Whether you grill (broil) inside the oven, on a ridged griddle pan or over an open fire, this is an excellent cooking method. Grilled food looks good, with an all-over tan or the attractive stripes that mark the means of its cooking. There’s often a contrast in textures, the outside gaining a crisp crust beneath which the food is beautifully tender. Finally – and perhaps most importantly – grilled food is healthy, as only a minimum amount of oil is used in the process.

Whether you’re cooking for the family, or having friends around for a casual supper, nothing beats a bowl of steaming soup on a chilly day. Soup spells comfort as well as flavour, and when the soup is a substantial one, such as Ribollita or Clam Chowder, there’s no need for elaborate accompaniments. A little freshly grated Parmesan, if appropriate, some warm bread rolls, the salt cellar and pepper mill – and the meal is served. For a more sophisticated occasion, serve Seafood Laksa or Bouillabaisse. The preparation may take a little longer, but the ease of serving will be just the same.

Some of the simplest dishes are those that sizzle on top of the stove, leaving the oven free for a baked potato accompaniment, or a got dessert. With wok or frying pan at the ready, sample such delights as Hake au Poivre with Red Pepper Relish or Chicken with Tarragon Cream. Pan-fried dishes include fritters and fish cakes of various kinds, including the irresistible Sweet Potato, Pumpkin and Prawn Cakes. On night when meat is on the menu, plump for Lamb Burgers with Red Onion and Tomato Relish or a spicy stir-fry.

For sheer all-round popularity, pasta dishes top the bill. Pasta cooks quickly and looks as good as it tastes. It is easy to digest and gives slow-release energy, so is ideal for older as well as younger guests. This chapter includes dishes suitable for vegetarians and vegans, as well as classics such as Clams with Neapolitan Tomato Sauce, which features vermicelli. Asian noodles are well represented, too. For a special treat, try Thai Crispy Noodles with Beef, or, for a softer option, treat your tastebuds to Pumpkin Gnocchi with Chanterelle Parsley Cream.

If you are the sort of person who finds cooking relaxing and loves chatting to friends while preparing a meal, rustle up a risotto. You need to stand at the stove and stir for twenty minutes just before serving, but the action is both soothing and satisfying, and the results are inevitably delicious. Chicken and Prawn Jambalaya is another wonderful dish for entertaining. Like Seafood Paella, it is full of flavor and the combination of ingredients means that every mouthful brings a taste of the delightfully unexpected.

Although far fewer families sit down to a regular roast dinner every weekend, the fact remains that this is one of the easiest ways of cooking a well-balanced meal – and one of the most delicious. The important thing to remember is that taste really does tell, so it is worth buying the best meat, game, poultry, and fish you can afford. Cultivate a good butcher and fish supplier or buy from a recommended source specializing in free-range, additive-free or organic meat or fish. Regard dishes such as Marmalade-Glazed Goose or Stuffed Loin of Pork as special treats and you’ll enjoy them all the more..

After the fast-food revolution, slow food is enjoying a renaissance as more and more people take time to make – and enjoy – delectable stews and casseroles. It’s almost mystical, the way disparate ingredients are transformed by slow cooking into a dish in which all the different flavors blend to create a harmonious whole. Provencal Beef and Olive Daube and Lamb and New Potato Curry are fine examples of the genre, but there are also many other dishes that cook more quickly.

It is remarkable how many main meals can be cooked entirely on top of the stove, from Classic Fish and Chips to steamed specialities like Sea Bass with Orange Chilli Salsa. This is very much hands-on cooking and often achieves better results than when food is cooked in the oven, largely because the cook is more likely to stir and check the dish regularly. The aroma of the cooking food stimulates the appetite, doubling the enjoyment of those lucky enough to tuck into tasty dishes such as Bang Bang Chicken or Pot-Roasted Brisket.