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• What is boiling? what is simmering?

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  Porridge

  Porridge is an absolute classic British breakfast. There are loads of things besides milk and sugar you can add to porridge before serving to make it extra tasty, but here’s the basic method for making porridge to get you started.

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  Tomato soup

  Home-made tomato soup is a classic and you'll be surprised at the difference between your version and the tinned stuff.

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  Leek and potato soup

  Leek and potato is one of those classic soup combos. It’s the perfect thing to tuck into on colder days as it’s really hearty and comforting.

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  Spring vegetable and bean soup

  This is a lovely soup – very simple and traditional. It’s sort of like minestrone which you see sold pretty much all over the place.

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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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  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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  Vegetarian shepherd's pie with Cheddar and lentils

  Lentils are a great alternative to mince when making a shepherd’s pie. A little bit of cheese bumps up your protein intake and also adds a great bit of extra flavour.

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  Italian spaghetti with prawns

  There’s something about the combination of tomatoes, prawns and spaghetti that just works.

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  A consistently good gravy

  A killer gravy is an essential part of any roast dinner. To ensure a heavenly gravy every time you need two things: a vegetable trivet, the layer of vegetables in the bottom of your roasting tray; and the juices from a roasted piece of good-quality meat.

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  Bread sauce

  Bread sauce is a quirky, old-fashioned accompaniment to a roast dinner. The comforting, thick creaminess compliments a roast chicken beautifully.

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  Stewed fruit crumble

  Stewed fruit is the perfect base for a lovely home-made crumble. The crumble topping takes just minutes to prepare, then you let the whole thing bubble away in the oven until the top is all crunchy and delicious.

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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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