Have you ever stared blankly into a fridge or a larder trying desperately to think of some combination of the foods before your eyes that might possibly make a meal? It's bad enough when it's only the family who want to eat, but it's a nightmare when you've just remembered that you've got people coming for dinner in two hours time.

Years of experience have gone into the creation of the Menu Generator (registered trade mark) and I now offer its staggering flexibility to you. It works like simple Lotto: think of three numbers between zero and nine and then read from the respective columns. Thus 586 produces swordfish en croute with rocket and warm feta. Mmm Mmm. Delicious and very trendy.

If any of the resultant dishes look vaguely familiar to you, don't be surprised. Before I shared this with you I made it available to the catering trade as an aid to the less imaginative.