How to flambée a Christmas pudding:

1. Warm some brandy in the microwave; about an eggcupful for ten or fifteen seconds should be sufficient.
2. Pour the brandy over the pudding; as it hits the pudding, apply a source of ignition, such as a match.
3. As the eggcup full of brandy ignites, shake the hand holding it involuntarily.
4. To add to the spilled and flaming ( Read more... )

Q. How can I tell if my potatoes are cooked?
A. Lift a potato from the pot with a fork and make to transfer it to a plate. If the potato slides off, bounces once on the plate, and then falls to the ground and - this is the important bit - splits into several pieces, your potatoes are ready to eat!

(Today was not a good day for me to be in the

A sure-fire way to check if those eggs in the back of the fridge are fresh or not: fumble the entire carton as you're taking it off the shelf, and from the state of the eggs that fall on the floor, the door of the fridge, your shoes, etc. you should be able to make a pretty accurate assessment of the freshness of any surviving eggs!