WELCOME TO Christmas

Frost, breath visible on the air, woolly gloves and bobble

Writing

This letter is a special moment. Why? Because we start

DECEMBER moments...

The rich food of Christmas demands bracing walks to build

Dear reader

If you’re looking for a special gift for a food-loving

Sausage rolls

Christmas morning or New Year’s Eve canapé, Boxing Day centrepiece, anytime snack… These three oh-so-good variations on an all-time classic will keep the crowd in joyous mood over the holiday season

The king of toasties

Need post-pub sustenance on Christmas Eve, or a sofa treat in the post-Christmas, pre-New Year lull? This oozing tower of wonder, served hot from the oven, is snack royalty

The Christmas Eve FISH PIE

“This pie makes a great supper and, though the ingredients

Dreaming of a white Christmas

It’s what we all hope for, yet so seldom get. Snow or not, though, it’s still a magical celebration. Here, we’ve given a new twist to some key festive recipes and photographed them to evoke that longed-for snow and frost. With an updated take on the ham, a food gift people will actually want to receive, plus a few classics along the way, our recipes are designed to capture the magic of the season

Sides that go with everything!

The days of the diva meat centrepiece are over… Dress up your vegetables and watch them dance into the limelight

A CHRISTMAS FEAST to remember

RECIPES, FOOD STYLING AND WORDS REBECCA WOOLLARD PHOTOGRAPHS GARETH MORGANS

THE HERITAGE INGREDIENT NUTMEG

The aromatic seed of the beautifully named tropical tree Myristica fragrans is a spice associated with Christmas, says Debbie Major. Here, she shows how a freshly grated sprinkle can transform sweet and savoury dishes for the festive season

Raymond Blanc’s Three best canapés

"The festive season has always been special for me –

AT LAST! A PROPER MEAT-FREE CENTREPIECE

"There are so many disappointing veggie main course options out

FESTIVE BAKING that’s good for the soul

When it comes to baking, the Danes know how to do it well. Plus, they know how to create an inviting environment in which to enjoy the fruits of your labours with loved ones. They have a word for that good-as-a-hug atmosphere, too: hygge (pronounced ‘hooga’) - the pursuit of candlelit cosiness that’s the subject of scores of articles and books this winter. There’s a reason for that: hygge feels good, and these sensational recipes from the new book by Brontë Aurell will impart a sense of warmth and wellbeing, as well as introducing new flavours to your celebratory baking

Christmas storecupboard collection

Whether you’re busy socialising, planning menus or flying in and out of shops buying last-minute presents and provisions, it’s easy to forget about the meals you’ll be eating in between the celebration days. These recipes have been designed to make the most of the ingredients you’ll have to hand - and will help you use up leftovers, too

IN THE delicious. CHRISTMAS KITCHEN...

As the delicious. food team test recipes, there’s constant tinkering

THE SIMPLEST CHRISTMAS RECIPE

Think life’s too short to make your own mincemeat? Think again, says chef and food writer Harry Eastwood. Not only is it a doddle, it will transform the quality of your mince pies – shop-bought stuff just can’t compete. Presented in Kilner jars it makes a fine homemade gift, too. Just make sure you follow the recipe…

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR CAKE THE EXPERT WAY

What do you get if you cross a gingerbread house with a Christmas cake? This beauty of an iced creation, that’s what. Designed exclusively for delicious. by Bettys, the famous Harrogate bakers, it has the wow factor while being do-able. We’ve used Chetna Makan’s amazing saffron and pistachio Christmas cake from our November issue as the base (find the recipe online if you missed it), but you can apply the decoration to a traditional cake of the same size if you prefer. Oh, and no stealing the biscuits before the cake’s ready to be cut!

PANETTONE

"This sweet, fragrantly fruity bread originated in Milan (no one

FROM OUR INBOX...

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FOR STARTERS

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

Your last-minute GIFT GUIDE

Left your present-buying until the last minute? You’re not alone! We’ve rounded up the best 11th-hour offerings – hand picked by us, and easy to get your mittens on, too

HESTON BLUMENTHAL

The man of fabulous feasts and foodie feats reveals his early inspiration and revisits Christmases past

Why Christmas is such a feast for the senses

At this time of year, food scents and flavours mingle with memory to conjure up a magical sense of nostalgia. Julian Baggini gets to the bottom of how and why food exerts such emotional power at Yuletide

Decorations with a heavenly scent

The aromas of cinnamon and star anise are an integral part of Christmas, but their usefulness extends beyond the kitchen. With a few basic tools and a bit of deft handiwork, you can transform everyday spices into beautiful decorations or gift tags

My festive cheeseboard

Rule number one: choose cheeses of contrasting colours, shapes and textures. My Christmas selection has a practical edge to it, too – I want cheeses I can use right through the holiday period

THE GREAT CHRISTMAS DEBATES

It’s the jolliest time of the year and the liveliest

TASTES LIKE HOME

If you go for a wintry walk this festive season, it will be a happy homecoming if you have this rich, beefy creation ready in the oven. It comes from chef Theo Randall’s mum and he’s loved it all his life

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL

Around the world in eight food traditions

Festive food and wine matching

"There’s no better time of year to crack open special

The cocktail cabinet of dreams

You don’t need to have a home bar groaning under the weight of fancy bottles and expensive kit to enjoy a bit of mixology at home. Drinks specialist Julie Sheppard devises the ultimate party mixer set

THE big Christmas taste test

We put this year’s pies, puddings and panettones through their paces to make sure only the best made it onto these pages. It’s a hard job (actually, it is quite!), but someone has to do itÉ

COMFORT & JOY

For a wintry break in the UK, it’s not just the food that needs to warm the spirit. White-walled modernism won’t cut the mustard – it’s good old-fashioned cosiness that hungry travellers need. We’ve rounded up four of the snuggest places to rest your head over the festive season and beyond

Let’s stop giving people pointless gadgets!

How much of the stuff bursting from our kitchen cupboards is unwanted Christmas gifts? Aggie MacKenzie, presenter of ITV’s Storage Hoarders, says it’s high time the madness ended

delicious. SHOWSTOPPER PUDDINGS

SERVES 12-14. HANDS-ON TIME 35 MIN, PLUS AT LEAST 4

WIN Stellar Sabatier knives and a carving set worth £500

Cook our cover recipe this month and you could win

LOOSE ENDS

Don’t let this month’s special ingredients linger in your kitchen make the most of them with these smart and easy ideas