‘Nothing is better than taking a pie out of the oven,’ Martha Stewart once said. ‘What is does for you personally, and for your family’s idea of you, is something you can’t buy.’ Martha couldn’t have said it any better. Is there anything more rewarding than lifting a glistening, golden, steaming pie out of the oven? The rain pouring outside, the smell of the delicious filling cutting through the cold. Then you slice through the buttery, crispy pastry, revealing the hidden treasure that lies within…

It’s the stuff of poetry.

But the real beauty of pastry and pies is just how forgiving they are. Whether you’re an absolute pro with a rolling pin, or you’ve patched your pie together with the scraps your dog almost pinched off the counter, it will always emerge from the oven oven looking nothing less than impressive, wowing your guests and making them wonder if you have Martha Stewart tucked away in your cupboard. Pastry is my go-to when I have people over for dinner, and thanks to MyKitchen’s great pastry guide, I have even more recipes to add to my repertoire.

And so, if I’ve learnt anything from my pie forays in the kitchen, it’s to never give up, even if it looks a mess. Just pop it in the oven anyway… You never know how it’s going to turn out.