One good thing about the unpredictable British weather is the chance to eat hot and cold foods all year round without sweltering or freezing if you fancy the wrong thing in the wrong season. Soup is the classic example of something that can be eaten hot or cold so here we tell you about Gazpacho, a Spanish dish that is probably the most famous cold soup around.

While this is traditionally served cold (sometimes even with extra ice cubes) as a refreshing and healthy starter in the long hot Spanish summers, the ingredients mean that it lends itself well to being heated up on a cold day anywhere in the world.

Gazpacho is simply made of tomatoes, cucumber, onion, green pepper, olive oil, vinegar and salt and pepper and all the ingredients are left raw and so full of flavour and goodness. The ingredients are simple measured out and blended together before ice cubes are added and its put in the fridge to chill until youre ready to serve. It is often served with extra cucumber and green pepper and croutons.

Salads are another great idea if you cant decide between hot and cold because theyre delicious either way. Take chicken and bacon salad as a popular choice, the chicken and bacon can be cooked in advance and mixed with the ready prepared British salads to create a warm salad or the meats can be left to cool before adding. This salad is not only delicious but is a great way to use up leftover meats from the Sunday roast.

Two firm favourites hot or cold are pastas and quiche and both are quick and cheap to make. The beauty of these is that when theyre first cooked theyre delicious piping hot with accompanying new potatoes and salad for the quiche or crusty garlic bread with the pasta and the next day theyre absolutely as delicious cold. Try roasted vegetable pasta as a great way to get your five a day and the vegetables wont go soggy or tasteless.

Any form of pie will bridge the hot and cold food gap, so think apple pie or chicken pie and delicious puff pastry which is as crispy cold as it is hot. The same goes with the traditional beef hot pot, theres nothing more delicious and warming on a cold night and theres nothing quite as yummy with some cold new potatoes or a crunchy salad on a hot day. Hot, warm or cold, this will be a favourite with all the family all year round. Top off with an indulgent chocolate trifle recipe, cold or warmed with flaming brandy and youll be number one friend!