CLAIRE PTAK had planned to move to London with her English boyfriend Damian when she was offered a job as pastry chef at the famous Chez Panisse in Berkeley in California.

8oz (225g) vanilla sugar

Recipe for Summer Pasta with Zucchini, Sugar Snaps and Peas.

Congratulations to the Tesco Young Chefs of the Year: Senior winner was Laura Clifford from Co Louth.

Serves 4

This is a poshed-up version of mushrooms on toast. Virtually all fungi are delicious on toast so this can be very humble or very exotic depending on the variety chosen.

A winning combination of firm white fish and prawns in a creamy, parsley-flecked béchamel sauce under a mound of crispy-topped mashed potato, makes this a fabulous lunch or supper dish.

Vanilla fairy cakes are a childhood staple and a centrepiece at children’s parties.

A really useful recipe, popular with all ages, these chicken drumsticks can feed a crowd and you’ll have none of the ‘big four’ allergens to worry about.

Calorie-free.