Published on August 27, 2024

A quick and easy guide on how to shape a basic bread loaf. Loafing around A quick and easy guide on how to shape a basic bread loaf: Step 1 Lightly “knock down” the dough to release air that built up when it was resting. This helps “feed” the yeast fresh oxygen. Step 2 Roll […]

Published on August 23, 2024

While bacon is the everyperson’s ingredient, there is an art to cooking it just right. If you follow our handy tips for cooking it four ways, you will achieve the crispiest, tastiest dishes served this season.    1. Fried The classic greasy breakfast relies on bacon fat for its rich flavours. Although bacon has its own […]

Published on August 12, 2024

Throwing away food scraps can feel wasteful, especially when there are creative ways to repurpose them. Here are four common food scraps and how you can give them new life in your kitchen.  Stale bread  Stale bread might seem like a lost cause, but it can be transformed into delicious croutons or breadcrumbs. For croutons, […]

Published on August 7, 2024

Making your own bread just hits different, says Gail Damon. I From basic breads that pair perfectly with any wintery soup or stew to flatbreads for fabulous curries – anyone can make this. Compiled by:  Start it right A sourdough starter is easier to make than you think! When used in the place of normal dry […]

Published on July 31, 2024

Making pasta dough from scratch can be interactive and fun! Traditionally type 00 flour (a very finely ground flour with the texture of baby powder) is used, but cake wheat flour works well, too.    Homemade pasta dough  Serves 4-6  Use this dough to create tagliatelle, lasagne sheets or ravioli.   Place 1 cup flour onto a […]

Published on July 1, 2024

Cooking is a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be time-consuming and stressful when you’re in a rush. With these 5 clever hacks, you can simplify your kitchen routine and make meal prep more efficient.    Prep ingredients ahead of time  Preparing your ingredients in advance is one of the best ways to streamline […]

Published on June 14, 2024

Frying meat that has a fat layer, such as steak, doesn’t need more than salt and pepper to be exquisite – if cooked right. There’s one pitfall many people see: the all-important fat is forgotten when cooked. Here’s how to render (cook out) the fat while adding tons of flavour to your steak!  Step 1: […]

Published on June 14, 2024

Making pastry from scratch changes your end product entirely, and this recipe doesn’t have to include hours of folding, rolling and shaping to give you that classic, crispy-layered buttery flakes that it’s known for.  Cheat’s rough-puff pastry  Makes about 400g  Rough puff pastry is super easy to make because the idea is to not blend […]

Published on June 14, 2024

Adding butter to dishes not only adds flavour, but helps with the caramelisation process in cooking. Remember, butter burns quite quickly so keep some lemon juice on stand-by.   Why it works  Caramelisation is a cooking reaction that intensifies flavour. It also adds a hint of nutty sweetness that compliments savoury dishes very well.  Our forever-favourite […]

Published on June 6, 2024

Poached eggs are the epitome of a restaurant-level brunch or brekkie. The trick to bring this elevated egg to your own stove is creating a vinegar bath.  Get it perfect, every time:  To achieve the perfect poached egg, crack one into a small ramekin or bowl and cover entirely with vinegar (between ¼ and 1/3 […]