In today's Bite: Sunset soul food

Sunset-coloured food is good for the soul, like this mango and cardamom smoothie bowl. Photo / Bite

From the pinks, reds and oranges of the salmon with farfalle and orange and tomato sauce, through the burnt orange of the scallop, bacon and green bean salad entree of Ray McVinnie's three-course spring menu, to Megan May's golden yellow mango and cardamom smoothie bowl, Bite is all aglow with meals that are as good for the soul as a decent sunset is.

Eat the rainbow with this salmon and pasta salad or this scallop and green bean salad. Photo / Bite

Louise Thompson, who is always good for the soul, is on her soap box this week, with good reason. She wants us to be better at supporting those who look like they don't need support but actually do. She wants us to look up and listen to those around us.

Ray McVinnie has ten ways with asparagus and this puffed rice salad is in Bite this week. Photos / Bite

Asparagus is good for my soul and Ray McVinnie has 10 ways to enjoy this spring treat. Try fresh asparagus rolls for starters, made with slightly crisp steamed cold asparagus spears, rolled in buttered brown bread lined with paper-thin slices of prosciutto.

A brown sugar, orange and hazelnut syrup cake served with an orange and strawberry salad. Photo / Bite

I wouldn't consider rice bubbles soul food but Peter Gordon is sharing his new-found respect for cereal in answer to a query on the puffed rice salad recipe that featured in our latest batch of winning reader recipes.

But first, let's bake - a brown sugar, orange and hazelnut syrup cake to serve with an orange and strawberry salad. You could serve it as part of Ray's aforementioned dinner party or just because it's that sort of week.