Sam Mannering

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Last minute treats for Christmas

How to do those Christmas basics well - the turkey, the ham, and a few seasonally appropriate yet festive puds

A herby porchetta, basil and walnut pesto, sesame and cumin kale chips, and a luscious, squidgy French style apple cake

Arancini, a green risotto with silverbeet and stracciatella, and Frankfurter grüne soße for spring

Lamb ribs with kawakawa pesto; a quick herby sauté of asparagus, broccolini, peas, garlic and chilli and a good hummus recipe to go with it. And asparagus with stracciatella, guanciale and hazelnuts.

Spring beckons. A Victoria sponge with tamarillo and mascarpone, a light herby prawn risotto, and prawn, ginger and coriander fritters.

A roasted cauliflower 'steak' with harissa, walnuts and parsley, a quick prawn curry, and an audacious sugar pie

Apple and almond pinwheel scones, Mughali chicken, and the BEST Russian fudge recipe I've found

Comfort food - brown rice congee, Irish champ, and THAT chocolate, oat and walnut slice which everyone keeps asking for

Double helpings. Herby, parmesany, garlicky potato focaccia. Greek ricotta and honey cheesecake. Ham hock and barley soup.

Momo, or Nepalese dumplings - lamb, cumin and chilli, and shiitake, carrot and ginger

Pasta with mussels, guanciale, mascarpone and herbs, and a walnut and honey tart

A Massaman curry of beef short rib, pumpkin and tamarind, Brinjal (aubergine chutney), a spiced pear shortcake, and some herby, cheesy Irish soda bread.

Chicken with silverbeet, white beans and marsala, a handy sauce Béarnaise, and coconut rice pudding with persimmon

A pâté en croûte (or, a deliciously glorified, swaddled up meatloaf) and the lemon slice to end all lemon slices

Quinces this week - an oaty shortcake with poached quince and walnut, and quince jelly. And, as an extra treat for Mother's Day - lemon and chocolate baci.

Pastry (always welcome). Pissaladière and pecan tussies.

Some very nostalgic Kiwi baking - ANZAC biscuits, peanut brownies and cookie buns

A LONG, LAZY EASTER SUNDAY LUNCH

Little cheesy herby empanadas, and a mushroom and walnut galette

Fresh rag pasta with pistachio and basil pesto, and a bit of lamb ragu. And a plum karpatka (imagine a giant, custard filled, plummy eclair, but in cake form)

Crisp pork belly chops with nectarine salsa, and a Persian love cake (an absolute fave)

A basil-y baba ganoush with heirloom tomatoes and wee focaccias, and a schiacciata for the end of summer

A salmon crudo with capers and cucumber, a lovely, fresh salmon larb with Thai basil, soy and chilli, and a great big Medovnik (layered Slavic honey cake with peaches)

Sicilian style fish with absolutely tons of basil, capers, tomatoes and such; and a lovely greengage, ricotta and almond cake

Parāoa rēwena (Māori bread), smoked fish and prosciutto rillettes, and a fun little Chinese-style cucumber salad

The last of the summer cherries: a cherry pav, and cumin-roasted salmon with cherry, red onion and mint salsa. And an Eton mess, because I burned the first pav.

Crudo, nduja, blueberries, a summer tart and a cookbook sale

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