it all together into a plateful of summer!

Both Jani and I have strong ties to France and this dish is a bistro classic. You can pretty much find ‘moules et frites’ or mussels and chips in every little French coastal cafe and it can be quite an addictive dish. Jani and I and our blokes all adore this version – it’s perfect for enjoying here in New Zealand with the Pacific flavours of coconut and lime. Serve with a baguette to mop up the salty juices, a glass or two of rosé and plenty of cold beer, napkins and a large bowl for the shells. Bon appetit! Photographs by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues; Gatherum Collectif.

Pimm's is a gin-based liquor infused with liqueur, fruit juices and spices. We've added fresh fruit, fragrant mint and cooling cucumber to create a refreshing alcoholic punch, perfect for warm Summer evenings.

Fruit and vegetables straight from the garden make perfect Flatbread toppings for a light summer meal

This deliciously fresh and creamy summer trifle is the ultimate dessert for any occasion! Anna Polyviou from The Shangri-La Hotel shares her recipe from The Great Australian Cookbook.

My little brother is a fishing ninja and a pretty good cook too, so this is my version of how he does his battered fish. I’ve added my oven-baked ‘fast chips’ – which are really thin wedges, but if I call them that, my youngest won’t eat them! Photograph by Jani Shepherd and styling by Fiona Hugues – Gatherum Collectif.

A colourful salad with a lot of bite!

Fresh and fruity - this watermelon cake is the perfect summer dessert! Layered with fresh fruit and served with creamy ice-cream, this cake is a little slice of summer-heaven!

This Caesar salad recipe from Scott Gooding's book, Clean Living, includes grilled sardines, crisp bacon and brussels sprouts for a healthier, Paleo version of the classic salad.

Cool, creamy and packed full of berries, this divine ice-cream recipe by Scott Gooding from his book, Clean Living, will have you reaching for seconds. It tastes so good you'd never guess it was healthy!

Cool down on a hot Summer day with this refreshing peach and spiced rum iced tea - a delightfully uplifting and tasty beverage for the adults.

This divine dessert is the perfect finish to a summer barbeque. Sugar-free and dairy-free too, it will hit the spot!

This turkey breast with cranberry and pistachio stuffing is a delicious way to mix up the way you present your typical Christmas turkey. The stuffing and brandy sauce have a beautiful festive flavour.

Demonstrate your skill on the grill at your next barbecue using this show-stopper by Julie Biuso. You’ll be the talk of the ’hood!

Try this hearty lamb and vegetable combination, wrapped in tasty prosciutto and accompanied by smooth and creamy celeriac mash potato.

Jazz up your next barbecue with these spicy prawns and whiting fillets served alongside fresh vegetables and herb aioli.

Enjoy the classic pea and ham combo in a tasty, light summer pasta.

Fresh, tasty and nutritious, mussels are simmered in a fragrant white wine sauce and tossed through fresh greens. Drizzled with a zesty lemon and chilli dressing, this salad is perfect served as a light lunch or dinner on a warm Summer's day.

This summery salsa adds flavour with style. So grab a can of mango slices, or a fresh mango when in season, and dress up simple snags and spuds.

A perfect summer salad for when fresh peaches are juicy and plentiful.

Wow family and friends at your next summer dinner party with these chicken and sweet potato-like kumara skewers, brushed with a mix of sugary maple syrup. pungent mustard and sour cider vinegar. Round it out with a healthy spinach pecan salad.

This recipe combines Australia's favourite and most versatile fish with a zesty pineapple salad. A super-fresh and delicious dish that can be table-ready in under 30 minutes.

Turn the humble crumble into a summer delight with this quick and easy dessert.

Give into temptation with this rich chocolate sensation. Forget the traditional fruity pavlova topping. Let the layer of meringue melt in your mouth while chunks of dark chocolate blend with smooth chocolate sauce and cream.

Sweet, zesty and refreshing all in one scoop - this divine peach and lime sorbet is easy to make and perfect for a warm Summer afternoon.

The spices of chilli, ginger and cumin contrast against sweet mango in this fresh duck salad, perfect for lunch or a starter at a dinner party.

Take your taste buds on a summer holiday with this fruity treat. These warm pancake parcels are filled with creamy vanilla ice cream and fresh mangoes that are sure to please for breakfast or tea.

Add some spice to your barbecue prawns with a fragrant marinade of chilli, coriander, lime and garlic.

When fresh kiwifruit is in season and cheap, this cool and refreshing sorbet makes a wonderful dessert.

Topped with almonds and packed with dried and glace fruit, this moist fruitcake not only looks good but tastes amazing. It serves 16, so is perfect to feed a crowd if you're hosting Christmas lunch or Christmas in July.

Indulge in a baked, fruity treat with this peach and rose frangipane tart. Drizzle with honey to serve and enjoy the peach slices and almond undertones.

Try this famous Australian dessert for yourself with a modern addition of sweet caramel and rhubarb.

This humble chicken and brown rice salad offers a taste of Italy, with the hero its lemon mustard dressing.

This Italian-inspired herbaceous green sauce elevates perfectly grilled pork cutlets to another level. Include a salad to make a complete summer meal for family or friends.

This decadent dish will make you question everything you thought you knew about the plain, old salad. You won't be able to resist treating yourself to this smoked salmon drizzled with white wine vinegar and dijon mustard.

Fresh, cool and fruity, watermelon, honey-dew melon and watermelon are beautiful served topped with fresh cream and a fragrant homemade ginger syrup to create this simple Summer dessert.

Perfect for afternoon tea or a delicious dessert this nectarine cake is fruity, sweet and soft.

Try this sweet, citrusy American favourite for a summer treat or to perk up dessert time all year round.

Fresh, ripe mango is food of the gods no matter what dish it finds its way into. Included in this creamy cheesecake with a biscuit, coconut and macadamia base, it makes a positively heavenly dessert.

This is a jelly that adults will get on board with - beautifully flavoured with fresh lychees and almond essence.

Enjoy these light, refreshing chicken and mango rice paper rolls on a warm summer's afternoon. A Vietnamese classic, the rolls are wonderful served as finger food with a zesty chilli lime dipping sauce.

This delicious salad makes the perfect Summer dish for a warm evening with friends and family. Packed full of juicy mango, tender duck meat and fresh Asian greens, this flavoursome dish will delight all your guests.