Cheats and Tricks

This idea has had two picnic outings this summer, both were huge successes.

Thinking about food through these four prisms of taste can open up new possibilities for seasoning and adding flavour to our food.

It’s lunch. I fancied some soup. I opened the fridge and took stock. Leftover bits of chicken and some rice. Chicken soup sounds good. Lunch is over in 10 minutes – and the soup was great.

Here’s a cheat I’ve been doing for years. It takes 10 minutes to prepare and about 20 minutes in the oven.

Quesadillas are a popular Mexican snack. They are best made on a hot griddle pan, but we have always made them in the microwave, rather like nachos. Here is a method I have developed which makes perfect quesadillas – straight from the microwave.

Through a process of trial and error – motivated as much by curiosity as thrift – I have finally devised a method to elevate the status of these bland buds to that of a proper chargrilled artichoke.

Part of Dad’s series ‘Quick cook breakfasts’. The WDC Raclette Egg Toast requires just an egg, some bread and cheese… simplest of breakfasts in 5 minutes.

There is more to the art of a smoothie-making than meets the eye…

Fresh herbs are great – but why is it so difficult to keep them fresh…

Here is a real-life example of how to use a Sunday roast dinner leftovers through the week…

This is a store-cupboard cheat – the kind one is sometimes forced to make when…

Barbecues are great fun – here’ a few tips about how to plan a stress free and fun barbecue…

Here’s a way to enjoy a really authentic ice-cold gazpacho – and it only takes a few minutes to prepare…

This is one of the quickest snacks it’s possible to make…

This is where WDC cooking comes into its own – and it was created in all of 10 minutes…