Dessert

  • Serves: 4

    • Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Chop the pears into small pieces and put in a pan with the lemon juice and sugar. Bring to the boil, then cover and cook for 10 mins. Uncover, then cook for 8-10 mins more until the juices thicken up. Spoon into 4 x 150ml ramekins and add a teaspoon of liqueur to each, if using.

    • For the topping, sift the icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl, then stir in the almonds. Whisk the egg white until stiff, then fold into the dry ingredients. Spoon over the pears and shake the ramekins to level the mixture. Bake for 20-25 mins until the topping is firm to the touch. Serve warm or cold.

  • Serves: 10

  • For the icing

    • Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4/fan oven 160C. Butter and line the base of a shallow oblong tin (about 18x28cm/7x11in) with baking parchment. Tip all the cake ingredients into a large mixing bowl and beat for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture drops easily off the spoon.

    • Spoon the mixture into the tin and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch. Meanwhile, make the icing: beat together the lemon juice and sugar, pour the mixture evenly over the cake while it is still hot, then leave to cool.

    • Cut the cake into 10 squares. Top each one with a crystallised violet and mimosa ball.

  • Serves: 4

    • Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t directly touch the water. Once melted, allow it to cool for 5-10 mins, then stir in the yogurt.

    • Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then whisk in the sugar and beat until stiff again. Fold the whites into the chocolate mix – loosen the mixture first with a spoonful of egg white, then carefully fold in the rest, keeping as much air as possible.

    • Put berries into small glasses or ramekins, then divide mousse on top. Chill in the fridge until set.

  • Serves: 4

    • 5 sweet eating apples (about 600g), such as Gala or Fuji, peeled, cored and chopped

    • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

    • 50g raisins

    • 150g fat-free Greek or non-dairy yogurt, to serve

    • 4 tsp maple syrup (optional)

    • STEP 1 Put the apples in a saucepan with the cinnamon, raisins and 2 tbsp water. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 10-15 mins until the apples are very soft.

    • STEP 2 Spoon the stewed apples into bowls, and serve with a dollop of the yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup, if you like. Will keep chilled in an airtight container for up to three days.