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“Food helped us find our way through this crazy year”

Behind the headlines in 2020 are hundreds of stories of courage, resilience and hope. Three people reflect on how their lives took a dynamic new direction during the year where everything changed – and why they won’t be looking back in 2021

10 OF THE BEST Christmas movies

Snuggling up under a blanket on the sofa with a classic flick is one of the great pleasures of the festive break, and it’s even more pleasurable with something good to nibble or sip. Try these readily available feelgood films.

Hot chocolate makes the world a better place

As 2020 draws to a gentle and somewhat subdued close, now is the time to seize possibilities, to buy a few treats you couldn’t afford when cooking for a crowd and to nurture the cosier moments of the festive season, says Debora Robertson

Why Christmas cookbooks are GOOD FOR THE SOUL

A warm living room, a cosy sofa and a pile of festive cookbooks to leaf through is food writer Gemma Croffie’s idea of a lifeaffirming evening – and it’s about so much more than the recipes.

COOK IT LIKE delicious.

…and win a hamper of top quality Hereford beef

WHAT’S FOR DINNER TONIGHT?

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RECIPE INDEX

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THE BIG CHRISTMAS QUIZ

Is the pudding just finishing in the steamer? Has the cork been pulled on the port? Appoint a question master - it’s time to sort the know-alls from the know-nothings. No arguing, please…

AT HOME WITH RICK STEIN & SONS

When the cookery legend and his family get together over the festive period, there are favourite recipes that always have a place on the menu –whether it’s Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve or one of the days in between. Now you can add these gems to your own household’s traditions, starting with the cocktail we all deserve

The crowdpleasers… TAKE IT SLOW

With melt-in-the-mouth textures and palate-teasing flavour combos, these winning recipes are designed with ease in mind: minimal prep, followed by a low-and-slow session in the oven or on the hob, leaving you free to get on with other things. All four taste even better if you make them ahead, and two of them freeze well… Time for a batch-cooking session, perhaps?

The delicious. 2020 TURKEY

Regardless of the restrictions on our lives, for many there’s one thing that’s non-negotiable at Christmas: the big bird. Whether you want to cook it simply or dress it up with all the frills, whether you’re a first-timer or a pro, you’ll find all the best recipes and know-how for perfect results here – and we haven’t even mentioned those lovely leftovers (see p82 for big ideas for those)

The flexible roast FOR 4… OR2

Pheasant is affordable – you can buy it for as little as £8 a brace (that’s two) from a good butcher, it freezes well and cooks within half an hour. All-star attributes for this roast recipe by one of the UK’s top chefs that needs just a little pre-prep to ensure moist and tender meat

THE ALTERNATIVE ROAST

It’s official: beef is the nation’s favourite roast, according to new research. Our version is glazed with sticky treacle, fragrant with bay and sherry vinegar, and only needs 30 minutes of prep before you pop it in the oven. Where’s this beauty been all our lives?

HONEY & 5-SPICE GLAZED HAM

Roast ham is always impressive, but it gets a serious upgrade with a special combo of flavours in chef Calum Franklin’s latest book, The Pie Room. Best of all, a roast ham lasts for days and freezes well, so it’s designed for leftovers. In a word: magnificent!

Gizzi Erskine’s veggie recipes of dreams

If traditional fare has left your palate feeling jaded, put a surprise on the menu with food writer and chef Gizzi’s exciting recipes from her new book Restore. Although not vegetarian, the book focuses on sustainable eating and wholesome ingredients, and the four recipes we’ve chosen will give your festive table the gift of flavour

THE NEW NUT ROAST with killer cheese sauce

Forget those uninspiring veggie offerings of Christmases past – this updated centrepiece is rich, savoury and satisfying (hands off, meat eaters!), and comes with a super-cheesy sauce you’ll want to pour over everything

