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

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

Mulled red

Serve up wintery mulled red– with this classic recipe

Pan puris

This deep-fried Indian street food makes a great party snack – crisp rounds of bread filled with chickpeas and potato, drizzled with a herb and spice water

Braised red cabbage

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only

This low-fat Christmas side dish is the perfect sweet-savoury combination. Or try one of our simple twists using preserved lemon, ginger wine and bacon

Granola baked apples

The perfect last-minute dessert – this simple warming winter pudding is budget-friendly and delicious served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Harissa sticky chicken with couscous

No chickpeas in the cupboard? Use cannellini or kidney beans in this easy chicken dish with fragrant coriander couscous and a spicy harissa paste glaze

Turkey piccata

A healthier version of piccata veal, that's gluten free and dairy-free, cooked in a lemon butter sauce and served with crisp baby roast potatoes

Bloody Mary scrambled eggs & smoked salmon

Spice up a favourite breakfast with a little Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, the perfect antidote for the morning after a big night of celebrations