You’ll need to start with a pan in which you’ve just roasted a bird or meat ... Turn off the heat, then pour in the Cognac or brandy. Increase the heat to high. Stir with a wooden spoon ...

When it comes to bird hunting, waterfowl may be the most ... cinnamon and sugar. For the fig and brandy cranberry sauce, I sautéed my onions and garlic in butter until the onions were soft ...

Return the bird to a low oven at 150C/gas mark 2 for five minutes, during which time the brandy sauce will mature and lose its raw flavour. At this moment you can, if you like, enrich the sauce ...