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Much of what we know, historically, about English cookery originates from the grand houses, as only these recipes were written down in recipes. The food of the 'common man' had to rely on oral tradition to be transmitted through the ages. As a result we know far more about the cookery of the grand houses than the cookery of the common man. This all changed in the Victorian ear with the rise of the middle classes and the adoption of recipes, spices and cookery methods from elsewhere in the world.

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The Romans were the first peoples to formally add a dessert course at the end of a meal. Here you will learn a little about why we like sweet desserts and why they all, in one way or another, echo the fruit our ancestors used to eat. You will also see two recipes for classic fruit-based desserts.

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This article gives an introduction to the history of that classic breakfast food, the waffle, starting form the Medieval European origins to the invention of the classic American waffle. Recipes for traditional and chiffon waffles are also given as well as some ideas of how to adapt and very these classic recipes.

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Pork and Aubergine in Hot Sauce is a classic Chinese dish, heavily influenced by the cuisine of Sichuan, China, with its use of hot chilli sauce and mouth-tingling Sichuan pepper (actually a citrus fruit rather than a true pepper!). Learn the secrets of this simple but delicious dish today.

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'Efo' is the generic term in Nigerian for a stew (which, confusingly, are typically called 'soups' in West Africa). The recipe given below is for the archetypal 'soup' base which can be extended by the addition of meat and vegetables. If you want a classic Nigerian meal then this is the basis you need.

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Lamb is one of the sweetest an most versatile of the red meats. Typically it is very tender and lends itself to a whole range of cooking methods. Here you are presented with two classic lamb-based recipes.

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West African cuisine is all based around making the most of all the ingredients available. This is a hearty, cheap and quite spicy stew that makes use those parts of the animal that we in the West tend to ignore - hearts and livers. The dish is very tasty and makes a wonderful accompaniment to rice. It's very cheap to prepare and extremely healthy for you.

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Chocolate is perhaps the most indulgent ingredient to emerge from the Americas. It was once considered a royal drink and prepared especially for the ruling elite. Chocolate itself is made from the cocoa bean and as such is actually, technically, a spice. It's hardly surprising that this magical substance has inspired a host of memorable quotations...

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If you are from the US or the UK looking at a recipe from the other side of the Atlantic there are probably many unfamiliar terms in the recipes you encounter. This glossary brings together many of the culinary terms that differ between the tow sides of the Atlantic, making it easier for you to understand recipes from the other side of the pond.

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An ice cream is a cold dessert made, at the most basic level, with cream and flavourings and which is whipped to incorporate air into the mix both before and during the freezing process. However, Italian ice creams (gelati) have more flavour and are whipped less so they contain less air and are creamier. French ice creams (glaces) are based on an egg custard and taste rich and creamy. Find out more about these frozen desserts and how to prepare them.