Festive platter ideas

A big platter on the table is a great way to entertain, and makes life easy for the cook, too.

Try these fabulous ideas:

Make a bowl of guacamole and a big green salad. Serve with piles of chopped tomatoes, a bowl of chilli beans, leftover cooked chicken, ham or beef, a stack of warmed tortillas, sauces and sour cream.

Fire up the barbecue and cook a selection of sausages and some sliced red onions. Pile them on a platter with pita bread, mesclun salad and tomato and chilli sauces.

Cook up a big pot of new potatoes and drain. Stir through light mayonnaise, baby spinach, green beans, peas, sliced ham, mint and mustard. Serve on a platter as a one-bowl meal.

Buy a whole fish (or catch one!) Fill the cavity with ginger, lemongrass and lemon slices, and wrap in tin foil. Cook on the barbecue for 20 minutes or until just steamed through. Serve with green veges and rice, and a sauce made from fish sauce, lime juice, sugar and chilli.

Cook a pot of spaghetti. At the same time, steam some mussels and cockles with a little white wine, chopped fresh tomatoes and garlic. Toss it all together, add lots of fresh parsley and black pepper. Pile on to a platter.