It’s time to CELEBRATE

It seems barely six months since I last wrote the editor’s

FROM OUR INBOX…

FROM: Tom Johnston Clare Finney cast a provocative

FOR STARTERS

NEWS, NIBBLES OF KNOWLEDGE AND GOOD THINGS TO DO RIGHT NOW

LEVI ROOTS

The Caribbean-restaurant owner, sauce maker and music lover talks about his Jamaican childhood and festive celebrations

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT…

For Kay Plunkett-Hogge, Boxing Day wouldn’t be Boxing Day without a particular family recipe cooking away on the hob

THE BAKERY THAT’S CHANGING LIVES

A sort of alchemy happens when flour, sugar, spices and eggs combine, but as well as working its magic on these simple ingredients, baking can transform people, too. Kerry Fowler meets the women at Luminary Bakery in London to find out how learning how to mix, knead and roll has helped them turn their lives around

YOUR EXTRA-SPECIAL FESTIVE COOKBOOK

Christmas Eve, brunch, midnight snacks, Boxing Day

TRADITIONS and the things you might not know

There are some weird (and wonderful) stories behind the traditions so many of us hold dear, many of which might surprise you. Debora Robertson unearths the essence of our unique festive history – plus we discover what makes tradition so important to our psyche

The wreath masterclass

The foliage adorning your front door is as vital a part of a traditional Christmas as the turkey and mother-in-law. If the bog-standard holly, laurel or ivy number isn’t for you, get creative, nurture your inner artist and make your own beautiful wreath, festooned with edible ingredients

Step-by-step to the best wreath

Creating a one-of-a-kind seasonal decoration is simple with a bit of time and Jan’s expert guide

The main event

“It’s never going to be the easiest meal of the year

“This dish is kinship, intimacy, gentle hours passing, wrapping presents and telling stories”

It’s not necessarily the showiest dishes that hold the deepest meaning. For restaurateur, Great British Menu judge and musician Andi Oliver, this simple side dish, cooked with long-time friend and musical collaborator Neneh Cherry, is the stuff of life

The festive cheeseboard

Eager to explore beyond the predictable shrink-wrapped selections? Boost your ‘expercheese’ with our handy guide and try something different this year

How panettone became the new Christmas pud

This light, citrussy, fruited bread from Italy has been welcomed with open arms in Britain and is well on its way to becoming a Christmas staple (look out, dark heavy puddings). Mina Holland travelled to the famous Galup bakery in Piedmont to learn a few trade secrets

THE BEST CHRISTMASSY BREAKS

Want to get in that twinkly, all-warm-inside mood, ready for the festivities? Our helpful elves have gift-wrapped some glittering destinations, all with great food, of course – plus an idea for those who just want to escape the madness. And if you’re staying put this season, we’ve rounded up the best Christmas festivals countrywide

The great Christmas FOOD & DRINK QUIZ

Finished the big dinner? Don’t reach for your phones! Instead, pit your wits against one another over a convivial glass of port. The winner is excused from the washing up

Michel Roux Jr’s relaxed yet special BRUNCH

When he’s not busy in the kitchen of his Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gavroche, the chef and TV star loves nothing more than a bit of rustic home cooking. This fabulous make-ahead brunch dish is a great example; it’s made for one of those laid-back, in-between days over the festive break

A slow-cooked winner for Christmas Eve

“The traditional croque madame is made with a rich

RECIPES INSPIRED BY PANTOMIMES (Oh, no they aren’t! Oh, yes they are!)

Concocted from classic fairy tales and brought to life with spectacular costumes, catchy music and a twist of the ridiculous, pantomimes are a peculiarly British confection. Frosty December and early new year nights just wouldn’t be the same without them. We’ve sprinkled a little theatrical magic over a cast of festive recipes inspired by some of the best-loved stories in the pantomime repertoire – and, naturally, they’re invaluable for festive revelry. Sshh! The show’s about to start…

Mince pies

Few aromas are as festive as freshly baked mince pies, and this year we have three new recipes to add to your repertoire: Middle Eastern-inspired morsels with tahini pastry and mincemeat infused with pomegranate molasses; an eccles cake-style star wreath; and mini Scandi crumble pies

Gill Meller A COOK’S YEAR

’Tis the season to be jolly and do a bit of roasting… This month, River Cottage chef Gill turns his attention to goose as an alternative centrepiece for the most important feast of the year

HOW TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS LIE-IN

Invest a bit of time preparing this menu and you can stay under the covers a bit longer on Christmas morning (assuming there are no children jumping on your bed begging to open their presents). It has make-ahead canapés for the oven, a one-tray turkey roast and an impressive frozen pud. Bring on the celebrations!

