Recipes

It may sound strange - and downright disgusting - but wellness experts are singing the praises of this buttery beverage.

Make this lovely, warm salad in late spring with the new season's asparagus. The lightly steamed, bright green spears are topped with poached quail eggs, then finished with parmesan shavings and a crisp salad. Accompany with slices of baguette for an easy lunch.

This traditional Scottish dessert is quick and easy to put together, and the nutritious combination of cream, fromage frais, oats and fresh fruit makes a superb sweet course for a special occasion meal. The whisky not only adds a taste of Scotland, but gives a fantastic kick to the flavour.

Rich in flavour and wonderfully creamy in texture, this satisfying rice pudding is a modern version of a popular old favourite. It's flavoured with tangy orange zest and sultanas, and paired with a cinnamon–spiced fresh apricot compote.

With a selection of Italian–style antipasto vegetables in your refrigerator, interesting light meals and snacks can be prepared in minutes, such as these tasty toasts topped with capsicum and ricotta. A salad is all that's needed to make a sustaining lunch.

A hearty vegetarian dish packed with flavour, this is ideal for a family meal or casual entertaining. A selection of vegetables – butternut pumpkin, asparagus and leeks – is roasted in garlicky olive oil, then tossed with chunky pasta shapes and a cheesy sauce.

The ingredients of this fresh and vibrant salad, with contrasting colours, textures and flavours, are perfectly complemented by the subtle walnut oil dressing. The walnut flavour is enhanced by adding lightly toasted walnut pieces to the salad.

Here's a great new way to scramble eggs – cooked in a double saucepan or in a bowl over simmering water, without any butter, then mixed with crème fraîche for a creamy result. With strips of smoked salmon and fresh dill, this is the ultimate luxury brunch dish.

Flakes of smoked trout, cream cheese and fresh dill combine to make a well–flavoured filling for this light spinach roll. It is much simpler to make than it looks – just make sure that the spinach is squeezed really dry before adding to the sauce base.

The hollows in hard–boiled egg halves make perfect containers for a tasty filling – here carrot and chive – and the eggs look attractive served on a bed of ribbon vegetables and lamb's lettuce. All you need is some bread to make a satisfying lunch.

For these delectable chilli–flavoured omelettes, the eggs are whisked with cornflour to give them a slightly firmer texture, suitable for folding round a colourful and tasty filling of stir–fried vegetables and rice noodles.

Couscous is extremely versatile and can be used for both savoury dishes and for sweet ones, such as this quickly made, delicious hot cereal. The couscous is mixed with dried fruit and soaked briefly in hot milk, then topped with fresh fruit, to create something a little different to start the day.

For this savoury version of a classic French batter pudding, sweet cherry tomatoes are baked in a light, fluffy batter flavoured with grated pecorino cheese. Make individual clafoutis, or one large one, and serve for a simple lunch or dinner with bread or boiled new potatoes and green beans.

Many versions of this creamy eggplant dip are to be found around the Mediterranean. This one is thickened with ground almonds, which add both texture and protein. Served with pita bread and crunchy vegetable crudités, the dip makes a delicious snack or starter.

Crisp, crunchy waffles, so popular in France, Belgium and North America, are a lovely treat for breakfast or brunch. To make these, you will need a waffle iron that can be used on the stove or an electric waffle maker.