This time, Nigella cooks for surprise guests using storecupboard items. She whips up a brandied bacon chicken on a bed of green leaves with golden vinaigrette followed by sumptuous standby chocolate and pear pudding. Then sure to impress the most unexpected house guests there's one-stop shop lamb, mint and redcurrant salad. Plus baked sausage with halloumi cheese and chocolate peanut butter sundaes for dessert.

Featuring delicious recipes to squeeze into any time frame, from 10-minute flash-fried steak with cannellini mash, to a 30-minute three-course feast that includes juicy prawns and spicy dipping sauce, succulent scallops and chorizo with a side of chickpeas, cumin and sherry, and a decadent cheats' chocolate mousse.