“There’s something magical about the way apricots caramelise, turning golden and intensely fragrant. This tarte tatin captures that magic, whether using fresh fruit or tinned when out of season. Nestled in a thyme-scented caramel, the apricots’ tartness balances the rich, crisp pastry beneath. Once flipped, their glossy, syrupy juices soak into the layers, creating a dessert…”

“Unusually for an Asian nation, the Vietnamese have a fondness for coffee – a taste they acquired from their French colonisers. (Interestingly, Vietnam supplies the world coffee trade with much of its robusta beans, most of which end up as instant coffee.) The left-over syrup keeps well and tastes delicious spooned over ice-cream.”

Darn. It’s back to reality with a dirty great thud after a glorious summer break, when we enjoy slumming it in the cooking department, letting our fresh produce purchases and whatever knocks around the fridge inform lazy dinner decisions. Very. Lazy. Dinner…