"I hate diets," says Aussie food stylist and bestselling author Donna Hay.

"It's that taste", as well as "that look", adds the mum-of-two, who regularly appears as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia and previously starred in her own series, Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple.

"I just don't like all rules and all the fuss that goes with diets. And all the missing out and all the bland-tasting food. Life is too short."

With this in mind, Donna's new cookbook, Fresh And Light, focuses on flavoursome but wholesome food designed to appeal to everybody, including those who are health-conscious or watching their weight.

"I call it my Monday to Thursday book, for when you want to fuel your body for a busy week and want to feel good about the things you eat," she says.

Donna regularly dishes up her own tasty creations to family and friends who come round for Sunday lunch, especially those who comply to a certain level of etiquette... "I have really great friends who love me cooking for them and always do the washing up," she says, laughing.

"I always think the best guests do the washing up. They're the dream guests that bring a nice bottle of wine and stack the dishwasher; and always get invited back!"

Washing up aside, they key ingredients to a good afternoon with friends is tasty, simple grub and lovely company, Donna notes.

Fancy whipping up a light summer supper to share with your friends? Here's a tantalising dessert from Fresh And Light that will look great on any menu.

MIXED BERRY COBBLER

(Serves 6-8)

750g frozen mixed berries

3 apples, peeled, cored and chopped

11/2tbsp cornflour

75g caster sugar

For the golden buttermilk topping:

75g self-raising wholemeal flour

75g self-raising flour

1tsp baking powder

30g rolled oats

1tsp ground cinnamon

30g ground almonds

110g granulated sugar

60g unsalted butter, chopped

250ml buttermilk

Extra raw sugar, for sprinkling

Here's how you do it

Preheat oven to 180C. Place the berries, apple, cornflour and sugar in a bowl and toss to combine. Place in a 2.5L-capacity ovenproof dish.

To make the golden buttermilk topping, place the flours, baking powder, oats, cinnamon, almond meal and sugar in a bowl. Add the butter and rub with your fingertips to combine. Add the buttermilk and mix until combined.

Spoon the cobbler mixture in large spoonfuls over the fruit. Sprinkle with the extra sugar. Bake for one hour and 20 minutes or until the cobbler is puffed, golden and cooked through when tested with a skewer.

Fresh And Light by Donna Hay is published in paperback by Hardie Grant Books, priced £18.99. Available now