“Vegan food is just as CELEBRATORY ”

Chef and YouTuber Gaz Oakley – aka the @avantgardevegan – has more than a quarter of a million followers on Instagram. But there’s substance behind the hype: his recipes taste wonderful and (applause) he has a way of creating a sauce that tastes properly cheesy, yet without a whisper of dairy in sight. These dishes from his new book are fit for any celebratory, all-the-trimmings spread – whether you’re vegan or not

THE CANAPÉ MAKEOVER

Evoke the spirit of gatherings past with our delectable new takes on Seventies-style cocktail party favourites. Yes, it’s time to channel the classic play, Abigail’s Party, grab a martini or two and relive the cheesy pineapple years – only more tastefully this time around

A very British toastie

“I adore this sandwich. It’s kind of wrong, but the

7 of the most enticing (and useful) Christmas recipes

No matter where you’re from, the call of home pulls at your heartstrings at Christmas – and for Brontë Aurell, it’s her Scandinavian homeland that beckons. These recipes from her new book, created in her spice-filled London kitchen, are full of warming, sustaining flavours. You’ll want to make them for family and friends, and some make great gifts… There’s even one for hanging on your tree

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Every month we give you an all-new web-only recipe.

10 of the best festive storecupboard recipes

Celebration meals are inevitably the focus at this time of year, but let’s not forget the rest of December, when most of us still need to churn out weeknight dishes that are more exciting than beans on toast. “Waste not, want not” is a delicious. motto, and with that in mind we’ve created satisfying meals that make the best use of those festive odds and ends. Using such rich pickings does mean some of the recipes have a few more calories, but mix and match them with the lighter dishes for balance. The idea is to save you time, make shopping easier and minimise leftover waste. A Christmas hallelujah for that!

WIN! A food lover’s dream cruise

Embark on a trip that combines late-summer sun with the ultimate cooking experience

Treat yourself to a delicious. wine case

Wonderful food deserves wonderful wine. If you need to stock up for Christmas, top wine specialist Majestic has made it easy. They’ve put together four festive food-friendly cases, just for you. These cases are available online only, with FREE Majestic delivery

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COOK THE COVER

…and win a cookery course plus a night at Lainston House

COMING NEXT MONTH

PLUS Produce Awards: THE WINNERS! l Slow-roast lamb

FOOD LOVER’S CROSSWORD

See how much you really know about the world of food

THIS MONTH IN THE delicious. KITCHEN…

While the delicious. team are testing recipes, they’re often debating the best ways to do things, as well as answering cooking questions that arise in the test kitchen. At this time of year, all those festive conundrums come to the fore: What really is the best way to stuff a turkey, and how can you tell when it’s cooked? What can you do with leftover sprouts? It’s the kind of information you won’t find anywhere else, and it will take your cooking to the next level

CORONATION CHICKEN PIE

“The flavours in this pie are nostalgic for me. The

GIFT GUIDE

It’s all here: clever ideas and treats galore for the food-loving people in your life. Bring on the inspiration…

THE TOP 10 FOOD BOOKS OF 2018

If you want to buy a cookbook as a present – for a friend or for yourself – it’s a hard task choosing this year, as there have been so many outstanding ones published. To make the job easier (and ensure your money is well spent), Susan Low has assessed, digested and selected her favourite tomes of the year, adding a top choice from drinks editor Susy Atkins

TEST REPORT

Cookery classes make great presents, and one of these – a photography or curing class – might be just the thing for the food lover on your list. We’ve rounded up Christmas-themed courses around the country, too

YOUR SHORTCUT BEST BUYS

It’s time to stock the fridge with treats before guests arrive and the festivities begin… But where to start? We’ve scoured the shelves to bring you our top 15 ready-made buys, plus runnersup and handy festive extras

Your one-stop drinks shop

“Starting on the next page, you’ll find 50 great bottles, each and every one a tried-and-tasted top Christmas pick from me. They’ve made it through to my final list either because they’re great party wines that are good value and crowd-pleasing or because they make particularly appealing matches for festive fare. I’ve also chosen a few that stand out as fine fizzes or sweet gems that would make great presents. To make buying extra-easy and save you time, I’ve grouped everything together by retailer, so this really is a one-stop shop… Happy Christmas!”

When pudding and cocktail combine…

Welcome to this special collection of cocktail-inspired

THE delicious. PARTY GUIDE

Classic cocktails, booze-free drinks and how much of everything to serve