Crumpets: serve with cold, rainy weather, lashings of butter and a pot of fresh tea. Or top with cheese and grill for the fastest supper ever!

This is a recipe I have been cooking for years. It's great because it can be made a day or two before and gently reheated with no last-minute bother.

This classic buttermilk raisin scone is British mom approved!

Why mess with a classic? Lemon and sugar pancakes for Pancake Day reign above all others, as does Delia Smith - their creator.

These Date Squares (aka date bar recipe) will quickly become a household favorite -unsweetened Medjool dates sandwiched between layers of oat crumble.

If the winter weather is getting you down or you're feeling grey or sad, I'm certain a steamed treacle sponge will put you right in no time at all. It takes moments to prepare, will steam away happily all by itself without needing attention, and is the ultimate in comfort foods.

You can’t beat Delia for the basics and this Yorkshire pudding recipe made with beef dripping is a failsafe accompaniment to roast beef.

Apple Charlotte #lifeafterlife Life After Life by Kate Atkinson is published in hardback, ebook and audio on 14 March 2013

Sausages braised in cider

This recipe comes from Delia Smith. It will make about 12 thin pancakes. The British pancake is very similar to a crepe and is traditionally served with lemon and sugar.

Canary Puddings With Lemon Curd Topping With Lemons, Golden Caster Sugar, Large Eggs, Unsalted Butter, Self Raising Flour, Baking Powder, Softened Butter, Butter, Large Eggs, Golden Caster Sugar, Lemon, Lemon Curd, Double Cream

I wish we could buy duck livers all the year round, but thankfully they are at least around at Christmas, and they make a wonderfully smooth, velvety pâté. At other times this recipe works just as well with chicken livers.

Almond Icing (marzipan) With Ground Almonds, Icing Sugar, Caster Sugar, Large Eggs, Almond Extract, Lemon Juice, Brandy

Little Sticky Toffee Puddings With Pecan Toffee Sauce With Dates, Vanilla Extract, Essence, Bicarbonate Of Soda, Butter, Caster Sugar, Large Eggs, Self Raising Flour, Nuts, Soft Brown Sugar, Butter, Double Cream, Cream

This has decidedly Mexican overtones. It isn't too hot and spicy but the presence of the chilli does give it a nice kick, and the flavour and texture of chickpeas is perfect for soup.

This was the chocolate recipe of the 1960s, but it has now, sadly, been eclipsed by other eras and their equally fashionable recipes. So time for a revival, I think, because it's certainly one of the simplest but nicest chocolate desserts of all.