Recipes

Ruth Pretty’s beef wellington plus Helen’s top tips.

How to glaze a ham for your next party plus some catering notes.

Helen’s chicken pie - a great prep ahead meal.

Great Gran’s lamb fry recipe as sent to Andrea at university in 1992.

Delicous remoulade sauce and orzo salad to make any BBQ.

Our favourite crispy pizza base.

Delicous, but not very authentic butter chicken.

Annabel Langbein’s meringue recipe as recommended by Helen.

Helen’s famous apple pie as loved by Max Jacobson.

Helen’s always popular dark chocolate mousse.

Last weekend I hosted a pre-ball gathering at home for around 70 guests — including 31 very excited teenagers heading off to their school ball. It ran from 5 to 7pm and was a relaxed, early-evening event with bubbles, wine, and a steady flow of bite-sized canapés.

In this post, I’m sharing exactly what I served, how much I made, and all the little things I learned along the way — from prep timing to what worked best for serving and pacing. If you're planning a pre-ball, party, or any event with a crowd to feed, these recipes and tips should make things a whole lot easier.

French onion soup from Helen.

Helen’s world famous in NZ whitebait fritter recipe.

Helen, aka the “Meringue-a-tan,” makes meringues constantly — for gifts, guests, and hospice — and this much-loved recipe is shared by popular demand.

Sue Mist’s delicous ginger shortbread.

The delicious biscuits gifted to us in a crisis by Stephen and Ross, Melanie’s neighbours.

Giant afghans as request by Adam (pictured in his afghan eating prime).

Lemon honey to answer our SOS on excess lemons. Also good to use up the yolks from meringue making.

We had an SOS for some lemon recipes. Here is one from Aunty Marian.

Make your weekend or lockdown better with these delicous cheese puffs.

Soft chocolate chip cookies similar to the Mrs Higgins ones.

Homemade lemonade to quench the thirst of unlucky passersby.