We all have tried and true recipes that we keep coming back to, but sometimes it's fun to mix things up and try something new. You can challenge your cooking skills and your tastebuds by exploring new cuisines, ingredients and recipes. Chances are you'll find more and more great meals to add to your collection of favourites.

Start by building on the basics. An easy way to spice things up is to recreate the classics with a fresh twist. Switch ham and pineapple for pear and prosciutto on your Hawaiian pizza, add some Moroccan spices to turn a basic stew into an exotic tagine, or experiment with turkey mince instead of chicken or beef for something tasty and different.

Keep an eye out for unusual fruits and vegetables that you wouldn't usually consider when shopping, and challenge yourself to create something special.

Recipes themselves are a great key to unlocking variety too. Investing in new cookbooks and magazines inspires you to cook outside of your comfort zone, and more often than not, you'll love what you discover.

These articles are provided for interest only. Individual circumstances may vary, so be sure to seek professional advice.