NEW YEAR in the country…

WELCOME TO DECEMBER

A frostiness in the night air, a crackling fire in

The big event

Is almost here, and it brings with it mixed emotions:

Christmas is coming... DECEMBER

The French-chateau-style majesty of Buckinghamshire’s Waddesdon Manor is hard to

A gingerbread WONDERLAND

My love affair with sweet things, inspired by my mum’s

CHRISTMAS EVE LASAGNE

SERVES 8. HANDS-ON TIME 50 MIN, OVEN TIME 40 MIN,

CHRISTMAS MORNING TREAT

MAKES 15. HANDS-ON TIME 25 MIN, OVEN TIME 10 MIN,

The dress-it-up, dress-it-down CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Every year, I wonder how much people stray from their

The meat-free WINNER

SERVES 6-8. HANDS-ON TIME 55 MIN, OVEN TIME 1 HOUR

The alternative CHEESE COURSE

She’s a food writer, stylist and former food editor of

Debbie Major’s Best of British

The best of Scotland’s ‘golden nectar’ is incomparable in quality

THE FESTIVE HAM Warning: may cause addiction

SERVES 10-12 WITH LEFTOVERS. HANDS-ON TIME 20 MIN, SIMMERING TIME

A PIE FOR WINTER

I’m no Willy Wonka, but I find beef cheek with

THE IN-BETWEENERS

This recipe will make more onion than you need. Keep

HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR

The bumbling Clarence the Angel, who is tasked with helping

STAR LEFTOVER RECIPE

To my mind, the lull between Christmas and New Year

TAILOR-MAKE YOUR CAKE Choose your style and flavour

“I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve told

The great HANGOVER-CURE TOUR OF BRITAIN

Let’s begin with the classic, available everywhere. On my plate

MEET THE DRAMA QUEENS

SERVES 6. HANDS-ON TIME 30 MIN, OVEN TIME 25 MIN,

Your timesaver Meal Planner

1 Mix the teriyaki sauce, lime juice, zest of 1½

FROM OUR INBOX

I don’t think I’ve ever written a letter to a

NIGELLA LAWSON

THE MEAL OF THE YEAR My mother took Christmas dinner

FOR STARTERS

Christmas is a time to spread festive cheer to those

The book gifts of 2015

How Baking Works (And WhatTo Do When It Doesn’t) by

As good as homemade?

We conduct our tests without packaging, so our expert tasters

Last-minute GIFTS

Roast cocoa nibs coated in dark Colombian chocolate. Tintastic. £5.95

Buy the right fizz

By early December I can’t wait to pop a cork

The stylists’ guide to a BEAUTIFUL FESTIVE TABLE

Former Country Homes & Interiors lifestyle editor Sarah Wilson has

LOOSE ENDS

Add a couple of teaspoons of elderflower cordial to icing

ESCAPE, EAT, WALK...

WHY IT’S GREAT NOW The pub nestles at the foot

CHRISTMAS COOK SCHOOL

HENRY You don’t have to thicken it with flour. I

MINCE PIES WITH A TWIST

It’s hard to beat a classic mince pie, but by

WHOSE SPROUT DISH IS THE WINNER?

HOW WE DID IT We chose a sprout dish from

THE 30-MINUTE CAKE DECORATION

I’ve plucked inspiration from the Christmas tree to create this

The after-dinner quiz

Appoint a questionmaster, get into teams and let the competition