Test kitchen
What to grow now: garlic
Now is the time to plant garlic. With a little luck, you will be harvesting your first crop by Christmas. The ideal time to plant is between March and May, before it gets too cold. What you need to do... Continue reading
How to maintain your knives
Your knife is the most important tool in the kitchen. For such an essential and often expensive tool, it’s really important to make sure you maintain it so that it endures years of fun in the kitchen. There is also... Continue reading
Test driving the Imperia SP150 pasta machine
I’m fascinated by Italian cooking: simple, hearty dishes oozing love and tradition. I’ve been making my own dough and pizzas for some time so I’m keen to step it up and make pasta, especially as it seems far easier than... Continue reading
The science behind pavlova
Few desserts are more decadent than pavlova, with its irresistible layers of meringue, cream and fruit. Anna Pavlova must have been honoured to have this delicious creation named after her. Pavlova is basically meringue, which is simply sugar combined with... Continue reading
Adding detail to your flood-iced biscuits
So, you’ve mastered the art of flood icing your sugar cookies? Now it gets even more exciting. Once you’ve got the hang of flood icing, you can start to play around with decorating your cookies for special occasions. I often have some... Continue reading
Induction cookers put to the test
Induction cookers are the new kids on the cook-top block. Well, they’re not that new but they’re rapidly gaining popularity and could soon leave their electric stove and gas hob friends in the dust. We’ve heard some pretty impressive things about this... Continue reading
The science behind chocolate chip cookies
There are few things more delicious than a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. But have you ever tried to bake some? It’s not all that easy, in my experience! As one article puts it: “The humble chocolate chip cookie is... Continue reading
What to grow now: leeks
There’s a chill in the air which makes it the perfect time to put your green fingers on and start planting leeks. Leeks are one of the great survivors of the winter garden; they’re hardy and can survive from early... Continue reading
Technique for testing if jam is set
To test whether your jam has set, put a teaspoonful on a chilled saucer and place in the fridge. When the jam is cold, run your finger through the blob – if a wrinkle forms in the skin on top,... Continue reading
How to sterilise glass jars
To sterilise jars for jams and preserves, wash them in hot soapy water, then rinse and dry. Place the jars upturned on a baking tray in a warm oven preheated to at least 120° C for approximately 15 minutes until completely... Continue reading
