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PORTRAIT: PAUL MITCHELL. FOOD PHOTOGRAPHS: MAJA SMEND, ISTOCK/GETTY

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The values underpinning everything we do and everything we are

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This month: UK’s best Asian restaurants, feelgood things

Cockle-warming 5 WINTRY EVENTS

Discover... PHOTOGRAPHS: PUDDING IMAGE ADAPTED FROM AT CHRISTMAS

From the mailbox …

THIS MONTH’S STAR EMAIL WINS... *LETTERS MAY BE

Meet the reader

Originally from the UK, Heather Jane Hetherington now

Cook it like delicious. (and win!)

In September you treated us to a battle of the bakes... Food editor Jen Bedloe shares her verdict on your creations

The talking point Why are American recipes so flippin’ long?

As our cousins across the pond prepare their Thanksgiving feasts (25 November this year), Katie Gatens bemoans an online trait that’s testing the special relationship

A kir royale with Monica Galetti

The MasterChef: The Professionals judge on family food ties, her canine companions and the power of the chef’s jacket

Diana Henry meets... Stanley Tucci

Charismatic, affable and an actor of extraordinary versatility: these characteristics have won Stanley Tucci an ardent following. He’s also developed a passion for cooking, cocktails and enthusiastic eating – yet there have been times recently when a sip of water was almost more than he could face

Get excited. For… Christmas.

Planning gifts and treats. Mulling over menus. House-filling festive aromas. Happy times to come

The time I cooked for... Paul McCartney

What goes on tour stays on tour, but food writer Annie Rigg is happy to spill the beans about her crazy year in the catering band – and the music legend’s love of curries

12 CHANCES TO WIN BIG

Our biggest giveaway of the year is BACK! Head to deliciousmagazine.co.uk before 12 December for your chance to win an incredible hamper or festive bundle from some of the biggest food brands

Christmas stress? How to say no!

What are your plans for the festivities? Have you had the tinsel out for months, preparing to go big after last year’s restrictions? Or did you relish spending Christmas Day in your pyjamas last year, with no travelling or cooking for a crowd? The most important thing, says Sue Quinn, is to decide what’s right for YOU

Jen’s kitchen

Our food editor reveals the best new products

Food geek Brining

At this time of year, there’s always talk of brining the Christmas bird – but does it really make a difference to the meat or should we take such advice with a pinch of salt?

DIY hot-smoked trout

Christmas project

THE 12 DRINKS of Christmas

Our drinks editor Susy Atkins has been writing about wine for 25 years. A familar face on TV, she’s also the Sunday Telegraph wine columnist. Here she chooses her true loves out of the many drinks she’s tasted for this year’s festive season, guaranteed to get ladies dancing and lords a-leaping. Pipers and drummers: music, please!

Festive three-star winners

These products all won the coveted three Great Taste stars in the 2021 awards... Can your Christmas larder do without them?

#notforsharing

Skip the takeaway and make yourself a speedy coconut curry instead

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

We’ve tried, tasted, sipped and solved to seek out presents food lovers will adore and cherish – and you’ll be hungry to see them unwrap these

COOKBOOK GIFTS they’ll love

Our pick of new titles for the bakers, cooks and kitchen-curious

6 of the best Advent calendars

Our top picks look the part, deliver on flavour – and each has a bonus thoughtful touch

The jewels of Christmas Cran berries

Cranberry and sausagemeat stuffing balls RECIPES & FOOD

Stir it up with Rick & Hugh

Making the Christmas pudding and cake in plenty of time for the big day puts two ticks on your to-do list. Now add Rick Stein’s and Hugh F-W’s recipes to your family traditions and let the joy of anticipation begin

New Chris tmas traditions

After last year’s muted celebrations, Debora Robertson is ready to gather her nearest and dearest and embrace excess with abandonment – but in a thoughtful way

Make.Eat. Share GO LARGE

The sharing dish just got a whole lot more fun with a festive selection of big, bigger, biggest ideas to make your gathering pop. Dive in and help yourself to a generous portion of happiness

Matt Tebbutt’s festive feasting

Parmesan fritters with roquefort spinach TURN THE PAGE

ROASTS with the X-factor

Looking to bring something new to the table? Whether you’re after a showy, meaty centrepiece or a plant-based winner, try one of these recipes for a feast with proper crowd-pleasing credentials

Jamie’s family favourite

“Who doesn’t love garlic bread? And this tear-andshare style is always a winner. I’ve written the recipe for 36 rolls because it’s an easier quantity of dough to work with. What I like to do is make up two trays of rolls, then whack one in the freezer, ready to bake another day – you won’t regret it.”

Dreaming of a blue Christmas?

Stilton is the go-to cheese at this time of year and it’s a beauty – but could it be time to broaden your blue horizons? Patrick McGuigan has the low-down on the East Midlands’ finest, along with stilton-alikes, offbeat blues and your festive bonus: stilton biscuits

If you make one pudding...

Soft, sweet-sharp curd, nutty crumbly pastry and sticky citrus segments, all flavoured with the refreshing sharpness of juniper – and gin. Cheers!

Sweetness & light

The shining outlook of Diwali is all about coming together, says food writer and restaurateur Ravinder Bhogal – so what better way to celebrate than to combine some of the world’s great food traditions in a harmonious treat

The magical scent of baking

“I know the countdown has started when those Christmassy aromas from the oven fill the house. Make these reimagined classics part of your new repertoire”

Make. Life. Simple .

PHOTOGRAPH: TOBY SCOTT Easy food for busy days.

Slow- cooked to perfection

Get organised and save crucial time with this slow-cook collection. You can stash any of these hearty, warming dishes in the freezer, then whip them out for an easy meal when things get busy

Warmth in a bowl

When it’s dark, wet and windy outside, a bubbling pot of soup makes everything okay. This one’s speedy too – just add crusty bread for comfort-food heaven

Star sides

Show some love for the veg and your meal will have standout appeal – for the big day or any other day

Use it up festive special

Savvy ways to use up the open, partly used ingredients left over from recipes in this issue – plus tips for Christmas scraps

The laid-back showstopper

A trifle can be an epic undertaking, but this crunchy chocolatey wonder, despite being made from scratch, needs only half an hour of your time

SAVE on a baking essential

Prime your kitchen for all that festive baking with a top-quality Tala loaf tin, made in England

Ready to raise your game?

Makes a great gift Online cookery courses These

November Recipe index

STARTERS, SIDES AND NIBBLES • American-style cobb salad

delicious. Make.Eat. Share

Join us next issue for Christmas with the stars…

Take five

There are prizes to be won and foodie fun to be had with our page of brain teasers

THE delicious. FOOD QUIZ

10 TEASERS BY QUIZ-MEISTER HUGH THOMPSON