- Try to eat seasonally. It's always cheaper, tastier and your diet will be more varied. If you're not sure what's in season, have a look at my seasonal food guide.
- If the lingering smell of garlic, fish and onions on your fingers drives you mad, rub your fingers on some stainless steel under cold running water. It will entirely remove the smell.
- Peel fresh ginger roots with a tea spoon to ensure that you're actually left with something to chop or grate. A knife or a peeler will remove too much of the flesh.
- Do not add salt to pulses when cooking or they'll be really tough. A slice of potato in the water often helps to reduce toughness if you have already added salt.
- Most stock cubes are too salty. Add twice the amount of water that the instructions ask for.
- Wrap everything that goes into the freezer in 3 layers to prolong the freezing life span. Firstly greaseproof paper to absorb moisture, secondly clingfilm to keep it fresh and then tin foil as the clingfilm will perish in the freezer if not covered.
- Potatoes cooked in tomatoes juice will take twice as long to cook as you think!
- If you boil gelatine, it will prevent the mixture from setting. Likewise, certain fruits will not set in gelatine unless cooked first e.g. mango & pineapple.