Black Forest Christmas fool

A simple, quick and indulgent dessert you can rustle up in 10 minutes. If you want to make a non-alcoholic version, use a can of cherries in syrup instead

Buttermilk caramel puddings

A foolproof make-ahead spin on a crème caramel, using just five ingredients. The perfect winter dinner party dessert for those with a sweet tooth

Fresh & smoked salmon rillettes

A simple starter, fresh and rich, that makes a bit more of a pack of smoked salmon – serve instead of pâté on rye or piled into chicory leaves

Gravadlax with celeriac & fennel salad

A light salmon starter with a crisp salad and honey and mustard dressing. No cooking required, just gravadlax or smoked salmon plus fresh seasonal produce

Easy Christmas turkey

The turkey is cooked high and fast like a chicken, giving it extra crispy skin. It needs longer to rest so the meat can relax and stay succulent

Halloumi fries

Crisp and slightly salty shallow-fried halloumi fries make perfect party food. Great with a sprinkling of za'atar and a spicy yogurt for dipping

Crab fritters with cheat’s chilli & crab mayonnaise

The rich Sriracha-spiced mayo perfectly complements these moreish crispy morsels of crab and nutty gruyère. Great party nibbles and well worth the effort

Buttered Jerusalem artichokes

A beautiful buttery side dish filled with seasonal goodness. If you're looking for something a little different with your roast, try these roasted veggies

Mincemeat, apple & marzipan wreath

This festive bake can be served warm with thick cream or custard as dessert or, once cool, slice into wedges and serve with a cup of tea

Super-simple fruitcake

This easy fruit cake by one of our younger readers, Bree Hamilton, is simple, uses storecupboard ingredients and is perfect for a quick winter pick-me-up

Rainbow beet slaw with pecans & maple dressing

This is a goes-with-everything colourful side salad. If you want to serve it over a few days, leave out the soft herbs as they will wilt in the dressing

Chicken & kumquat salad

This seasonal salad is super zingy and fresh. Use finely chopped lemon peel if you can't find kumquats