'I find it impossible to read [Wood's recipes] without feeling a burst of fresh energy for the kitchen. . . essential nourishment for the reader every bit as much as for the cook' NIGELLA LAWSON

To award-winning novelist Charlotte Wood, cooking is 'creativity in its purest form', nourishing the soul - and the mind - as well as the body. And in the age of gastro-porn and Instagram lifestyle gurus, this wise and practical book is her invitation to rediscover the pleasure of good food, prepared and presented with minimum fuss and maximum love.

This collection of personal reflections and recipes - ranging from the practical to the contemplative, offering warm and witty reflections on everything from carving a chicken to cooking through grief - will make you long to get into the kitchen and leave you freshly inspired to cook with joy for the people you cherish in your life.

Like a simple but glorious meal cooked by a dear friend, this feast of a book is infused with warmth and generosity - a treat for all who value the solitary and shared pleasures of cooking and eating.