This is a book of cooking for every day throughout the year—meals for all occasions from family snacks to meals when you entertain, and I hope it will give you both pleasure and inspiration.

In addition to the recipes, you will find useful information on cooking techniques, hints on buying food and wise shopping, 'emergency' dishes, and helpful suggestions for dealing with minor mishaps in the kitchen.

In planning the book, I have tried to include recipes to suit every budget—they range from ideas for those cooking a meal for a small household on a limited income to lavish suggestions for buffet and dinner parties; and I have included special recipes for slimmers, invalids, vegetarians, etc.

Many of the dishes in this book are illustrated by colour photographs which, in addition to being inspiring, will help you to present the finished dish as attractively as possible. I would like to express my thanks to the Home Economists and firms who contributed these pictures. I hope this book will really help you to enjoy your day to day cooking, as well as enabling you to prepare those more exciting 'special occasion' dishes!