A hearty couscous salad that is so simple to make. Serve with Kofte style burgers (see below) or grilled Haloumi cheese and lettuce for an easy summer meal.

Ingredients:
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves 4

• 225g/8oz couscous
  
• 1 bunch fresh parsley, chopped
  
• 1 bunch fresh coriander, chopped
  
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
  
• 1 clove garlic crushed
  
• 4 sun-dried tomatoes chopped
  
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
  
• 60g/2oz raisins
  
• 4 tbsp olive oil
  
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:
Fry the chopped onion, garlic and sun dried tomatoes. Add the raisins and sautee until the onion is soft. Remove from heat and stir in the couscous while still hot. Cover the couscous with twice its volume of hot water or stock and leave to soak for 10 minutes. Mix together with the remaining ingredients and leave to stand for 15 minutes to let the flavours develop. Serve warm (can also be served at room temperature).

Kofte style burgers
Cooking time less than 10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 small onion, finely chopped
  
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  
• Zest of 1 lemon
  
• 500g minced beef or lamb
  
• 1 tbsp garam masala
  
• 1 tbsp curry paste
  
• Handful of finely chopped fresh mint,
  
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well blended. Shape the mixture into 4 burgers and chill until ready to barbecue. Barbecue or grill the burgers for 6 - 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

Non alcoholic summer cocktails

• Real Lemonade - The classic! Take three large lemons, half a cup of sugar or artificial sweetener and 1 litre (1.75 pints) water. Slice the lemons in half and squeeze into a large container. Remove any seeds. Pour into large jug together with the water, add sugar to taste mix and chill. To make fizzy lemonade add the lemon and sugar to 250ml of water and top up with 750ml of chilled sparkling or soda water.
  
  
• Lively Lemonade - The most popular non-alcoholic drink in Australia. Add juice of 1 lime and a dash of Angostura per glass of lemonade.
  
  
• Shirley Temple - The classic virgin cocktail. Add a couple of dashes of grenadine to an ice-filled highball glass, and top up with ginger ale. Squeeze a couple of lemon wedges over the top and drop in the drink. Stir and serve.
  
  
• Gentle Sea Breeze - Shake a mixture of equal measures of cranberry juice and pineapple juice, and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
  
  
• Coco Colada - Into a blender add a couple of handfuls of ice, and 2 parts of pineapple juice to 1 part of coconut milk. Blend and pour into a chilled martini glass.
  
  
• Honeymoon Cocktail - Into a shaker half filled with ice, add 100ml each of apple juice and orange juice, the juice of ½ a lime and 2 teaspoons of honey. Shake and strain into a pair of champagne flutes. Garnish with twist of orange peel and a cherry each.