PRUE

South African-born chef Prue Leith has become a byword for tried-and-trusted cooking excellence. In her first book in 25 years the culinary legend shares several of her all-time favourite recipes – meals she and her husband, John, love to tuck into at home.

Simple pastas, luscious ratatouilles, slow-roast lamb with anchovies, cottage pie with black pudding and, of course, bobotie! It’s all stuff real people with busy lives like to eat.

“Cooking isn’t a religion,” she told British newspaper the Daily Mail recently. “Friends are occasionally shocked that I’ll reach for the custard powder or stock cubes, frozen mash or puff pastry.”

For your next TV dinner take inspiration from her clockwork plate, where she arranges bits and pieces of leftovers from her fridge in an inviting circle on a plate to nibble through while you binge-watch series.

From cold meats to strawberries and choccies, anything goes. It’s fuss-free eating that discourages waste.

And there are no lectures from cheerful Prue (78) on clean eating or superfoods.

The dessert section is great, with inspiration for everything from cakes to creamy ice creams and superstar bananas on toast. Simply delish!