Column: Surfing the English channels

When I was kid, there were a lot of rules in our house.

Cook's Corner: Try sweet and sour done the authentic way

QUESTION: When I lived in New York, my neighborhood Chinese restaurant served a very good sweet and sour chicken. The sauce was a good balance of sweet and piquant and the chicken was not mystery meat overloaded with batter. Is there any chance you can get them to give you the recipe?

Recipes: Cantonese Sweet and Sour Shrimp, Peanut Butter Cookies, Hot Mango Salad

Readers ask for recipes for Sweet and Sour Shrimp, Peanut Butter Cookies and Hot Mango Salad

Teens cook off in Iron Chef battle

No frenetic activity ... no temper tantrums ... no straining to win the ultimate prize, whatever that may be.

Wake up dinner, serve breakfast

Stuck in a suppertime slump? Liven up dinner by serving breakfast foods with an extra kick. Cooking with salsa adds texture and zest to a surprising number of traditionally "breakfast-y" foods. These tips and recipes will add ease, taste and fun to the table in a fast and budget-friendly way.

Vegetarian recipe special: the celebrities

From Gwyneth Paltrow's artichokes to Pink's nutty berry tart, fabulous meat-free recipes from a host of celebrities This Sunday's Observer Food Monthly is a vegetarian special, guest edited by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney. As part of this very special event, OFM sourced a selection of vegetarian recipes from top chefs and celebrities, with everyone from Jamie Oliver to Gwyneth Paltrow ...