Here’s a book that will find a welcome home with anyone who regularly attends potlucks and church suppers, or who likes to have a convenient collection of hearty one-dish meal recipes at their disposal. Pretty much anything you can bake until bubbly is in here -- over 250 recipes in all.

While there are plenty of gooey, cheesy, meat and/or egg laden comfort food casserole recipes here, what I like most about the book is the author’s wide scope, encompassing cooking influences from throughout the world. It seems casseroles truly are universal and there are recipe here that will be sure to appeal even to those who thought they didn’t like casseroles. There’s also a wide variety of recipe styles, from home style casual fare to elegant entrees perfectly capable of serving discriminating company.

One thing the author doesn’t talk about, that I wish he would have, is freezing. Many casseroles freeze exceptionally well. I have made double or triple the quantities of many of the recipes in this book, divided them into portions and froze them for use on time crunched nights. If you already know the basics of what does and doesn’t freeze well, you’ll find lots of inspiring recipes here.

With this book as your guide, your oven will be getting a workout and your family will be getting lots of hot and hearty foods, from breakfasts and side dishes to main courses and desserts. Wright provides lots of tips and notes with each recipe including how to incorporate leftovers you might have on hand.

Chapters Include: Breakfast and Brunch Casseroles; Meat Casseroles; Poultry, Dairy, and Game Casseroles; Seafood Casseroles; Pasta and Noodle Casseroles; Rice and Grain Casseroles; Vegetable Casseroles with Meat; Vegetable Casseroles without Meat; Dessert Casseroles.