PHOTO OF MELANIE: JON ASHFORD. PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS
With Christmas looming, you’re probably anything but calm right now. My most challenging preparations came two years ago when, with 36 hours to go, my sister called to cancel the lunch at her house because my brother-in-law had a terrible sickness bug. I was in Waterstones in London’s Piccadilly buying last-minute gifts and, following a surge in blood pressure at the news, I quickly recovered and switched to turkey duties, ready to transport to Wales for my mum and in-laws. It wasn’t a perfect lunch, but it worked and we had fun…
This year the HFG team wanted to help you find solutions for what can be a stressful period. Our cookery and features list can help you stay calm: we’ve got easy crowdpleasing recipes and a must-make spicy loaf cake; new digital ways to improve your sleep; a visit to the Frazzled Café, where customers chat the stress away; tips to improve your mood through diet; plus expert advice for gut health issues.