I have just been craving crème brulee a while ago, and what do I get once I opened my laptop? A friend e-mailing me this recipe from Allrecipes.com.

These little desserts are the best way to enjoy after a heavy dinner. They are light, and they are absolutely the most delicious and heavenly concoctions on earth.

Ingredients: (serves 4)

450ml cream

1 bunch basil, leaves and stalks roughly torn

4 medium-sized egg yolks

1 tablespoon caster sugar

1 teaspoon cornflour, blended with a little water

1 punnet raspberries, washed

30g soft brown sugar

Procedure:

- Gently warm the cream in a heavy based pan until bubbles appear at the edge. Do not allow it to boil.

- Remove from the heat and stir…

This Asian cuisine is one of the best comfort foods in the world. And although I am not usually a fan of spicy soups, I daresay this is one of the best soups I tasted in recent years.

Here’s the recipe from Andrea Lynn.

Ingredients: (serves 4)

1 package mushrooms, sliced

1 to 2 teaspoons ginger, minced

1 cup chopped cooked meat (pork, chicken, beef)

6 to 8 cups chicken stock

Salt

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Sriracha, to taste

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 eggs

1 can bamboo shoots, drained

1 package tofu (I prefer soft tofu but use whichever type you prefer), cut into squares

2 scallions, finely chopped

Procedure:

- In a medium pot, sauté mushrooms and…

Anything from Jacques Pepin tastes good, that’s why I decided to whip this dish up after seeing it from Pepin’s recipes. When done correctly, this chicken dish should taste a little sweet and sour with a hint of spiciness.

Here’s the recipe from Jacques Pepin’s Food And Wine.

Ingredients: (serves 2)

2 chicken legs, skin removed

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

Dash of salt

Dash of dried thyme leaves

Dash of cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon flour

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 strips lemon zest

2 strips orange zest

2 teapsoons fresh ginger, minced

2 garlic cloves, peeled

1/2 cup sweet apple cider

1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted

Procedure:

- Mix together the salt, chili powder, ground cumin, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, and flour in a…