In a bid to fight an oncoming cold, I was searching for some kind of comfort food to fill me with energy and cleanse me from the inside out… Don’t worry, I haven’t gone all ‘Zen’ on you, but sometimes greasy, chunky, starchy comfort food just doesn’t cut it and you crave something fresh, light and heart-warming.

We tend to think that the French and Italians have the lead when it comes to tarts and pies made with tomatoes and onions. But think again: those ultra-health conscious Finns have a food culture all of their own and here is a simple and very versatile Finnish recipe from the Fruisana Kitchen.

Warburtons is toasting a decade of National Bread Week, which is kicking off from 3^rd May to 9^th May 2010. This year is all about celebrating the joys of bread and one of our great British traditions – picnics! Whether you’re having an intimate picnic for two, a family gathering with the kids or an al fresco party, Warburtons has some delicious, healthy sandwich recipes for any picnicking occasion. So pack up your hamper, shake out the blanket and head out to the great outdoors…

Our Cornish correspondent nibbles away at this new local (to him) cheese and likes it while the makers sling us over two rather tempting recipes to make the most of it

If you fancy cooking up a different, yet very tasty type of baked apple why not try your hand at the following recipe?

Do you still have snow? Is the sap running? Have you seen mergansers on the river? These familiar questions are heard at the post office, the Creamery, the market, and at community dinners in the early spring. Rhubarb is rising and it’s time to cook.

Things are really ‘heating up’ this summer as two of the UK’s finest chefs – Ainsley Harriott and Simon Rimmer – have each devised a recipe for us to try and interestingly both have a warm thing in common – Tabasco

There were ten guests at my most recent hors d’oeuvres party. Charles served wine, sparkling water and fruit spritzers. I served olives, roasted peppers and artichokes from the market, and a cheese platter. I made three hors d’oeuvres as well. Here’s how I did it:

As the weather warms up, rosemary, the wonderful aromatic herb is at its best. So now is the time to chop up a few sprigs and stir into your favourite dishes. Its fresh bittersweet flavour and distinctive woody frangrance make it perfect for giving poultry that extra zing.