Pastry is one of our favourite things to indulge in – the golden crust of a pie, the flaky pastry of the immortal Cornish pasty, 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 dispels all fear, giving every home cook the tools they need to achieve pastry greatness with achievable recipes for every pastry-laden occasion, from the buffet to the centrepiece of any meal.