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Welcome. I’m very excited about this recipe collection. Some of these recipes are brand new—some are my tried-and-tested favorites given a refreshing twist; others contain a selection of new ingredients or flavor combinations. I have included a variety of recipes for the whole family to enjoy, quick suppers for you to rustle up after work, and impressive dishes for when you’re entertaining. I’m sure you’ll find much to tempt you.
One of the most exciting things about this book is that it’s given me the opportunity to crystallize the knowledge and experience I’ve gained over so many years of cooking for my own family and friends, and to pass them on to you in a way I hope you’ll find useful.
For each recipe, I identify the “key to perfection”—that is, the crucial part that you need to get right to guarantee excellent results. Sometimes it’s a case of preparing some of the ingredients correctly, or you might need to be aware of a technical step during the cooking process or learn to recognize when a dish is done. Whatever it is, the step-by-step photographs and guidance make it easy to understand what you need to do to get the recipe perfect. Imagine I’m in the kitchen, cooking alongside you. I might just gently say in your ear, “Ah, watch out for this bit” or “Keep an eye on that.” Well, that’s what I’m doing here, while sharing with you a host of techniques that I’ve honed over the years. Some of the recipes may look a little longer than my usual ones—but it’s not that they’re complicated, it’s just that I’m giving you more detailed information than I ever have before.
The more you cook these recipes and master the keys to perfection, the more they will become second nature. And who knows, perhaps you will then become the one whispering gentle advice into the ear of a less experienced cook! Just read through the recipe and keys carefully, and cook with care, and you, too, will achieve perfect results—time and time again.
Wishing you happy cooking.
