Every busy cook needs a repertoire of quick, easy, go-to recipes to get them out of trouble when time is tight or they simply don’t have the energy to get creative.

Chicken is ideal and with the addition of a few everyday store cupboard ingredients you get a range of dishes that are light on time but generous on taste.

Finish the meal with some fresh fruit, such as pineapple or strawberries, with cream and you have a complete, delicious and nutritious meal that gives the impression it took far more than 30 minutes to prepare.

Sticky Chicken Pieces

• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon Thai sweet chilli sauce
• 4 chicken pieces (thighs, wings)
• Preheat the oven to 2000C.
• In a small bowl mix the garlic, chilli sauce and honey.

Pour the sauce over the chicken pieces and make sure they are thoroughly coated.

Roast for about half an hour, until the chicken is cooked through and serve with rice and a green salad.

Stuffed Chicken Breasts

• Garlic and herb flavoured cream cheese
• 4 good-sized chicken breasts
• 4 sage leaves
• 8 slices Parma ham
• Preheat the oven to 2000C.

With a sharp knife, make a slit in the middle of each chicken breast and fill with the cream cheese, topped with a sage leaf.

Wrap each chicken breast in two pieces of Parma ham so the filling is neatly contained in the parcel.

Place onto a greased baking tray and cook for about 25 minutes in the oven.

Serve with some new potatoes and peas or spinach.