Comfort food: great cookery sites

Get a headstart in the kitchen.

If you've got the family round or you’re hosting a party, then take a look at our top three recipe sites and apps for ideas, advice and inspiration. Check them out on your phone or laptop and you’ll be able to plan a menu or a shopping list wherever you are, or just explore new meal ideas and get your creative juices flowing.

BBC Food.

The BBC food website has an excellent seasonal section with recipe suggestions based on what’s growing now: from rhubarb and cabbage to whelks and winkles. It includes videos and recipes from the BBC’s Top TV chefs, like Delia, the Hairy Bikers and Nigella.

You can also enjoy the BBC's Good Food magazine on your iPhone, iPad, or in your browser – so you’re never too far away from some food-related daydreaming.

Jamie Oliver.

Jamie Oliver's endless ideas will certainly get your tastebuds tingling. Watch his food shows on 4oD, Channel 4’s TV service, or get stuck in and try baking some British favourites – Roast chicken and Wedding pie anyone?

When you’re in Jamie's iPhone app, you can buy add-ons that give you a bundle of extra recipes, like ‘Christmas with Bells On’ or ‘Classic Comfort Food’. The Android app gives you Jamie’s ’20 minute meals’ bundle, featuring tips, shortcuts and step by step guides to help you rattle out a main meal and a dessert in under half an hour.

Channel 4 Food.

With a whole host of great baking recipes that kids can get involved with, and some delicious savoury dishes to satisfy more grown-up tastes, the  Channel 4 food website even features a page of inventive ideas for saving money and bringing last night’s leftovers back to life – waste not, want not!

Best viewed on a computer, it’s full of resources, videos and suggestions from Channel 4’s chefs and recipe creators.