In this book, James offers an exciting array of inexpensive recipes, that can be prepared ahead and served up without a fuss so that the cook can be with their guests, not stuck in the kitchen. Do-ahead cooking need not be limited to hotpots and pies; James innovative recipes include scotch quail eggs with homemade brown sauce, fennel soup with brown shrimp and dill, pig cheek salad with pickled shallot and buttermilk dressing, rhubarb crumble ice cream and raspberry gin and tonic. The recipes are not exclusively for entertaining – many double-up as easy after-work suppers. This is a book for every cook s bookshelf.