Sausage minestrone

Bulk out this chunky vegetable soup with hearty sausage and cannellini beans, then serve with our tapenade ciabatta toasts

Salmon & cucumber twists

Get creative with your canapés. These fresh and light smoked fish bites are easy to make and even easier to eat

Golden pilaf with sizzling merguez

Contains pork – recipe is for non-Muslims only
Merguez sausages add some mild spice to this baked basmati rice dish with nuts and mint, but leave them off if you want to make it vegetarian

Tasty make-ahead gravy

Make the base for this gravy up to two days ahead, then simply add your roasted meat juices and heat before serving

Creamy bread & shallot sauce

This hearty roast dinner accompaniment is flavoured with cloves, bay leaves and nutmeg- great with chicken or turkey and smothered in gravy

Giant smoked salmon & beetroot blini

These super-sized buckwheat pancakes make a great dinner party or festive starter for sharing

Chocolate chip mince pies

Get the kids involved with BBC Good Food food editor Barney’s child-friendly chocolate mince pies

Coq au vin with garlic croissant puffs

This classic chicken casserole is brought up to date with clever snail-shaped swirls packed with garlic butter

Lemon & pepper mackerel pasta

Choose a wholemeal version of your favourite pasta shape and serve with this light but comforting fish mix

Squash & blue cheese Wellington

Having one of these vegetarian pastry rolls in the freezer is ideal for entertaining at the last minute, or as a vegetarian Christmas main

Thai coconut soup with turkey meatballs

Lean and thrifty, turkey mince makes a great substitute for chicken in this spicy Asian noodle soup

Dorset apple cake

Edd Kimber creates a rustic bake with chunks of sweet fruit and a crunchy demerara sugar topping