As a former pastry cook, I stand firmly in the belief ... If you have dairy or nondairy milk in your fridge, substitute the water the box calls for with it. Whole milk will add extra decadence ...

Who needs a plate if you have a pie? This versatile pastry has accommodated fruit, meat and fish throughout the centuries and ...

If making the pastry by hand, put the flour into a large bowl. Coarsely grate the butter using a box grater and add to the flour. Coat the butter in the flour by lightly mixing it with your fingers.

Place in an air-tight box and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes. Tip the pastry out onto a lightly floured work surface, and roll out into a rectangle that is about 1cm/½in thick and three times ...