Boris's cheese on toast, and other top meals of the famous

A simple dinner of cheese on toast is Boris Johnson's contribution to a book of celebrity recipes put together by a London charity.

The Mayor tells readers to "lavish" their lightly toasted brown bread with butter and grated Cheddar before grilling it.

He joins more than 100 names from the arts, politics, business and the military in revealing their favourite meals to raise money for the Chelsea Pensioners' Appeal.

More than £30million is needed to refurbish the accommodation for 300 former soldiers at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The book, A Salute to Cooking, features many traditional dishes, containing heart-stopping amounts of cream, butter or red meat. The Duchess of Cornwall explains how to cook her haddock à la crème in double cream with fried white bread, and the Duke of Edinburgh suggests stuffing a freshly-shot grouse with haggis.

Tony Blair includes a creamy cod pie, and Baroness Thatcher recommends the "cabinet lunch" of spinach soup, British beef and horseradish casserole and chocolate mousse she insisted on when working in Number 10.

Other contributors admit they lack culinary expertise. Next to his recipe for beef stroganoff, former Army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt says: "I can't cook to save my life but this is what I'd cook if I could." Actress Joanna Lumley declares herself "rather a wretched cook" but offers a friend's recipe for flourless Sephardic orange cake made with ground almonds.

Recipes from chefs include white chocolate chip brownies by Nigella Lawson and London Particular pea soup by Gordon Ramsay.

Angela Currie, wife of the hospital's lieutenant governor, Major General Peter Currie, who compiled the book, said: "We wanted a book that reflected the wit and special character of the place and of the pensioners."

The Pensioners' Appeal began in 2004 and has funded an infirmary, with 34 en-suite bedrooms. The book, with a foreword by Prince Charles, goes on sale on Wednesday.

Dine in with the Mayor's recipe...

1. Grate large amount of cheese, preferably Cheddar
2. Lightly toast brown bread
3. Lavish toast with butter
4. Cover toast with grated cheese
5. Grill until it browns nicely
Good luck!