I’m a fan of one-pot meals like stew, but the simmering can take a while especially if you’ve thrown meat into it. So I decided to introduce something a little simpler. These are the fares you want to throw together if you’ve just got home and your guest is already driving up your street!

The Devils on Horseback make a great starter or hors d’oeuvre. The magic lies in the bacon, which must be either streaky or smoked. Pair it with prunes and you get an unusual sweet-salty flavour. Wrap it around mussels and mask the tang of seafood. The first time I served these, people who claimed to dislike prunes and mussels were make a beeline for seconds! Serve it with aperitifs, as its piquancy can overpower the delicate taste of fine wine.

Spagettini with Pesto and Seafood is a classic dish and one that can be done with your eyes closed! It’s also the perfect piece de resistance if your guest list includes vegetarians. The base is an elementary mix of olive oil, Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves and garlic, which leaves ample room for beloved extras like mushrooms or seafood.

If crumble was a piece of clothing, it would be a white shirt - unfussy, reliable and wonderfully versatile. I usually make a big batch of crumble, which can be kept and used for apple crumble or as a scrumptious topping for ice-cream and yoghurt with fruits. Passion fruit is somewhat overlooked because of its shriveled appearance and gooey texture. But add some whipped cream and a generous sprinkling of crumble, and you’ll have to stop yourself from eating the entire bowl!

The beauty of these three recipes is that they can be paired with just about anything. There are no rules - only intuition, passion and fearlessness. And that’s when you start cooking with your heart.