Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the basics or an advanced amateur chef, cookbooks are a valuable resource. Despite many years of experience in the kitchen, I still use cookbooks for the most part in order to discover new recipes and experiment with various menu combinations.

Some of my favourite cookbooks:

• The Great British Book of Baking: 120 best-loved recipes from teatime treats to pies and pasties
• Forgotten Skills of Cooking: the time-honoured ways are the best – over 700 recipes show you why