The Classic 1,000 Beginners' Recipes by Carolyn Humphries (Foulsham, £5.99)

THERE'S no mystery to good cooking - and if you're looking for just one book that will tell you everything you need to know, then look no further.

This handy companion provides the know-how to set you off on the trail of culinary bliss. It will teach you basic cooking skills as well as general knowledge. There's no jargon, no fuss, just down-to-earth cooking at your fingertips.

And with the help of step-by-step recipes and methods, you'll be able to turn out delicious results, even at your first attempt.

With most of us having minutes rather than hours to spend in the kitchen, there has been a major surge in sales of Slo-cookers.

The versatility of a Slo-cooker never ceases to surprise, and Annette Yates takes us to new heights with great ideas in New Recipes for your Slo-Cooker (Foulsham, £7.99).

She shows how to prepare the ingredients, throw them into the cooker... and then serve up that delicious, ready-made meal. Recipes include old-fashioned beef broth, farmhouse pate, Italian fish, pheasant in cider, cheese fondue and mulled wine. Just the job for a winter's evening - or any evening, come to that.

Patience Mansell-Read