Basil pesto

Pesto is a wonderful sauce and it keeps extremely well if packed into very clean glass jars with a film of olive oil on top to keep out any air. Cap the jars tightly and your pesto can be enjoyed for months. Enjoy with pasta or spread on bruschetta.

Red capsicum & chilli jam

This spicy jam is really fun to make and is a perfect accompaniment to Asian soups and stir fries on a hot summer's night. It should keep very well in the refrigerator for at least a few weeks.

Fig salad

Depending on your climate zone, figs may be prevalent all through the summer and into autumn. They are beautiful freshly harvested and mixed with some simple ingredients for a flavoursome salad. Try this dish for lunch with a good bit of crusty bread.

Grilled stone fruit

Having a barbecue over the holiday season? You can easily follow up the main meal with this dessert, cooked under the grill. It's a simple but scrumptious dish that satisfies!

Peach chutney

Looking at assembling a cheese board? This peach chutney is a good alternative to the traditional quince paste. It's also great with cold meats and crusty bread.

Poached stone fruit with labne & honey

This is a great recipe for any stone fruit you have a glut of: peaches, plums, nectarines, apricots, or a medley. The labne is a form of yoghurt cheese that is really easy to make, but it does need a day or so to hang in the fridge before use.

Summer fruit salad

Many people overdo fruit salads with too many different ingredients that confuse the tastebuds. Keep it simple and delicious with three distinct flavours and textures.

Tomato passata

Passata is a fresh tomato purée, traditionally made when the huge harvests of summer tomatoes are just finishing up, enabling cooks to have access to that great tomato flavour throughout the colder months. Passata can be stored and used for anything from pasta sauces through to casseroles and pizza topping.

Tomato relish

A great way of using up the summer excess of tomatoes, this relish should be stored in sterilised jars in a cool, dark place. You can use it for up to a year after making, and it goes fantastically with both cold and hot meats, as well as cheeses.

Tomato, basil & mozzarella salad

Nothing signals summer more than the classic combination of tomato and basil – not only are they perfect companion plants in the garden but they are also perfect taste companions in the kitchen. Add some creamy mozzarella and this salad is the perfect summer lunch.

Watermelon, lime & ginger sorbet

This sorbet is a refreshing alternative to heavy desserts on hot summer days – perfect served alongside some fresh, chilled watermelon wedges. Note it takes a few hours to freeze so will be best prepared the morning of the day of serving.

Freeform cherry tart

If you've had your fill of eating beautiful new cherries fresh from the tree, try this warm dessert that also makes a great substitute for the traditional Christmas fruit pudding.

Summer berry pudding

Celebrate summer with this fabulous cold pudding, using all the delicious flavours that the warm weather brings forth from the garden. This pudding should be allowed to sit refrigerated overnight, so is best made the day before serving.