Ceps/Porcini, 25g Rinse the dried mushrooms first, then soak for about 20 minutes. Use the water they have soaked in as well as it gives a lovely mushroom stock. Unit price: £3.95 (approx. €4.42)
Shiitake, 25g Originally from Japan and Korea, this mushroom is now widley available in Europe and can be used for sauteeing, broiling and roasting. Unit price: £2.99 (approx. €3.35)



Green Peppercorns
For a steak sauce: after frying your steak, add a good lump of butter to the pan. When melted, add a couple of teaspoons of green peppercorns and a chopped clove of garlic. Fry gently, then add 1 tbsp of good brandy, 2 tsp wholegrain mustard and 100 ml single cream. Let the sauce bubble up, then pour it over the steak.
Chilli con Carne mix
Brown onions and minced beef in oil, add water, soaked beans, and spice (1 teaspoon per person - make sure some bay leaves make it into the pot), chopped tomatoes, and cook until done. Make a huge pot to last you a week, as it gets better with time. I normally add some chillies as well.
Byriani Curry Blend
Mix diced beef with spices and natural yogurt and leave to marinade for at least three hours, or better, overnight, in a pot. Cook basmati rice until half-done. Cover the marinated meat with rice; poke few holes through the rice to the bottom of the pot, and pour some oil into them. Cover the pot and cook for half an hour, or until meat is done, then leave on low heat for another 15 minutes. Recipe by Mr. K.
Ajowan - Carom - Kings Cumin
East African chicken soup is awesome with ajowan! Brown some onions and crushed peanuts or cashews in oil, add chopped up chicken leg - skin bones and all, they add to the flavor - brown on all sides, cover with water and cook with cumin and ajowan seeds until done; finish by stirring in a can of coconut milk. The ajowan balances out the sweetness of nuts and milk; really good quick soup.