Certain cooks (and I would count myself among them) have a reality gap about dinner parties – especially those organised to try to impress people.

In my dream world, I throw glamorous events at the drop of a hat. Simple, elegant dishes appear effortlessly from my designer kitchen and the evening purrs along like a Ferrari on a summer’s day. The reality, however, is very different. A few days before the big dinner, I realise I haven’t planned the menu and, worse still, my job isn’t going to allow me enough time to shop, cook and tidy, never mind arrange flowers and put on make-up. A sense of panic usually ensues.

For all you like-minded cooks who lack the time, here are a few ideas for an instant dinner party, with all the recipes based on good-quality supermarket ingredients that can be bought in your lunch hour.

TOP TRICKS

— Serve warm, freshly toasted cashews with drinks. Simply shake some plain cashews with a little sunflower oil in a frying pan over a low heat until golden, then season with sea salt.

— Mention bubbly and people feel spoilt, so make a champagne butter by boiling 150ml with a handful of finely chopped shallots in a small pan until it reduces to a scant tablespoon of liquid. Once cold, beat into 50g softened butter with herbs and serve on grilled fish or meat.

— Always think about the colour of your food and how you can create a more dramatic effect with colour combinations – there is nothing more depressing than a beige meal.

— White plates are perfect for showing off simply prepared food, such as sliced mozzarella with an artful drizzle of olive oil or a few pretty salad leaves.

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