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Pastry is one of the most basic components of cooking, needed for pies, tarts and cake bases of many types. It originates in the ancient method of applying a paste of flour and water to baked meats to protect them in the fire. But, in the Middle Ages fats were added and modern pastry was born. Learn a little about the different pastry types and see a recipe for a traditional classic flaky pastry.

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Pizzas have become a staple of modern cooking and a staple of fast food. The known history of pizzas stretch back over 2000 years, from topped flatbreads depicted in Pompeii to the first 'true' Neapolitan pizzas of the 1890s to the sweet pizzas of the 1980s. Here the recipes for a classic savoury pizza crust and a modern sweet pizza crust are presented. Once you can create a pizza crust to perfection then the remainder of the pizza is easy!

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Review of 'Roman Cookery' by Dr Mark Gant. How valuable a resource is this? Will it actually teach you to cook the Roman way? Read this review and find out for your self.

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A hot smoker is a method of cooking food, particularly fish, in a mixture of steam and wood chip or sawdust smoke. This article tells you how to make a very cheap home-made smoker from standard kitchen components, as well as telling you how to cook with it.

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The traditional recipes of Wales are what might be thought of as 'peasant food' the kind of recipes made by the poor who want to make the most out of what little food they had. This, in some respects, has left Wales with a blank culinary slate where some very exciting modern foods, bringing together influences from all over the world have been created. Here I give an example of a traditional Welsh dish and an example of a recipe from the new breed of Welsh cookery...

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'Thai Food' by David Thompson is one of those rare 'must have' culinary books that presents the culture and history of Thailan from a food perspective. This well-written book presents over 300 recipes covering all aspects of Thai cuisine and represents the most comprehensive collection and examination of Thai Food printed in the English Language.

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Chicken is perhaps one of the most versatile meats available to the cook. Partly because chickens grow quickly but also because chicken meat, if cooked properly, remains tender and succulent during the cooking process. Chicken also lends itself to a vast array of cooking methods from stewing to roasting. Here you will learn a little about chickens and chicken meats along with two classic chicken recipes.

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The Romans were the first peoples to formally add a dessert course at the end of a meal. Here you will learn a little about why we like sweet desserts and why they all, in one way or another, echo the fruit our ancestors used to eat. You will also see two recipes for classic fruit-based desserts.

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Nigeria has a very vibrant and dynamic culture and this is reflected in the country's food. Staples remain stews ('soups' in West African parlance) and staples based on grains, cassava flour and millet. Here you will see two authentic Nigerian recipes to help you gain a flavour for this country's cuisines.

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When you examine the history of drinks, what you see is the attempt by human civilizations to render drinking water safe. This article gives an introduction to the ways various civilizations have chosen to make water safe to drink as well as providing two recipes for a fruit juice drink and a spice infusion of lemongrass.