Nothing gets a soiree started like refreshing tipples and a fun, flavour-packed starter. As easy as it is to pick up crackers and dip from the supermarket, making your own will win you ultimate hosting points. Opt for a platter with minimum fuss and maximum wow-factor, like these white bean crostini with salsa verde. Cooking the beans with garlic, onion and stock intensifies flavours in less than 10 minutes, leaving you plenty of time for a drink, too. Then, it’s a matter of roughly mashing it up with a fork, serving with bread and salsa verde, and letting your guests enjoy.

Risotto doesn’t have to be stodgy winter fare. If you’re looking to cut down on your meat intake, give this caprese salad-inspired version a go. It’s the ultimate ‘pantry dish’, made with canned tomatoes, while the Campbell’s Chicken Stock gives it depth and helps the rice soften. Finally, finish with fresh burrata and scattered oregano or basil leaves –guaranteed to become a crowd pleaser.

Are those summer dinners out and long lunches leaving a black hole in the old bank account? Fish cakes make a tasty express meal on a shoestring budget. The best part is how well they keep – simply warm up in the microwave and then crisp-up on the sandwich press the next day, and serve with a side salad and whatever pickles you have on hand. Bulk it up by serving as a burger with tartare sauce and lettuce. To make the cakes, boil potatoes in stock for added flavour, then mash with canned salmon. Then, roll into fresh breadcrumbs and lightly fry until golden.

Feeding a crowd? If you’re looking for inspiration, look to the Mediterranean. Paella is a tasty example of using the season’s bounty and will easily please the masses. While seafood is often the protein of choice in this Spanish classic, this bacon-and-egg spin-off is a more cost-effective version, with flavour in spades, and makes a seriously good breakfast the following day. Choosing a good Spanish calasparra or bomba rice will give the best results, especially when teamed with saffron, paprika and Campbell’s Real Chicken Stock. The spiced stock helps to coat the rice and ensure maximum flavour. It’s also important to use a paella dish (if you can find one) to help maximise the distribution and depth of flavour. Lucky are those who score those crisp, toasted, flavour-packed grains that stick to the bottom of the pan!