This month, our food and gardening columnist is recommending two delicious new cookbooks, and one impressive ‘beverage bible’.

Ottolenghi FLAVOUR by Yotam Ottolenghi & Ixta Belfrage

Yotam Ottolenghi has become associated with certain flavours. We might say at a meal, ‘This is an Ottolenghi- inspired recipe.’ By that we might mean we are serving chickpeas with toasted sesame seeds, or a meal based on the glorious colours that fresh vegetables give us. In my household, not a week goes by without someone consulting one of Ottolenghi’s cookbooks. So, friends, rejoice with me that there is a new one coming to our tables! Cleverly split into three sections: process, pairing and produce, and designed to tap into the potential of ordinary vegetables, this book has been written for harried parents, testing teenagers and fussy vegetable eaters. And, of course, it’s perfect for anyone who is dreaming of new flavour combinations in lockdown. This book may be the only holiday we get this year.

A Year of Simple Family Food by Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Eating simply, generously and seasonally is at the core of all of Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s recipes. This Melbourne-based, much-adored cook has a skill for keeping everything modest, and making the kind of food you will want to share with your loved ones. Arranged by season, this beautiful book includes uncomplicated recipes for classic dishes with a Busuttil Nishimura twist – there are plenty of quick recipes and some that require more time to bubble away on the stove. If you enjoyed her first book, Ostro, waste no time finding your way to these pages.

Spirited: Cocktails from Around the World by Adrienne Stillman

Whatever your taste for lockdown cocktails, you’re bound to find it within the pages of this beverage bible. Adrienne Stillman of Dipsology, a curated guide for cocktail enthusiasts, reached out to her contacts around the world to draw up this truly international survey. It must have been difficult to write a book after all that research! As well as recipes, these pages contain the history of every cocktail you could possibly imagine. I have considered starting at the very beginning and working tirelessly through to the end of this collection, dressed as I am in my leisure wear. All you’d need to do so is the desire, the ingredients and the shaker.