Entertaining made easy

Have you ever wondered how some hosts can pull off elegant parties without losing grace? Whether you're entertaining family, friends or colleagues, the following recipes from Frances Bissell's Entertaining (Macmillan, 2002), are guaranteed to impress your guests, but won't keep you cooped up in the kitchen, away from the party.
Recipes:

Velvet Chicken and Cucumber Soup

Salmon in Puff Pastry

Yoghurt Blancmange with Orange and Honey-Roasted Cranberries

Recipes excerpted, with permission, from Entertaining by Frances Bissell (Macmillan, 2002).