RECOMMENDATIONS

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  Mussels in beer

  Silvana Franco steams mussels in Belgian wheat beer - ideal with some crusty bread to mop up all the creamy juices and strips of bacon

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  Best end of lamb with creamed Brussels sprouts

  A slick of verdant thyme oil brings the best out of Richard Phillips's lamb dish

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  Mexican beef stew

  For a warming winter dish with a hint of spice, try this slow-cooked stew with chipotle chilli from Tom Parker-Bowles

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  Poached oysters with dry vermouth and cucumber

  Got romance in mind? Martin Blunos's elegant starter for two is guaranteed to impress with its plump native oysters and delectable butter sauce

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  Goulash

  Stephen Midgley from Grado restaurant in Manchester prepares meltingly-tender goulash

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  Spicy chicken pasta

  Paul Merrett shows us how to bite back at the credit crunch with a favourite family supper that serves two for a fiver

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  Beef satay with peanut sauce

  Jason Atherton’s simple sauce transforms beef fillet into an impressive Asian-style starter or light lunch

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  Mrs stephenson's cucumber mousse

  This light and lovely mousse from Mrs Stephenson makes a stylish starter of an elegant buffet dish

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  Blackberry and apple crumble

  Another simple, yet delicious classic from Rachel Allen, this time a heavenly autumnal dessert

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  Potato-coated lamb cutlets

  Cyrus Todiwalla serves Parsee-style lamb cutlets covered with spiced mashed potato, rolled in semolina, fried and served with an onion and tomato gravy