Cheese Ball
A classic party cheese ball: cream cheese and sharp cheddar beaten smooth with a little Worcestershire and garlic, chilled firm, and rolled in toasted pecans and fresh herbs just before serving.
- Total time
- 2 hr 20 min
- Yield
- Serves 12
No-Cook
Nothing switched on. Assembly only.
Nothing switched on. Assembly only, which puts the whole result on the knife work and the timing.
Most of the technique here is about water: salting cucumber before it goes in, drying cheese, dressing at the last moment so nothing has time to weep.
Peanut Butter Pie
A no-bake peanut butter pie with a fluffy filling of cream cheese, peanut butter and whipped cream in a chocolate cookie crust, chilled until it slices clean.
- Total time
- 6 hr 25 min
- Yield
- One 9 in (23 cm) pie, 10 slices
Green Fruit Salad
Six green fruits, a honey lime dressing, and nothing brown. The dressing is what stops the apples turning.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Yield
- Serves 8
The Best Burger Sauce
Five minutes, no cooking, and better after an hour in the fridge. The pickle brine is the part everyone leaves out.
- Total time
- 1 hr 5 min
- Yield
- Makes about 1¼ cups (300 ml)
Crunch Salad
Six vegetables cut to the same size, feta, toasted seeds and a sharp balsamic vinaigrette. Assembled, not tossed in advance.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Yield
- Serves 6
Autumn Apple Pasta Salad
Crisp diced apple, toasted pecans and cold pasta in a tangy Greek yogurt dressing that keeps the fruit pale and the noodles seasoned all the way through.
- Total time
- 1 hr
- Yield
- Serves 6 as a side
Cranberry Pecan Slaw
Salted, squeezed cabbage in a tangy maple dressing with dried cranberries and toasted pecans — crisp the next day, not soupy.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Yield
- Serves 6