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Beans are a classic storage food and have been a staple of the human diet for millennia. In recent decades, however, we have forgotten just how useful and versatile beans are. Here is a brief description of the importance of beans, with two classic bean recipes for you to try.

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Mushrooms are an amazing foodstuff, neither plant nor animal but a whole kingdom of life all their own. Though many mushrooms are cultivated the vast majority can only be found in the wild. Here you find recipes for both wild and cultured mushrooms so that you can know how to get the best out of them...

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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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Liberia is a West African country formed by freed slaves. It is one of only two African countries never to have come under European rule. Liberia is also one of the few African countries with a tradition of baking. Sitting alongside these are ingredients sourced directly from the rainforest.

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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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When thinking of cakes, everyone automatically imagines a recipe for baking. Yet, for hundreds of years before ovens became ubiquitous cakes were being steamed rather than baked. Here you will find a recipe for a classic steamed cake that you can prepare anywhere, even on the barbecue or whilst camping. Wow your friends by giving them a freshly-steamed cake the next time you go camping.

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Chillies are a South American fruit, unknown to the rest of the world before 1492. Learn about this amazing spice and find two rather unusual chilli-based recipes for a jam and a sorbet

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Many cooks are apprehensive about baking, thinking it to be an extremely laborious and involved process. Following a complicated recipe and ensuring that everything is 'just so'. In fact, the basic sponge cake recipe is a very simple one and this article takes you through some of the rules and pitfalls of baking and gives you two sponge cake recipes to try. Follow this guide and they will come out perfectly every time.

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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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Here is a simple step-by-step guide to letting you get the most from your cake baking. This article takes you through some of the history, science and practicalities of cake making so you will know not only what to do, but why your should do it. Armed with this information you can turn out perfect light and creamy cakes time after time...