kitchen projects
10 THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH
We share our list of kitchen jobs, plus Emma Crawforth from BBC Gardeners’ World on what to do in the garden
1GET TOGETHER
FESTIVE FILM FOOD Get in the Christmas spirit by hosting a movie night for friends. You could theme the menu around the film’s foodie scenes – think banoffee pie from when Juliet visits Mark in Love Actually; hot chocolate from The Polar Express; or Kevin’s macaroni cheese from Home Alone – or, dig into seasonal favourites, like hot dogs or bratwurst with fried onions, mulled wine or eggnog, mince pies and gingerbread people and maybe a festive cheeseboard.
2 SWITCH UP YOUR SNACKS
CHESTNUTS ROASTING Warm roasted chestnuts make a wonderful Christmassy snack, but you can also serve them with roasted meats, fold them into stuffing or use them to bulk up vegetarian mains. Lay the chestnuts on a board, flat sides down, and cut slits crossways into the tops. Tip into a roasting tin and roast at 200C/180C fan/ gas 6 for 30 mins until the skins split open. If you want that ‘open fire’ flavour, transfer them to a flameproof pan and finish over embers on a barbecue. Leave until just cool enough to handle, then peel and enjoy. Or, leave to cool completely, then peel and use in other dishes.