effortless! Menu for six

Make-ahead recipes that can be easily doubled area stress-free way to entertain these can all be enjoyed as finger food, too, if that’s how you'd like to serve them

What is effortless?

Easy on the eye and simple to make, thanks to shop-bought ingredients and no fiddly techniques. These recipes can be made ahead or require 30 minutes or fewer of prep - they're go-to ideas for entertaining special guests.

Devilled eggs by another name -there are three different toppings here but the possibilities are endless

Dressed eggs
MAKES 18 HALVES (3 EACH) PREP 30 MINS | COOK 10 MINS EASY

Bring a pan of water to a simmer, carefully lower in 9 room-temperature eggs and simmer for 10 mins, then transfer to a bowl of ice-cold water to quickly cool. Peel the eggs, then halve them. Scoop the yolks out into a bowl. Mash with 4 tbsp of mayonnaise, 2 tbsp of full-fat greek yogurt, 1 tsp of dijon mustard and some seasoning until you have a smooth paste. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a plain or fluted nozzle. Tip some seaweed or nori flakes onto a small plate, sea salt flakes and urfa chilli flakes onto another, and finely chopped chives onto a third. Press a third of the egg halves into each mixture, cut-side down, then pipe the yolk mixture into the holes to fill them. Decorate the tops with nori flakes, sesame seeds and spring onion curls; urfa chilli flakes, coriander leaves and chopped toasted almonds; or chives, fish roe and radish slices.