Cookery book: Under the Walnut Tree - flavours from the world

Some cookbooks have recipes that are so tempting and uncomplicated they make you want to head straight into the kitchen to experiment. - by a mother and daughter team from Sweden - is one such tome. If you're looking for Swedish dishes, however, don't buy this book: the recipes here have an international flavour, with influences from Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia, Morocco, Thailand, France and India.

The book's chapters are each based on an ingredient, such as avocado, tomato, leafy greens and herbs. As such, the authors write, "You will find recipes for both savoury dishes, desserts and baked goods within the same chapter."

This could be confusing if you're used to cookbooks that group recipes by meal-type (starters and salads, through to main courses and desserts, for example). Fortunately, the authors provide two indexes: the standard alphabetical type, and another, which lists every recipe under each chapter.

The recipes are easy and the instructions are clear. They include Anna's avocado soup; potato and herb galette; creamy mustard potato salad with smoked trout; roast chicken with chorizo; ginger ale; crisp butterscotch thins; Swedish cardamom tea ring; Caribbean mango-glazed chicken; and Aunt Mimi's vanilla cornets.