How cook answered the criticism about the pie? (6)
I believe the answer is:
tartly
'how cook answered' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'criticism about the pie?' is the wordplay.
'criticism' becomes 'ly' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'about' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the pie?' becomes 'tart' (I've seen this in another clue).
'ly' after 'tart' is 'TARTLY'.
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for tartly that I've seen is " In a caustic manner".)