1 If pizza sauce (or gravies) has become very thin, you can thicken it by adding two slices of day-old bread. Run it in a grinder to make very fine crumbs.

2 If you want to get the best out of saffron, then warm it before crushing (you can also microwave it for 10 seconds.). Add 1 tsp warm milk and stir well.

3 Keep an extra potato or two handy. Boil in their jacket, drain it dry and keep them in the fridge. Use in a jiffy when you are too tired to make tedious dishes. Either season with salt and pepper or put slices in bread sandwiches or fry and season or make a quick stir fried vegetable. The potatoes will stay good in a refrigerator for two-three days.

— The writer is the corporate chef of Tuli group of hotels