A COOKBOOK title pre-fixed ‘easy’ is always guaranteed to grab my attention; so hats-off to Duncan Baird Publishers for their step-by-step guides to international cuisine at home.

Each recipe is broken down into half a dozen simple paragraphs which always start with the necessary action in capital letters – hence HEAT ... ADD ... POUR ... SPRINKLE ... and you’ve got prawns with garlic and chilli (Easy Indian Cookbook, by Manju Mahli); CUT ... PLACE ... HEAT ... BAKE ... for chicken with taleggio and prosciutto (Easy Italian Cookbook, by Jennifer Donovan); and SPRINKLE ... MAKE ... PRESS ... COVER ... ADD ... for pressed sushi with smoked trout (Easy Japanese Cookbook, by Emi Kazuko).

All the books are published by DBP in softback and cost £12.99. They are also gloriously illustrated so, for every recipe, you’ve got a good idea of what you are aiming for in terms of presentation.

The books are also divided into three comprehensive sections – firstly introducing you to the cuisine, followed by the recipes and finally, suggested menu plans and ways of combining various dishes.

In Easy Italian, for example, there are recommendations for a simple lunch, a romantic dinner and even a drinks party.

Of course, I couldn’t help but smile when I spotted a recipe for ‘la ribollita’, one of this week’s checkout recom-mendations. In three steps and only 30 minutes cooking time, you can have your own steaming bowl of this hearty Italian winter vegetable soup.

On the other hand, you could hot-foot it down to Baba Ganoush in Kendal and grab a take-home version (£2.95 per carton, serves two) which you simply reheat!

Ribollita isn’t always guaranteed to be on the menu – but who wouldn’t opt for Cullen Skink (with smoked haddock) or Curried Parsnip & Apple instead?

More autumn warmers from this week’s Checkout shops include Cartmel Valley Game ‘game casserole mix’ (£10.50/kilo), and diced venison (£10.30/kilo) from Watson & Woollard in Kendal; Cumbrian lamb shanks for slow roasting or braising (£3.50 each) and best braising steak (£8.50/kilo) from Peter Hutchinson at Greenodd; and ‘carvery’ legs of English lamb (approx two kilos each) from Stuart Higginson at Grange-over-Sands (special offer, £15.99 each).

Allithwaite farmer Brian Jackson has a new range of sausage on sale at his Templand Farm shop including ‘smokey jack’ sausage (£1.75/200g). Brian also recommended his home-cured middle bacon at £1.50 per 1250g.

Kendal Fisheries suggested Dover sole, from £2.99 each; fish pie mix (£5.50 each or two for £10); and smoked mackerel fillets (plain or peppered, £9.89 per kilo). Try flaking and stirring the mackerel into crushed potatoes topped with a knob of butter.

Low Sizergh Barn has just the job – Farmhouse Butter from Wintertarn organic farm near Penrith (£2.10 per 200g), available salted or unsalted.

Or you could spread that lovely butter on a scone and top with Hazelmere Cafe & Bakery’s own hand-made in Grange blackberry and apple conserve (£2.95/227g jar), or on a cracker with some cheese and Hazelmere’s spiced plum chutney (£2.95/205g jar) or Lyth Valley damson chutney (£3.99/205g jar).

Talking of which, Witherslack community shop now has local damsons for sale at £2 per kilo; local tomatoes (£2 per kilo); and local apples (£1 per kilo).

You will also find damsons on the new Cumbrian Artisan website (www.cumbrian-artisan.co.uk) – Friendly Food & Drink’s 2011 Great taste Award-winning damson jam (£2.45/227g), made in Staveley.