Cook-it-Yourself

Shortly before I wrote these books, I heard a radio programme outlining the results of a recent survey of UK cooking habits. It revealed that, for most households, 'cooking' meant little more than heating up processed food.

I thought that this was a shame. I'm not a particularly adventurous cook, but I have always thought that there is something magical about cooking - 'real cooking', where you mix ingredients and then heat them to change them into something new. It's an act of alchemy - a magical transformation.

When I came to choose real recipes to include with the stories, I tried to choose simple recipes that have this alchemical quality, which is why I have sometimes avoided the recipe that the book is named after.

Having said this, I have reduced all the recipes to their essential ingredients. Experienced cooks might wonder why I haven't added a couple more ingredients to make a tastier "Goblin Stew" or why I haven't used something a little tastier than 'plain' flour in the recipe for 'Golem Bread'. The reason is that the same survey also revealed that many homes have no more than the most basic cooking ingredients. So I decided to try to stick to ingredients that most households were likely to have or those that could be bought in quantities that could be used-up in a couple of meals.