Simple tips for superb baking… by Anna MontaliIcing frozen cakes The easiest way to ice your cake is to allow it to cool down completely after baking and…

Simple tips for smart food… by Anna Montali4 puff with pastry How to make apple custard tarts For the custard, place 200ml milk and 1 split vanilla pod…

Simple tips for smart food… by Anna MontaliHow to make quick lemon curd The trick is to make sure the egg doesn’t curdle by careful heating and constant…

Turn your fruit tarts and savoury pies into works of art. On a lightly floured work surface roll out enough readymade puff pastry to form a lid for…

Instead of throwing leftover phyllo pastry away, cut it into small strips and deep-fry in hot oil until golden. Keep the remaining phyllo covered while you fry each…

Blanch, peel, seed and quarter 6 plump ripe tomatoes. Heat 800ml olive oil in a pot and add the tomatoes, 3 sliced garlic cloves, 2 seeded and sliced…

Blanch, peel, seed and finely chop 4 large Rosa tomatoes. Place in a pan together with 15ml (1 tbsp) verjuice, 1 seeded and finely chopped red chilli, 5ml…

In a pestle and mortar, crush 10 garlic cloves with a pinch of salt. Transfer to a mixing bowl and add 3 large egg yolks and the juice…

Roll leftover scraps of dough (bread dough works particularly well) into a sausage shape and cut into 2cm pieces. Toss to coat in a little cake flour and…