· Try adding parmesan to pastry, when making something like an onion tart, to give it further flavour.
· Brush pastry scraps with melted butter: sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and bake like cookies.
· Use a 4:1 ration of ratio of lard:butter to get the perfect crust on your pie.
Crumble a couple of Weetabix into wholemeal pastry to replace some of the flour and give your pastry a crisper texture
Pie vents and funnels, available from Cooking Fantastic, will help stop soggy pastry.