Use a whole-egg mayonnaise for the best flavour. Manchego cheese is Spanish; it is available from specialist cheese stores and Spanish delicatessens. If you can’t find it, use parmesan cheese instead. Use a vegetable peeler to shave the cheese. Note

Make sure to always use the freshest eggs when poaching, as the thick egg white clings tightly to the yolk. Old eggs don’t hold their shape because the whites are thin and runny, so they tend to spread out in the water. Note

If taking this meal to work, roast tomato and prosciutto the night before; store in the fridge. Reheat in a microwave oven, on HIGH (100%), about 1 minute or until heated through. Toast the bread and assemble just before serving. Note

Pulled beef, or pork, comes from pulling extremely tender pieces of meat apart­ rather than cutting it into slices usually with two forks, which separates the meat into strands. Low, slow cooking is required to produce meat tender enough to pull apart into pieces. Note

Use a mandoline or V-slicer, available from kitchenware and department stores, to slice the fennel and radishes. Substitute salmon fillets for the ocean trout, if you prefer. For decoration and ease of handling either tie the rolls with kitchen string or secure them with toothpicks. Note

A bright, colourful and healthy modern Asian dish.

A deep purple-red spice ground from berries grown on a Mediterranean coastal shrub, sumac adds an astringent flavour to both raw and cooked food. It suits poultry, meat and fish as well as it does a salad. Its piquancy was long only associated with Middle Eastern foods, but these days it is used in many […]

You can buy the roast beef, already cooked and sliced, from any deli. Make the coleslaw the night before, and make the sandwich at lunch time the next day. Use whatever cabbage you like; we used red cabbage, but try the chinese variety (wombok), it’s easy to shred finely. Note

Cook the chicken the night before. Note

Chickpea flour (besan) is available from the health food aisle of supermarkets or health food stores. Note

Use a good quality whole-egg mayonnaise. Note

Aïoli can be made easily at home: Combine ½ cup whole-egg mayonnaise and 1 crushed garlic clove in a small bowl. Season to taste. Note

Delicious summer rolls with red wine marinated sausages and a parsley and chervil salad.

These pork buns are the perfect fusion of French and Vietnamese cooking.

Bacon option; place a halved cooked bacon rasher on top of heated beans and continue layering as above. Note

To make a quick cocktail sauce, add a couple of teaspoons of tomato sauce and chilli sauce or Tabasco to the mayonnaise. Note

Peanuts can cause reactions in some children. They are not recommended for children under one year old. Note

A fish burger makes a delicious alternative to a beef burger. You can use white-fleshed fish, or even prawns, instead of the salmon for something different. Note

Cheesy corned beef sandwiches are a great way to use up leftovers.

Tzatziki is a Greek yoghurt dip made with cucumber, garlic and sometimes chopped fresh mint. You can buy tzatziki ready-made in supermarkets and delis. Note

Generally the meat filling and lettuce leaves are served separately; guests fill and roll their own lettuce leaves. Note

Croissants are by far the most famous of all the French pastries and are made using a butter-rich flaky pastry. In France they usually eat them just with jam, while around the world they have become popular filled with both savoury and sweet fillings. If you prefer, you can replace the fontina with a good-quality […]

Delicious chicken and Greek salad wrapped in an Armenian lavash.

Patties tend to shrink when cooking, so make sure you make them about 12cm (4¾-inch) in diameter. Note

Sandwiches can be prepared several hours ahead. Keep wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until required. Bread is an excellent source of energy-giving carbohydrates. Wholemeal and wholegrain breads are also a rich source of dietary fibre and other nutrients because they contain the natural goodness of the entire grain. Note

Sandwiches can be made up to two hours before the picnic. Note

Aïoli is garlic mayonnaise, available from the condiment aisle in most supermarkets. Note

Who said sausage sausages have to be boring? These ones are packed full of strong flavour, and are presented beautifully - perfect for a picnic lunch with loved ones.

Have a Tex-Mex night with these delicious lamb fajitas, guacamole and salsa cruda.