Simple tips for smart food…Pre-cooked and ready-to-use vine leaves are available in jars. Once the leaves have been removed from the jar, unfold them and neatly lay each…

• Double cream is the most versatile of the fresh creams as it can be poured, whipped and piped, floats on soups and coffee, and is best for…

The rule when whipping egg whites is to make sure that there is no fat in your mixture as this inhibits their ability to whip properly. Clean your…

I find it so much easier to use a pair of sharp kitchen scissors to chop herbs and leafy vegetables like spring onions – I even cut my…

• Bamboo steamers are designed to fit into a wok, a frying pan or onto a pot. • They are perfectly suited to steaming vegetables, Asian-style dishes, fish,…

General rules when roasting meat and chicken: • Chicken 500g – 3,5kg: 30 minutes at 220°C + 10 minutes per 500g at 180°C. • Beef on the bone:…

SIDE DISHES • Steam baby marrows, string beans, celery, leaks and peas. Place on a serving dish and season well to taste. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic…

I prefer blanched tomatoes as I do not like the consistency of tomato skin or seeds in a dish. Blanching is the easiest and quickest way to peel…

• If your cake has risen unevenly, it could be due to the oven temperature being too high or because the flour wasn’t sufficiently blended into the mixture.…