As the early settlers did, you could get more than one dinner from a batch of baked beans. Freeze any surplus beans in small containers for other times when you are squeezed for time. You could easily double the quantities and freeze half of it the same way.

This recipe is a version of the first place winner in the Connecticut Two-crusted Pie final. The original used butter flavored shortening for the crust, instead of butter, and it only called for vegetable oil, instead of sunflower oil.

Still fast food, but with more substance. Adding some vegetables, the recipe becomes a wholesome main dish. The use of Asian ingredients -soy sauce, chutney- and Italian pasta brings East and West together.

Lots of people do not pay much attention to the apples used for baking, as long as they are cooking apples. Try different varieties, even non-cooking apples. An apple crisp becomes a different kind of treat!

Anzac biscuits are now baked commercially. They are a popular snack, a food of last resort for hikers and a very meaningful fund-raising item for veterans organizations and other military related events.

Ajo blanco comes from Malaga and it is one of the many gazpacho soups found in Spain. If you feel you would like to try preparing it in the traditional way, do everything in the same order, but use mortar and pestle. Put the paste in a big bowl before adding water. This chilled soup is a natural source of E vitamin from the olive oil and almonds.