Cooking can, and should be, a panic-free and enjoyable experience. But where do you start? What if you've only just discovered where the oven is? How can you possibly rustle up a delicious dinner for four when you've been at work all day? If you recognize yourself in any of these questions, then this book is for you. The author presumes absolutely no prior knowledge or experience. Just follow the countdown method, which gives step-by-step, minute-by-minute instructions, thus taking all the effort and agony out of cooking. Whatever the occasion - an informal supper, a quick snack, or a full-scale dinner party - the book contains a complete menu to suit you. Many of the recipes can be prepared in advance, and menus can be mixed and matched to save time and money. There are no complicated cookery terms, but there are plenty of handy tips to get you out of sticky moments such as last minute hitches or lumps in your sauce.