baking

• 21 Apple and muesli crumble cake
  Ingredients (Serves 8) 175g/6oz unsalted butter, plus a knob for greasing 150g/5oz golden caster sugar, plus 1 tbsp 3 eating apples, peeled, cored and cut into 8 wedges 3 large eggs,...

• 22 Shamrock cupcakes
  Ingredients (Makes 24) 200g/7oz caster sugar 200g/7oz soft butter 4 medium eggs 200g/7oz self-raising flour 1 tsp Irish cream liqueur (optional) For the shamrock icing ...

• 23 Peppered beef with Cognac and Parma-wrapped greens
  Ingredients (Serves 4) Few glugs of olive oil 3 shallots, peeled and chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper 800g (13⁄4lb) beef fillet 40g (11⁄2oz) butter ...

• 24 Bramley apple and cider pudding
  Ingredients (Serves 8) 400ml/14fl oz medium cider 250g/9oz caster sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp mixed spice 60g/2½oz sultanas 60g/2½oz raisins...

• 25 Banana and peanut butter muffins
  Ingredients (Makes 12) 200g self raising flour 25g oats 75g light brown muscovado sugar 3 medium ripe bananas 100g crunchy peanut butter 2 medium eggs, lightly beaten ...

• 26 Apple tarte tatin
  Ingredients (Serves 4-6) 150g/5oz plain flour 125g/4½ oz caster sugar 150g/5oz butter 2 egg yolks Juice of 1 lemon 4-6 eating apples, peeled, cored and halved ...

• 27 Cinnamon blueberry cake
  Ingredients (Serves 8) 175g/6oz unsalted butter, softened 175g/6oz caster sugar 4 large eggs, lightly beaten Pinch ground cinnamon 175g/6oz self-raising flour, sifted 2 tsp...

• 28 Toffee pear muffins
  Ingredients (Makes 12) 150g/5oz butter 150ml/¼pt milk 3 large eggs 8 tbsp dulce de leche 100g/4oz light brown soft sugar, plus extra for sprinkling 300g/11oz self-raising...

• 29 Dan Lepard’s simple white loaf
  Ingredients 400g strong white flour, plus more for dusting and shaping 1 tsp dry instant yeast (from the packet) 1 tsp fine salt 300ml warm water oil for kneading Method...

• 30 Gregg Wallace's chocolate mousse tartlets
  Ingredients (makes 6) 125 g (4 oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting 50 g (2 oz) butter, chilled and diced 25 g (1 oz) caster sugar 1 small egg, beaten icing sugar, for dusting For...

• 31 Roquefort souffle with pear chutney
  Ingredients (Makes 6) For the soufflés 50g/2oz unsalted butter, plus 25g/1oz for greasing 100g/4oz walnuts, finely chopped 50g/2oz plain flour 300ml/½pt milk ...

• 32 Shelling out
  When making cakes, meringues or batter there’s rarely an occasion when a smidgen of shell doesn’t wend its way into the mixture and try as you might, trying to get it out with your fingers...

• 33 Fruit got that sinking feeling?
  If you’ve ever made a cake containing dried fruit or nuts and been a little disappointed when they’ve all sunk to the bottom then there’s a quick and easy fix for you. Just dust the fruit...

• 34 A week of perfect pies
  Hot on the heels of National Chip Week we’re into another of my favourite foods – Pie Week. Pies are perfect fare for these cold days and what other food can you have both as sweet and savoury....

• 35 Alpine fun-fare
  As soon as someone mentions the Alps to me I think of two of my favourite things – skiing and food. The warming hearty fare you get served in those little quirky French mountain-side restaurants...

• 36 Potatoes are this season's must-have in star hangouts
  We all know that celebrities love to dine in trendy, stylish restaurants, but have you ever wondered what’s topping the menu? A recent review of restaurants that boast a star-studded clientele has...

• 37 Top treacle tart from celeb chef Paul Merrett
  Following three years working with Peter Kromberg at Le Souffle and an apprenticeship at The Ritz, Paul Merrett worked under the watchful eye of Gary Rhodes at The Greenhouse in Mayfair. In 1997, Paul...

• 38 Berry brilliant baking
  Mary Berry’s Baking Bible is an essential book for the keen baker. A thorough walk through the world of cakes, pastries and all manner of sweet and savoury goodies will lead you straight to baking...

• 39 Cutting the cake
  Ever wondered how they get perfect slices of iced chocolate cakes in restaurants? The secret is a hot, sharp knife. Choose your best one with a long blade and get it really hot by dipping it into a...

• 40 Top dinner party fare: dauphinoise potatoes
  Dauphinoise potatoes are a great dish to serve at a dinner party – simple and easy, delicious and perfect for preparing ahead. However, serving them can be a bit of a dilemma as they tend to go everywhere...