Want to turn everyday dishes into something special? Sometimes all it takes is adding a few extra ingredients, or making a small change to how you cook and present your food. These 24 tips are foolproof ways to improve family favourites.

Want to take your mac 'n' cheese to the next level? Adding a small amoiunt of piquant mustard brings out the flavour of cheese in a white roux sauce.

Chocolate has been used in savoury dishes in South American cuisine for centuries. Grating dark chocolate into stews and chillis enhances the flavour of red meat and adds another dimension to the sauce. It even works with chicken: try this easy recipe for Venezuelan chocolate chilli chicken.

Slow cooking is one of the best ways to get the most from cheap cuts of meat, with slow-cooked stews much more flavourful than those simmered briefly on the stovetop. Start with these 25 tips for getting the most from your slow cooker, then try one of these recipes.

If you’re making your own fish fingers, after coating your pieces of fish with flour and whisked egg replace breadcrumbs with crushed puffed rice for extra crunch. For a grown-up twist, serve this radish and pea salad on the side. 

Nothing beats spiced hot chocolate on a cold evening. Heat cocoa powder or melted dark chocolate with milk and three cardamom pods (crushed but still in one piece), then let simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the flavour.

Party food doesn't have to be fancy, and pizza is about as simple as it gets. These mini calzones are the perfect way to impress without spending hours on dainty presentation.

The simplest way to make delicious homemade burgers is to eschew pre-made patties and start from scratch. It's not as hard as you might think. We've compiled 41 tips to help you reach burger perfection here. 

Sprouts often get overlooked and frequently are not cooked to bring out their best qualities. Start by roasting your sprouts rather than boiling them, then top with fresh sage cooked in butter until lightly browned and a delicious herb smell is released.

Don't just use sweet potatoes or regular white potatoes for your mash: the best results will come from a mix. Need more convincing? Both Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson are fans.

Antioxidant-rich beetroot can be included in chocolate cakes and brownies for flavour and moisture. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recipe for chocolate and beetroot brownies is one of the best.

If you're fed up with your favourite stir-fry, try adding desiccated coconut or coconut flakes. They'll add a creamy, slightly sweet dimension to both vegetarian and meaty recipes.

Sauces lift steaks and most take just minutes. We've picked 7 of our favourites, including peppercorn (pictured), and compiled 25 other tips for cooking steak perfectly every time here. 

Strawberries and balsamic vinegar are a match made in heaven, whether you want to serve them plain or use them to top a cake, pavlova or even toast (pictured). The simplest recipe is to mix sliced berries with balsamic vinegar, sugar and pepper and leave for up to an hour.

Sweet potato fries are just the tip of the iceberg: there are tons more ideas to try. Courgette, okra and aubergine all work in the deep-fryer, or you could try topping classic skinny fries with crab, truffle or Cajun spices.

If you frequently find pork chops dry and tough, try marinading them for 2 to 6 hours. Brown sugar, minced garlic, pineapple juice and soy sauce works particularly well. Marinading can transform other dishes too: find out the best marinade for every type of meat and fish here.

Honey-coated popcorn makes an interesting alternative to heaps of white sugar. Put brown sugar, honey and butter into a pan and heat it slowly until it melts, then pour over plain popcorn to coat.

It’s not just wine that goes well with food. Craft beers can also be the perfect match for your favourite dishes. Check out 12 of our favourite pairings here.

To make a fruit salad zing, make a ginger syrup from minced fresh ginger, sugar and water. Bring the mix to the boil, simmer for 10 minutes then let it cool before pouring onto the chopped fruit.

Capers are often overlooked but don’t neglect these salty buds. They can add both colour and tang to a humble omelette, and go particularly well with both salmon and mushrooms.

Miso is one of the most talked-about ingredients this year. Not sure how to use it? Start with an Asian-style salad dressing. Add a teaspoon of miso paste to some rice vinegar, a little oil such as sesame or rapeseed, some soy sauce and a nugget of chopped, fresh ginger then whisk.

Using ingredients in season not only saves money and food miles but means you'll get the best flavour – particularly from fruit and veg. You can find plenty of ideas for what to make in September here. 

It's time to ditch the mustard and onions. Instead, try spreading pesto on a hot dog bun followed by a grating of cheese such as fontina or parmesan. Alternatively, keep the onions and grate over gruyère for hot dogs with a Gallic twist.

Investing in a pasta machine really is worth it. This straightforward recipe for pappardelle with tomato and basil shows how simple ingredients cooked well can be just as extraordinary as complicated combinations.

Swap traditional risotto rice for barley for a dish that's a little different, less calorific and more nutritious. It works particularly well with earthy flavours: try recipes with chorizo, mushrooms or squash.