Also known as crêpes. Thin, flat cakes made by shallow frying on both sides a thin layer of batter of flour, milk and eggs. They are versatile and range from plain to the more sweeter ones. They have a thick, fluffy texture and can be sweet or savoury.

Cured belly pork usually used in thin slices or thicker cubes. It's flavour has a hint of aniseed and is salty and sweet.

Hard, grainy cow's-milk cheese extensively used in Italian cuisine. Parmigiano reggiano is the true parmesan cheese, manufactured in the province of Parma and also Bologna and Mantua.

A dough made from durum-wheat semolina, water and often eggs which is kneaded and cut into a wide variety of shapes. It is sold dried or fresh. Varieties of dishes include: Spaghetti alla Napoletana, Rigatoni, al Forno, Maccheroni al Pomodoro, Lasagne and Cannelloni. The best pasta is said to come from Bologna, where it's traditional to make the homemade version.

Patty pans are also known as custard marrows or scalloped squash. They're have a saucer-like shape and look somewhat like a mushroom cap. The skin is usually pale green or golden-yellow, becoming hard when ripe. They can be stored unwashed in a plastic bag in the refrigeraor for up to five days.

A tropical fruit that grow in most areas of South Africa. When ripe the skin and flesh is a golden-yellow and will yield to gentle thumb pressure.

The first peach of the season is white fleshed and has the sweetest taste. It's followed by yellow and pink -fleshed fruit. The cling peach does exactly that- it clings to its stone- but freestone varieties are now available. Look for undamaged fruit, as teh slightest bruising will cause the peach to deteriorate rapidly. The soft, yellow, velvety skin with blushes of red should not be wrinkled and the fruit should be firm, but not hard. They are also available in canned varieties.

This edible nut is the seed of a member of the pea family and not a true nut. The pods mature underground and each contain 2-4 seeds.

Peas are a sweet vegetable grown in pods. They have a delicate taste, although most shelling peas lose flavour soon after picking, which is why frozen or canned peas are more popular. The French petits pois, a tiny variety especially cultivated to remain sweet after picking, is delicious.

A North American nut related to the walnut, high in vitamins and minerals. In many recipes you can use pecan nuts when walnuts are required. It's quite similar to the walnut in flavour.

Pecorino romano is an ewe's milk cheese aged to a hard cheese for grating, and a perfect substitute for parmigiano reggiano (Parmesan), which is made from semi-skimmed paseurised cow's milk.

Found in ripe fruit, pectin is a natural gelling agent. Some fruit have higher pectin levels than others. For example citrus fruit, blackberries, apples and redcurrants, while others like strawberries are low in pectin.

A very thin, light and delicate pastry that is favourably used in Middle Eastern, Greek, and Eastern European cooking. It is available either fresh or frozen and usually ready to use. Despite its delicate texture, it's quite easy to handle.

Pineapples should have rough, warm, golden skins with firm, grey- green plumes. When the fruit is ripe, the leaves should pull out easily and the fruit will emit a distinctive smell.

The small,pale green kernels have a unique flavour. It's popular in the Middle East and Greek and Lebanese delicatessens.

Polenta is a ground cornmeal. It comes in different grades of coarseness and is usually yellow, although one also find white cornmeal. Part of Italy's staple diet, polenta is very rich in starch.

Pomegranate's are round and coloured yellow, pink or orange with a smooth, thick skin. The interior is separated by membranous walls and white, spongy, bitter tissue. Between these lie sweetly acid, red, juicy seeds which are rich in carbohydrates and Vitamin C. The pomegranate is native to Iran and the Himalayas in northern India, and is alos cultivated throughout drier parts of South-East Asia, Malaysia and tropical Africa. Pomegranates do best in mild temperatures and the fruit is both self-pollinating as well as cross pollinated by insects.

Tiny blue-black seeds with faint but distinctive flavour from the poppy plant.

A small clawless crustacean available in different varieties, fresh or frozen, in or out of shell. They are found frozen, canned or fresh. The colour

They are the fruits of the cactus. When ripe they're sweet and quite palatable. Minute hairs that can prick your fingers cover the egg- shaped fruit , which ripen from green to yellow to pink.

It has a sweet, almost nutty flavour and there are many varieties of this vegetable.