In truth the peppers don't add much to this dish so you can leave them out if you want to

In truth, the peppers don't add much to this dish, so you can leave them out if you want to. I like plain York ham, the kind that comes in packets, but I suppose you can do some kind of cutting-edge thing with posh foreign ham if you like it. You want about a tablespoonful of chopped ham per person, placed in a little mound at the bottom of the dish.Chop some onions and peppers very finely; two colours of pepper if you're feeling flash. It's for those occasions when you have too many people to dinner/need to add an extra course at the last minute/have completely forgotten that people are coming.

It takes between 45 and 90 seconds to make, depending on how complicated you want to make it.First chop some ham. Actually it was only handed down through one generation: I stole it from my mother. With proper understanding you give yourself permission to win. But remember, arrogance, insolence and stupidity are close relatives.'How to Argue and Win Every Time' is published by Sidgwick & Jackson on 10 May, price pounds 16.99How to make gazpacho in 45 secondsJohn Lanchaster, author of 'The Debt to Pleasure', published by Picador, price pounds 15.99This is a secret family recipe handed down through generations. Humour, when properly used, can be devastating, but beware! Badly used, it can backfire catastrophically.7 Logic is power If you have logic on your side, ride it for all it's worth It may not always be fun, but it is powerful.8 Act to win Don't defend when you can attack Take the initiative Take control.9 Admit the weaknesses of your argument at the beginning.

You can expose your weak points better than your opponent, who will expose them in the darkest possible way.10 Understand your power and your argument. Towers of paintings can look particularly good, but the paintings need to be of similar size. And the spaces between the pictures should not be the same size as the paintings themselves, or you will find yourself looking at the gaps.Never hang watercolours in direct sunlight, or they will fade Nor should they be hung in a steamy or damp bathroom. Living rooms with open-plan kitchens are not suitable for hanging oil paintings as cooking fumes and grease can damage the surface. Also, if you are hanging a painting above a sofa, be sure that the backs of people's heads are not going to rub the surface. Floodlights coming from above the painting are better than spotlights trained directly on to the canvas.Paintings can be attached to walls with chains or picture cord, but heavy- duty nylon fishing line is invisible. Particularly heavy paintings can rest on a flat piece of wood painted the same colour as the wall.

Don't trust your eye to tell you that you've got things straight. Always use a spirit level.How to win an argumentThe 10 key elements that make up the great power argument, by Gerry Spence1 Prepare Preparation is the key. Understand all the facets of your argument, and your opponent's.2 Empower yourself Everyone is capable of making the winning argument Self-belief is utterly convincing.3 Relate your argument in the form of a story Traditionally, we are storytellers and listeners Use a story format to express your ideas.4 Tell the truth Establish your credibility from the start With credibility comes trust.5 State objectives clearly If you want money, ask for it Don't let others misinterpret your requests.6 Avoid sarcasm, scorn and ridicule Use humour cautiously Give respect to your opponent Nobody admires the scoffer, the cynic, the mocker. The shape the paintings make on the wall should look considered. Groupings needn't be strictly symmetrical, but in that case the pictures in the group should follow either a horizontal or a vertical plan. Unfortunately, it does little to promote happy family relations and can end up doing more harm than good.How to hang paintingsby Anthony Wishaw, chief hanger, Royal Academy summer exhibitionPaintings need space to breathe, but you can hang a big painting in a small room as long as there isn't furniture in the way. A good white matt acrylic is generally the best background for pictures in a domestic setting.