Pastry is one of our favourite things to indulge in ' the golden crust of a pie, the flaky pastry of the immortal sausage roll, or the soft encasing of a suet pudding: all provide comforting, homely dishes that we know and love. However, often it feels out of reach for everyday cooks, surrounded by rumours of impossibility, stories of failure and unachievable recipes.
 
In River Cottage Great Pies Gelf Alderson will dispel all fear, giving every home cook the tools they need to achieve pastry greatness with achievable, delicious recipes for every pastry-laden occasion, from the buffet to the centrepiece of any meal. Starting with a chapter dedicated to the core recipes for the most-used pastry ' including shortcrust, puff and rough puff, hot water, filo, suet, choux and sweet pastry and a range of wholemeal pastries ' these becomes the basis for the pastry masterpieces in the book. (And if you don't have time to make pastry from scratch, don't despair ' the recipes in the book are doable with shop-brought for when time and inclination are against you.)
 
In chapters such as veggie suppers, saucy pies, pastries and sweet tarts, you'll find recipes from spanakopita to a classic pork pie, or chicken and leek pie to cannoli, rounded out with a chapter of sauces, gravies and custards ' everything you'll need to accompany your pies, pastries and pasties. With an introduction from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, the book will provide an essential kit list and information on different flours and fats, with 100 comforting recipes of grounded pastry cooking, achievable for everyone and on your table in no time.