Pasta and bread are the quiet staples that turn odds and ends into a proper meal. Neither is difficult, but both reward knowing a few fundamentals — the right amount of salt in the water, how to build a sauce that clings, how to tell when a loaf is properly proved. Get these right and some of the most comforting food there is becomes second nature.
The guides
GuideHow to cook pasta properlySalting the water, cooking to al dente, and building a sauce that clings to every strand.
GuideHow to make bread at homeThe basics of a good loaf, from kneading and proving through to a proper, crusty bake.
Put them to work
A silky pasta sauce is the best way to practise what the guides teach:
