Garlic and rosemary focaccia

Focaccia is my favourite type of Italian bread. I's not too hard to make and you can take it in loads of different directions by changing the toppings. I've gone for good old garlic and rosemary here but you could try combos like cherry tomatoes and basil or three cheese. Just keep it light and you'll be onto a winner.

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Jacket potato with prawns and Marie Rose sauce

There is nothing better when you’re hungry than a hot, steaming, fluffy jacket potato. Even simply served with a knob of butter or a drizzle of olive oil, it is one of the most comforting things to eat.

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Meatballs and pasta

Meatballs are fantastic! They're perfect like this, with a one-minute homemade tomato sauce and spaghetti, but you could also try them with rice, mashed potatoes, polenta or simple chunks of fresh crusty bread.

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Good old chilli con carne

I think chickpeas are perfect in this dish, but butter beans or even cubed potatoes will work well in their place. Feel free to pep up this dish with more chilli depending on your taste.

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Bolognese sauce with pasta

The classic pastas to serve this with are spaghetti, tagliatelle and penne, but this sauce can also be used for many other things, like filling cannelloni or layering up a lasagne.

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Vegetable jalfrezi

The great thing about this curry is the slightly sweet and sour flavour from the peppers.

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Vegetarian chilli

This is a lovely alternative to traditional chilli con carne. It's packed with good stuff so is a great choice for veggies and meat eaters alike.

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Lamb stew

This is a good recipe for a basic stew. You’re going to love it because it's so simple and gives consistently good results.

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Fluffy rice

Here’s a basic recipe for getting perfect rice every time – you’ll be amazed at the light and fluffy results.

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Baked white fish with olives and a simple tomato sauce

I’m a great believer in a simple tomato sauce. The recipe I’ve given you here can be used with all sorts of dishes.

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Stewed fruit

The really important thing to remember when you are stewing fruit is that it’s best to decide for yourself how much sugar to add.

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Basic jam jar dressing

I like to make my dressings in jam jars because it’s so easy to see what’s going on – you can shake them up easily and any leftovers can be kept in the jars in the fridge.

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The perfect simple omelette

Omelettes are tasty and super-quick to knock together. A simple omelette is delicious and brilliant for breakfast, lunch, or even a quick and light supper.

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Banana and blueberry French toast

I like to think of this as a posh eggy bread sandwich. It’s a bit of a treat so don’t have one every day, but now and then won’t do you any harm.

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Porridge and toppings

Once you’ve made a batch of your basic porridge, you can take it whichever way you like by adding different ingredients.

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Superb squash soup with parmesan croutons

This fantastic soup is best made with varieties of squash that have dense, orange flesh, such as butternut or onion squash.

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Basic pizza dough

Pizza is probably one of the most famous dishes in the whole world. This is a really simple method for making your own pizza dough.

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Basic bread

You can’t beat the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the kitchen! Baking your own loaf is such a rewarding, therapeutic, tactile thing and you'll be so proud of yourself once you've cracked it.

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Lasagne

The secret to a meaty lasagne lies in the Bolognese sauce – get that right and you'll be laughing. This dish is a bit of a treat, so don't eat it too often and make sure you serve it with a lovely big green salad.

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Butternut squash and sweet leek lasagne

Butternut squash and leeks make a lovely veggie filling for lasagne, and to be honest, this one is so delicious meat eaters will love it too.

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Baked French potatoes

This is my take on a classic French recipe. It's a great dish; once it’s assembled you just leave it in the oven while you get on with other jobs.

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Shepherd's pie

Shepherd’s pie is a classic British dish which pretty much everyone I’ve ever met has their own way of making. This is my way which I’ve kept really simple and I reckon you can’t go wrong with it.

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Lamb stew with lovely dumplings

Dumplings are one of those things that should be on everyone’s radar come winter time. They’re so comforting and really easy to make – give them a try.

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Perfect roast chicken

Roast chicken is one of those classic things that everyone loves, but not everyone has the confidence to cook. Once you’ve learnt how to check your chicken is properly cooked and tasted how delicious a home-cooked bird is, hopefully this will be a recipe you’ll use for life.

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Apple pie

Obviously apple pie is one of the all-time classic desserts. The best apple pies I've ever made are from apples bought at farmers' markets where you can pick up lots of different varieties.

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Good old bread and butter pudding

Bread and butter pudding is one of those old English recipes that everyone loves. The addition of marmalade brushed over the bread makes it fantastically crisp, with a zingy orangey bitterness that just makes the whole thing superb. Try not to overcook it because you want to have the soft insides contrasting with the crispiness on top.

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Classic Victoria sponge with all the trimmings

This is a classic cake recipe that is perfect for birthdays, special occasions or simply for afternoon tea.

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Tea-party fairy cakes

These fairy cakes are made using a simple sponge recipe, but then you can take the basic cakes in so many different ways by making a variety of icings and toppings.

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Butternut cupcakes with a frosty top

You might think I’m mad using butternut squash to make cakes, but it’s really just like using carrots as the two vegetables are very similar – I've simply swapped carrots for squash. The skin of a butternut squash goes deliciously chewy and soft when cooked, so there's no need to peel it off. Give these cakes a go – they're a perfect naughty-but-nice treat.

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Vegetable stir-fry

Stir-frying veg like this is a great way to keep in maximum nutrients, as well as keeping a lovely bit of crunch.

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