12 ways to use berries

Berries are high in antioxidants, vitamin C and fibre. Eating a diet rich in berries may also help reduce your risk of several types of cancer. Try these simple ways to incorporate more berries into your diet...

1. For a simple summer treat, remove stems and leaves from strawberries and slice them in half. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with caster sugar. Berries are more flavoursome at room temperature, so take your prepared berries out of the fridge before the main meal. By dessert, they will have made their own sweet sauce with the sugar.

2. Cook blueberries in a pan on a low heat with a scatter of sugar until their skins begin to split. Serve warm, spooned over freshly sliced peaches and yoghurt.

3. Strawberries and whipped cream are a heavenly combination – especially served with a broken meringue. Or scatter mixed berries over pavlova for a similar sensation.

4. Blend raspberries, white peaches, orange juice and crushed ice, and serve in a tall, frosty glass for the perfect summer afternoon drink.

5. Make individual summer crumbles with mixed berries and a topping of 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup plain flour and 1/2 cup desiccated coconut. Rub 3 tbsp butter through the dry ingredients and pop on top of the fruit. Just five minutes prep and 25 mins baking time will produce a piping hot, juicy centre that oozes up through a crispy crust.

6. Put quartered strawberries in a bowl with a dash of balsamic vinegar. Gently stir the vinegar through, then spoon the result over mascarpone drizzled with honey.