• When slicing dough that has been filled with fruits, nuts, etc., use a string under the dough, cross and lift up. Uniform dough slices are formed and filling stays in.

• Keep a square of sandpaper in your kitchen, it will give you a better grip on those hard to open jars.

• To make whipped cream retain its peaks, add one teaspoon of honey before whipping.

• If mushrooms are very large, the stalks are likely to be tough; therefore they should be discarded. Always tear rather than cut oyster mushrooms.

• When making green banana wafers use a potato peeler to produce the thinnest slices.

• When using cooked or raw garlic as an ingredient in dishes that will be stored for several days, be sure to remove any small green shoots found in the centre of the cloves. These shoots have a slightly bitter taste, which develop over time and can be imparted to the finished dish.