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December means good times are coming (hope, hope,

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This & that

Things to do, dates to note, sofa entertainment and more

From the mailbox …

THIS MONTH’S STAR EMAIL WINS... ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES. *LETTERS

FROM THE READER PANEL ON FACEBOOK

Do you like to cook and eat outdoors in winter? Here are just some of your replies…

Meet the reader

*DECEMBER’S WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN OUR FEBRUARY

Want to have a go?

Cook it like delicious. this month and you could win a Magimix Cook Expert

The talking point Are we still in it together?

Many are hoping to embrace the festive season more warmly than ever this year. And yet, says Elainea Emmott, terrible though the worst pandemic months were, they brought communities together

Take five

There are prizes to be won and fun to be had with Hugh Thompson’s delicious. brain teasers

The last-minute GIFT GUIDE

Nothing under the tree yet? No problem… Here are ideas in abundance for food-loving friends and family

A negroni with Sebastian Faulks

The acclaimed novelist on his foibles, predilections and traditions. Can he cook? What’s in his fridge? And where does he stand on turkey gravy?

A sprinkle of stardust

Gather friends and family, set the festive table to make it sparkle and get ready for good times… We asked nine leading lights of the UK food scene to share their favourite celebration dishes

Bridget Jones’ turkey curry buffet...

Reimagined

Marcus Wareing’s MEAT-FREE WINNERS

What does a high-end chef cook at home? In his latest book, the MasterChef: The Professionals judge swaps kitchen whites for a domestic apron and shares the recipes he enjoys rustling up for family. Vegetables are the heroes in these four dishes – destined to become your family favourites, too

The Hairy Bikers’ betwixmas special

With all the fuss about the big feast, other festive meals can seem like also-rans – but not this triumph of a dish from TV petrolheads Si King and Dave Myers. Enjoy it on Christmas Eve, on one of those in-between days – or any time

The sharing Christmas breakfast

Forgo heavy fry-ups or fussy canapés on Christmas morning and keep the cooking to a minimum with a lay-it-out-and-leave-it grazing platter –a genius idea to suit the early risers and the slugabeds

Change up your cheeseboard

Make this the year you find some new British stars to grace your after-dinner plate, says Patrick McGuigan. Here are his discerning alternatives to the classic choices

Sugar & (festive) spice

Whether you bag them up as gifts or munch one (or three) with a cuppa, these German bakes from Anja Dunk ’s latest book will fill your kitchen with evocative festive aromas

Make magic with Christmas chocolates

Dipping into a box of delights is one of the pleasures of the season – but how about upcycling some of them into a showstopping pud?

Boozy bakes

Can you improve on a classic? We think so, as these Baileys-laced Christmas treats demonstrate. They’re festive, they look the part and they taste very, very good

#notforsharing

If you’ve been carousing the night before (and even if you haven’t), this is the best thing since sliced bread

Diana Henry meets... Nigel Slater

What happens when two of the UK’s best-loved food writers get together for a chat over a cup of tea? How refreshing to find they have the usual anxieties, from rapid house-tidying to making a cake and worrying whether the other will like it

The time I cooked for... Paul Rudd and Dan Levy

Chef Asma Khan’s snap of the A-listers enjoying dinner at her restaurant, Darjeeling Express, went viral when she shared it on Twitter. She reveals what their visit earlier this year meant to her (and why she’s yet to convince her mother…)

Ice cream is for life (not just for summer)

When it comes to enjoying one of the finest culinary pleasures, don’t be swayed by something as arbitrary as the British weather, says Debora Robertson. Be more Russian!

One from the heart “I wanted to light Hanukkah candles with my loved ones”

When US writer Joe Baur began exploring his Jewish heritage, he couldn’t have anticipated the comfort it would provide in the face of grief. His doughnut recipe for Hanukkah marries his new-found traditions with his wife’s heritage

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SAVE on exceptional wines from around the globe

Treat yourself to some of the world’s best wines for less – or give someone a special gift – with this selection from Wickhams

Online cookery courses

These learn-at-home classes make an ideal Christmas present – or treat yourself and brush up on your skills. It’s just £35 for a course of five classes, with several courses to choose from

Two gre at chances to win a Cotswolds escape

Together with Pride of Britain Hotels, a collection of country houses and boutique hotels around the UK, we’re giving you TWO chances to win a luxury countryside break

Make. Life. Simple .

Easy food for busy days. Family friendly recipes. Goodies stashed in the freezer. Leftovers all used up

Less time, more flavour

If the prospect of cooking even one more meal in December feels like a chore, food writer Clodagh McKenna’s latest cookbook is a gift, full of recipes designed for everyday cooking. Here are our top five

Use it up Christmas feasting special

Stretch the good times and save leftovers from the bin with these smart ideas

Jen’s Christmas kitchen

Our food editor discovers a boon for bakers and shares simple DIY canapés (better than shop-bought) – plus Jess Meyer’s brilliant ways to use up ingredients and leftovers

Kitchen project Special turkey

If you fancy a change this Christmas (and don’t have a cavernous oven) why not be like Gill Meller and cook the festive bird on the barbecue? It’s even brined beforehand for maximum flavour and tenderness

It’s crunch time

You can argue about whether to have turkey, goose, beef or a nut roast, but roast potatoes? They’re non-negotiable. Here’s how to achieve crisp, golden perfection with soft fluffy insides

Gravy

“Gravy adds l ayers of flavour . It

Susy Atkins’ Greatest hits of 2021

Drinks editor Susy has been writing about wine for 25 years . She looks back on this year’s best of the best to help choose your seasonal tipples . Go on, celebrate!

Cocktail masterclass Essential mixes

Create a stir with our classic menu of crowdpleaser tipples – a surefire way to get the celebrations going

27 BEST FOOD BUYS FOR DECEMBER

Team delicious. have tasted their way through the supermarkets’ latest creations, plus a handful of mail order favourites, to sort the true gems from the merely glitter dusted. Here’s what to add to your trolley this year

December Recipe index

65 festive dishes STARTERS, NIBBLES & SIDES •