Using sunflower oil instead of butter gives a wonderful moist fluffiness to cakes and lets the flavour of the other ingredients do the talking. We use purple carrots, which turn the cake a beautiful deep blue colour, but, if you can’t get hold of them, regular carrots...

Tomatoes, with all their natural sweetness and vibrancy, make an excellent jam. You can use this as an alternative to tomato ketchup, or as a filling for savoury scones and sandwiches; it’s almost like a sweet chutney. It’s also a great way to use up leftover...

If you haven’t made custard from scratch before, now is your chance. It takes a bit of time and skill, but you will be pleased with yourself at the end. This recipe takes custard to a new higher level by infusing the liquid with toasted marzipan, which gives it an...

This may sound a little strange, but it is delicious and adds instant flavour and colour to any variety of dishes. Try serving it on our Best porridge (see here), or dribble a little on a sponge cake with some cream. You can experiment with different herbs, such as...

Adding fruit to butter is a simple yet effective way to incorporate variety and flavour into your cooking. The possibilities are endless. Lemon, lime or orange zests (make sure they are unwaxed) work great, or, for a savoury version, try smoked sea salt or crushed...

Again, this is very simple and quick to prepare because it’s cooked in the microwave, which preserves the vibrant colour and flavour of the onions. Serve it as part of a ploughman’s lunch, on a grilled cheese sandwich, or with a nice bit of Summer quiche (see here)....

By cooking this in the microwave you not only reduce the cooking time, but preserve the real flavour and colour of the fruit. The risk of burning the base of the pan also disappears!We’ve chosen pears here, but you can use whatever fruit you like: apples, strawberries...

This is a delicious balance of savoury and sweet. Great to have in the fridge, ready to elevate the next late-night dinner of cheese on toast to a special treat. It also makes an excellent gift as part of a hamper of good cheeses and crackers.If you haven’t got a...

This makes a great gift and can be prepared well in advance and kept in the fridge. We have tried using other fruit juices for this, such as lime and passion fruit, and they both work really well. It’s best spread on hot buttered toast or served with our White...

This is a simple shortcrust. The savoury version can be used for pies and quiches; the sweet makes a great base for tarts. The trick is in rolling out the pastry between two sheets of baking parchment – this way you don’t need to use any extra flour so the mix stays...