Suppers

'What shall we have for supper tonight?' must be one of the most familiar daily cries in every household. Now, at last, the answer has been supplied by Claire Macdonald in this extremely practical cook book which contains a huge range of delicious, informal meals ranging from exotic ethnic dishes to plain bangers and mash. Most of the recipes are for everyday meals, but there are also chapters on supper dishes for more special occasions, for Sundays after a heavy midday meal, for single people, for children. There are also suggestions for 'high tea', inspirations for using up leftover food, and 'panic' suppers which can be made from a few items in your cupboard. Most of the meals, however, cater for the good old family supper which must be prepared and cooked mid-week when most people are at their busiest and, arguably, hungriest. Whichever dish she is describing, Claire Macdonald brings to it her own highly experienced techniques. Whether it is toad-in-the-hole for an ordinary supper, or monkfish in gruy re cheese souffl for a special evening meal, you can be assured that the food will taste delicious. And you will no longer be short of ideas as to what to serve up for the daily evening meal, whether for yourself or a demanding family.