Sweet and sour shrimp

This is a fresher, lighter version of the Chinese/Japanese take-out standard, with a fragrant sauce spiked with chili, garlic, and ginger.

Mushroom soup, on a Budget

Using a selection of both wild and cultivated mushrooms will produce a soup that is bursting with flavor.

Grilled mushrooms with croutons, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese

A great outdoorsy salad perfect for barbecues.

Preparation time: 15 Mins,, Cooking time: 30 Mins..

Serves 4 persons,,

Marsala chicken with pine nuts and golden raisins

The golden raisins give a surprising twist to this popular dish.

Tomato, Red Onion, and Mozzarella Salad

A delightfully light salad with crunchy onions and tomatoes that is quick to put together. It’s well worth investing in a good-quality balsamic vinegar, one that is deliciously sweet and thick, and a good-quality fruity extra virgin olive oil.

.. Serves 4 persons, preparation time about 10 mins, no cooking.

Chinese Kitchen: Edible Jellyfish with Cucumber

Do not be put off by the initial rubbery appearance of the jellyfish, which is sold in sheets, folded and packed into plastic bags with large grains of salt in between the folds. When properly prepared, edible jellyfish gives good pleasure to those who enjoy food as much for texture as for taste. This is certainly why the Chinese like it.

Chinese Kitchen: Crisp Stir-fried Shrimp

Texture is the essence of this dish. The quickly cooked shrimp should be crisp yet tender, and the longer they are marinated in the refrigerator - up to 3 days - the better their texture becomes. The delicate color of the shrimp needs no garnish.

Chinese Kitchen: Spiced-salt Spareribs

You can also use boneless shoulder or chops to make this dish. You will find the result just as deliciously satisfying and tasty.

Chinese Kitchen: Shredded Chicken with Tientsin Fen Pi

This pleasant Northern dish is served cold with a slightly tangy sauce, and because it can be prepared completely in advance it is very handy for entertaining. The fen pi, literally meaning the skin of flour, must not be soggy if the dish is to be successful.

Mediterranean Sardine Salad

Serves: 4 Persons, Preparation time: 15 mins, No Cook, Super Healthy - Heart healthy, Good source of omega-3 and calcium.

• 90g bag salad leaves.
• Handful black olives, roughly chopped.
• 1 tbsp capers, drained.
• 2 x 120g cans sardines in tomato sauce, drained and sauce reserved.
• 1 tbsp olive oil.
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar.

Pitta Pizzas

Serves: 4 Persons, Preparation time: 20 mins, Cook time: 25 mins.

• 4 large pitta breads.
• 4 tbsp tomato purée.
• 2 tsp mixed herbs.
• 2 tomatoes, sliced.
• 6 slices salami, torn into small pieces.
• 50g/2oz cheddar, grated.

Pumpkin Falafel Pockets

Serves: 4 Persons, Preparation time: 20 mins plus chilling, Cook time: 30 mins, 97 p per serving

• 1kg/2lb 40z pumpkin or butternut squash. deseeded and cut Into wedges.
• 400g can chickpeas, drained, rinsed and dried.
• 1 garlic clove, chopped Y2 tsp chilli flakes.
• 1 tsp ground cumin.
• Small bunch parsley, roughly chopped.
• 2 slices white bread, whizzed to crumbs.

Persian Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses

Serves: 6 Persons, Preparation time: 15 mins, Cook time: 3.5 - 4 hrs.

Living in Kent. on the outskirts of London, i'm fortunate to have supermarkets nearby that provide practically any ingredient I'm searching for - but they recently failed me.