Ideas From The Pantry

When time isn't on your side, turn these simple ideas into something special with clever shortcuts form your local supermarket. Impress your family and friends with tea and scones, an easy chocolate celebration cake, a cool after-school treat for the kids and a deliciously simple main-course salad.

Lipton Tea And Scones: Preheat oven to moderately hot (200°C/180°C fan forced). Sift 3 ½ cups of self-raising flour, 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the center, and then pour in combined 1 ½ cup of milk and ¾ cup cream, mixing quickly with a butter knife to form a soft, sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a floured bench and, using your hand, press out evenly to 3cm thickness. Cut dough into 5cm rounds and place close together on a greased oven try. Bake for about 13 minutes or until browned lightly. Serve with a large pot of Lipton Quality Tea, jam and thick cream.

Mustard And Honey Smoked Chicken Salad: Peel and slice 700g butternut pumpkin and fry in a little olive oil until browned and tender. Meanwhile, cook 400g fettuccine following packet instructions. Combine the cooled fettuccine, pumpkin, 400g shredded smoked chicken, ½ cup crumbled marinated fetta, 4 sliced green onions and 2 cups loosely packed torn basil leaves. Drizzle liberally with Kraft Sensation French Mustard & Honey dressing and freshly ground pepper.

Chocolate Sultana Cake: Preheat the oven to moderate (180°C/160°C fan forced). Grease and line the base of a 20cm round cake pan. Beat 130g of soft butter, ½ cup caster sugar and 2 teaspoon vanilla essence in a small bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add three eggs and beat until just combined. Fold in 1 ½ cup self-raising flour and ¼ cup sifted cocoa, then 120ml of milk. Fold in ¼ cup sultanas, and then spread mixture into prepared pan. Bake for about 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Split cake in half and spread with ¼ cup warmed plum jam. Roll about 550g packet of Orchard ready-made Chocolate Icing according to packet instructions. Cover cake with icing, trim excess and decorate with cutout icing shapes. Serve dusted with cocoa.

Fruity Icy Pops: Place one tablespoon of diced fresh mango or peach into the base of ice-block moulds (85ml capacity). Top up with orange or passion fruit flavoured P&N Beverages Diet Rite drink until three-quarters full, allowing for expansion when frozen. Freeze for at least 3 hours or until frozen.