Nuts

Being high in protein and essential fats, including linoleic acid, which is helpful in controlling cholesterol, nuts are good news for vegetarians. However, their unimaginative use in the past has made them the bête noir of all gourmets, as they so often turned up in stodgy loaves, muddy soups and slushy sauces. The golden rule must be to use this valuable and delicious food with discretion. I suggest you keep a variety of nuts in your store cupboard. They add taste and texture to all sorts of dishes.