Fruity flapjacks

Flapjacks make a great breakfast if you’re in a hurry, and the best thing about them is that you can put whatever fruit you like in them.

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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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Frozen fruit smoothies

Smoothies are not only deliciously tasty but they’re also the perfect way to get loads of goodness into you. They’re good at any time of the day, but I love them for breakfast.

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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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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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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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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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Fresh fruit salad with yoghurt and granola

Fruit salad is the best way to celebrate seasonal fruit so feel free to vary what I’ve used here depending on the time of year.

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Chocolate brownies

The real trick with these brownies is to make sure you don’t overcook them as you want them to be all soft and squidgy inside.

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Lemon butter biscuits

These lovely light biscuits are really easy to make and taste delicious.

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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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Sausage rolls

Once you’ve had a home-made sausage roll, you’ll never want to eat a shop-bought one again.

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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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Pizza margherita with different toppings

When it comes to topping a pizza, the only thing you need to remember is: less is more. Keep your combinations simple and don’t overload it with toppings.

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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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How to cook chops in the oven

If you're a bit unsure of your cooking skills, cooking chops in the oven is pretty much a foolproof way to ensure they're cooked through properly.

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How to cook chops in a frying pan or griddle

The nice thing about cooking chops in a frying pan or on a griddle is that you can put other ingredients in the pan with them and they’ll pick up lots of extra flavour.

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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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Baked apples

This is an absolutely classic dessert – it's so simple, and a great way to use up cooking apples.

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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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