Like parents, cooks shouldn't have favourites, but some recipes inevitably shine more than others.

There's nothing more marvelously wintery than orange root veg mash; some butter is all it needs.

My father always cooks more polenta than he needs for a meal. The excess he spreads on an oiled surface and chills. Next day, he cuts out chunks, fries them in olive oil and serves with salad.

Yogurt sauce, as you may have noticed by now, is a regular presence in my recipes - that's because it has the ability to round up so many flavours and textures like no other component does.

A quick shallow fry is a great way to transform leftovers, and no more so than in the case of risotto.

On many occasions, an informal buffet and casual seating offer a little more intimacy than a loud gathering around a big table.