In this edition of The People’s Pharmacy, Joe and Teresa Graedon also hear from a reader wondering which spices might help alleviate cold symptoms.

Cut the asparagus on the angle into pieces resembling penne pasta. Soak the golden raisins/sultanas in warm water for 5 minutes to rehydrate and then drain and pat dry with a kitchen towel.

Beat soaked raisins into a flavoured butter and add the mixture to baked apples or stuffed pancakes. Brandy, rum and Calvados all taste good. Golden and green raisins are often used in creamy ...

For many years, yellow raisins have been a welcome sweet, chewy element in my coleslaw concoctions. I toss them in higgledy-piggledy, without the traditional soak in hot water to make them tender.

Use 1 to 2 cups of the boiling pasta water to rehydrate the raisins in a bowl for 10 minutes. When you’re 10 minutes from serving your pasta, cook the gemelli until al dente, typically 4 to 5 ...