If there’s just one or two of you at home, and you’re out all day at work, getting back with supper still to prepare often means resorting to a sandwich or a take-away. That’s not a good idea, especially if it’s what you have already done for lunch. So try these ideas.

Preparing a nourishing meal for one or two people quickly and easily depends on having a store cupboard and refrigerator full of useful ingredients. So set aside a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon to shop for groceries, fruit and vegetables for the week. Shops are less crowded in the early afternoon than they are in the morning. Buy a good variety and you won’t be short of inspiration.

We’ve come up with three items that can be used to create different dishes. The rocket pesto makes a pleasant change from the usual basil pesto, and basil is harder to find in winter anyway. It can be mixed into pasta, noodles or rice, or spread on bruschetta. Piri piri sauce is Portuguese, and goes very well with meat and fish, roast potatoes and spicy chorizo. For something sweet, there is nothing easier than berry compôte. Good quality frozen berries are widely available and are packed with healthy vitamins to stave off the winter blues. They can be used in many ways, mixed with yoghurt, ice cream, cereal, or for something more luxurious, drizzled over a vanilla panna cotta.

Wild fennel