h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Doesn't matter what in, as long as there's loads of it! Garlic is great for combatting disease, and the chilli helps clear the sinuses. We swear by it in our house (or swear at it - depends *how* much chilli...).

SW.

Ooh

Somebody beat me to it but yes - lots and lots of it.

What I use a lot of is Hot Lime Pickle.

When I get all paternal and look at Sam, my colleague here at h2g2, I prepare a delicious meal for two in under 5 mins.

take two cans of chick peas and drain them. Mix with four heaped tablespoons of Lime pickle and heat in a microwave for about 3-4 minutes.

When piping hot serve with cheese

This Hot Lime Pickle sounds interesting...but I need a little guidance...what is lime pickle? Point me in the right direction so I don't make the grocery clerk snigger when I ask

You ask for Patak's Lime Pickle. Start with the mild and work your way to the hot.

Personally, I prefer a good hot curry or chill. A good madras is a good starting point - as hot as you can handle is best!

I recommend Chinese horseradish mustard and several egg rolls. If you're in the right restaurant, a quarter-inch of egg roll dipped in mustard should take the top of your head clean off. There's something very penetrating about the fumes of horseradish - if it burns too much, open your mouth surreptitiously (unless your dinner companion likes seefood) and let some of the fumes escape from your mouth. For best results, try to keep your mouth closed. You'll sweat a bit, but that's to be expected - and enjoyed, if you're a masochist.

If you're near good Tex-Mex food (and if you're more than five hundred miles from Mexico, you're not) I recommend chips and HOT salsa (don't let them give you the gringo salsa.) In fact, just eating a few jalapeños will do it, but that's a little painful even for me.

For the true-blue masochists, I suggest the Scottish bonnet pepper. It resembles a bell pepper in shape, but it's bright red and about the size of a cherry. I watched somebody eat one of these: they turned purple, then white, then red!

Even better is the bird's eye chilli - short and narrow, usually red. Extremely hot - handle only with extreme caution!