Personal Sour Cherry and Lemon Trifles

This individually plated dessert has all the elements of a trifle but it doesn't need to sit overnight before serving – perfect for a last-minute get-together. Garnish each trifle with a few strips of lemon rind.

Grilled Baked Potatoes with Green Onion Sour Cream

Baking the potatoes in the oven first ensures that the centres are fluffy and tender, while a quick turn on the grill lends a crispy finish and smoky flavour.

Sweet and Sour Ginger Pork with Garlic Greens

This healthy take on a favourite fat- and sodium-laden takeout dish gets its zing from a sauce that's richly flavoured but nutritionally sensible. Using a large skillet for the pork helps to brown quickly without steaming; it also speeds up sauce reduction and gets dinner on the table in record time.

Fish Fillets With Chinese Sweet-and-Sour Sauce

Practically any kind of firm-fleshed fish, such as tilapia, goes well with this mildly tangy, brightly flavoured sauce.

Turkey Nuggets with Sweet and Sour Cranberry Sauce

Spice-Rubbed Pork Chops With Sweet and Sour Onion

Inexpensive and available everywhere, pork chops are a great option throughout the year. The other ingredients are common pantry items and take little time to throw together for a weeknight meal.

Sweet-and-Sour Baked Chicken with Carrots

Chicken legs are sold in family-size packs, which usually cost less per kilogram than smaller packages.

Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs in Sweet and Sour Sauce

These meatballs can be doubled in size or even halved for hors d'oeuvres. Serve over steamed rice and garnish with cilantro or green onions.

Sweet and Sour Beef Stew with Prunes and Apricots

Simmering dried fruit and spices in the sauce makes the fruit plump and gives a sweet edge to this luxurious beef stew. Serve with a side of couscous for a Moroccan-style meal.

Cucumber Salad

A sweet-and-sour dressing complements this refreshingly crisp salad.