In today's Bite: Eat yourself happy

Kathy Paterson is passing around fish cakes with spicy cucumber salad, little witlof boats with peking duck and mango, homemade cheddar biscuits and olive flat bread. Photo / Bite magazine

I'm not sure which I like more, the thought of parties or today's healthy habit - eating yourself happy. We are not talking about eating for pleasure here - that state the kids were in after last week's Halloween haul. More eating to encourage the production of serotonin and with dishes such as this one-pan chicken and kumara bake, chargrilled sardines and salsa, roasted beetroot with kombucha vinaigrette and savoury stuffed baked potatoes, it's happiness just reading about it.

Try these delicious recipes in Bite this week. Photos / Bite magazine

Back at the party, Kathy Paterson is passing around fish cakes with spicy cucumber salad, little witlof boats with peking duck and mango, homemade cheddar biscuits and olive flat bread - don't be put off making your own bread, this one's a dream to make. To drink, something I am rather partial to - the Aperol spritz. A lucky few got to party with Peter Gordon in Niue recently, where they savoured the local food scene.

Chargrilled sardines and salsa and Peter Gordon in Niue. Photos / Bite magazine

On a more sobering note, Allyson Gofton is back from France and joins us from her home in Auckland, where she is not happy about a few of our bad habits. What's on your mind is what is on Louise Thompson's mind this week and our Monday night dinner is a green bean salad and herb salad that you can serve with a nice piece of fresh fish.

One-pan chicken and kumara bake. Photo / Bite magazine