NIBBLES, STARTERS AND SIDES

Here’s a sprinkle of inspiration from our little black book of food trends to update your festive table for 2020. What’s inspiring you: the retro Indian café trend, the miso-in-everything trend – or just a new riff on an old (sausage) favourite? Mix and match for a welcome burst of big flavours

The melty-cheesy tear-and-share star

We’d love to see your creations. Tag@deliciousmag on

EDIBLE GIFTS

There’s no substitute for the care that goes into a homemade present, and if it’s something they can eat or drink too, it’s a double win. The crafting bit doesn’t have to take ages, either – these wonderful presents can be assembled in minutes

Love your LEFTOVERS

Half the pleasure of Christmas is all the stuff left over to nibble or repurpose in the days after the big feast. These double-duty recipes show that, even in this unpredictable year, you can enjoy your favourite luxuries (hearty joints of meat, the cheeseboard and wonderful seafood) knowing nothing will go to waste and there are other brilliant meals waiting in the wings

LOOSE ENDS

Simple, savvy ideas for using up classic Christmas leftovers. By deputy food editor Sophie Austen-Smith

Showstopper PUDDINGS

Okay, time to get out the apron and roll up your sleeves – the baking’s getting serious now. Any one of these glorious, no-folds-barred sweet creations will add big-time wow-factor to your Christmas table

WINTER WONDERLAND CAKE

Ahh, Toblerone. We all love it, but have you ever baked with it? This alpine beauty could become your new festive essential, making all your Christmases white

Let’s BAKE

Cakes and puddings don’t have to be complex, dishwasher-filling, 25-step labours of love, as these recipes prove… In fact, one of them isn’t baked at all. Quick, simple and fun, they’re great for rustling up with children (who doesn’t love a mug cake?) or as a clever last-minute pudding saviour when time is short

BIG-UP FLAVOUR

These quick weeknight recipes by Irish chef Donal Skehan span a globe’s worth of food cultures - from Japan to Italy by way of the USA, where he used to live. They’re a refreshing world away from the traditional foods at this time of year, but they have one thing in common: the kind of full-on flavours that will have you cooking them again and again

THE GREAT FRIDGE DECLUTTER

Our columnist Debora Robertson has another persona: as @deboradeclutters on Instagram, she ‘deals with stuff, one bin bag at a time’. Who better to turn to for tried-and-tested wisdom on how to create storage sanity in the run-up to Christmas (even if there are only two of you)?

The last-minute gift guide

Wrap up those stragglers with our pick of presents to prompt a smile. Though we’ve thrown in a few first-class treats, the lion’s share are £15 or less. Win!

GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

Give someone (or yourself) the joy of anticipation with an absorbing hobby or exciting delivery… Much needed small pleasures that stretch well into the new year

Supermarket cheeseboard

For the best choice, a specialist shop is the place to go, but most of us will find ourselves before a wall of plastic-wrapped cheeses at some point. The good news is that with a bit of know-how you can unearth treasures in the big stores, says Patrick McGuigan

THE 25 BEST SUPERMARKET CHRISTMAS BUYS

The delicious. team scoured the (virtual) aisles, tasting and sipping to find what’s worth recommending among this year’s offerings from the big food retailers. Drum roll, please…

TEST KITCHEN

Remove the bird from the oven, put it on a carving

THE FESTIVE SAUCES

1 Simmer the finely grated zest of 1 orange, covered

One for the trolley

Quirky, fun products don’t always mean tasty, but this

TEST KITCHEN APPROVED

Planet saver We love reducing plastic in the kitchen

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!

Susy Atkins recommends classic and more left-field matches for festive foods. Plus: this year’s top fizz, a bubbly cocktail and three beers worth cheering about

Cuppa time

Complete the puzzle, take a picture and email it to

WIN! A tasteful escape to Cornwall

Don’t miss this exclusive chance to win places at the three-night Gourmet Weekend Event (5-8 March 2021) as guests of Cornwall’s Budock Vean hotel