After a brilliant spell of winter sunshine this weekend, the rain today calls for a slow-cooked stew with minimal effort. I remember a recipe my mother mentioned a few months back which appeals to me now. It is a matter of putting all the ingredients in the pan and letting it simmer. This kind of cooking is ideal when life becomes too busy.

I have been dreaming of eating Shan noodles recently and realises nearly 5 years have passed since we were in Nyaung Shwe. It is time to recreate that memorable dish of noodles in chicken soup and tangy mustard greens. A great winter warmer.

I was delighted to find a recipe written in a Christmas card from our friend, Chris. Gongbao jiding - one of his favourite Chinese dishes, as it was taught to him in China. Inspired to try the authentic version, I cooked Gongbao jiding yesterday and invited Chris for dinner to sample the result.

Satay is a popular street food throughout SE Asia. Small chunks of meat threaded onto bamboo skewers and char grilled over coal or wood fire by the roadside. It is sold by the stick and accompanied with a small plastic bag containing peanut sauce, onion and cucumber slices.