1You can’t become a Forno Star without getting the basics right. Before picking up your knife or pizza slicer, first make a shopping list for each stage of your recipe.
2Tip: always wear an apron over a simple T-shirt. If you splash sauce down your clothes, just rub them with washing-up liquid over the sink – otherwise you’ll lose precious time, or any inclination to cook at all.
3Check your recipe the day before and pre-prepare as many elements as you can. You can make a start on your homemade marinades, stuffings, sauces and doughs before the big day.
4Gain time whilst seemingly wasting it. Establish your game plan before getting stuck in. And, above all, once you have started cooking, wash up and put away any equipment or ingredients as you go.
5Need to cook onions? Put a lid on the frying pan to speed up the process. No onions needed? Well, the same is true for many other ingredients like peppers, carrots and even rice.
6Don’t add salt to water until it starts boiling. Salt has a cooling effect on water so, if you add it too soon, you may have to wait even longer for it to boil. And we all know that a watched pot never boils.
7Cut your vegetables using a mandolin. It’s not only quicker but it also means you won’t have to spend the night nursing that finger you sliced open with a knife.
8When using a chopping board, wash after every use. That way you can ‘wipe the slate clean’, ready for the next step.
9Cook to music: chop, peel and fry while exulting in the magnificent voice of Pavarotti. La musica provides rhythm and makes everything go faster!
