The baking paper strips are used to help remove the cheesecake from the steamer once it’s been refrigerated overnight. Place the steamer upside down on a serving plate, gently pull on the paper strips and the cheesecake will ease away from the side of the steamer. Note

Slow cooker: suitable to the end of step 2. Pressure cooker: suitable to the end of step 2. Not suitable to freeze. Note

Coq au vin is a traditional French dish of chicken braised in red wine, mushrooms, garlic and shallots.

Ask the butcher to cut the rib racks into pieces that will fit your slow cooker. Note

Italian sausages are coarse pork sausages generally sold in plump links. They are usually flavoured with garlic and fennel seed or anise seed and come in two styles, hot (flavoured with thai red chilli) and sweet (without the added heat). They are available from speciality butchers and delicatessens. Note

We used a chardonnay-style wine in this recipe. This recipe is not suitable to freeze. Note

Persian lamb and rhubarb stew

This pudding recipe is suitable to freeze. Note

An uncomplicated Asian-style sweet and sour chicken soup packed to the brim with delicious flavours.

Reserve some of the feathery fennel fronds to sprinkle over the soup at serving time. Note

Create the flavours and textures of a slow-cooked meal in under an hour by using your pressure cooker. This delicious chickpea and lentil soup can be ready in no time at all, perfect for a cool weeknight dinner.