If you haven’t had time to make and ice a fruitcake for Christmas then never despair. We’ve sought out a selection of the best festive fruitcakes to feast on over the Christmas season. (And if you’re looking for our list of the best Christmas puddings, no stirring required, you’ll find…
Q: At about this time every year I buy poinsettias to give as Christmas presents. Do they come in colours other than red or white and is it worth trying to keep them going from year to year? What is the best way to keep a poinsettia flowering? (Read our…
The best Christmas canapé recipes are those that don’t require complicated preparation, equipment you can’t spell, let alone source, or artistic abilities beyond your ken. Leave that to the professionals. What every great Christmas drinks party needs is a host who takes heed of our best Christmas canapé recipes. (You…
To ensure your festive season goes with a swing, here’s our menu for the Twelve Cocktails of Christmas – all easy to make and easier to consume, says Jonathan Ray
Charlotte Mackaness doffs her paper hat to a cracking invention that makes each Christmas go with a bang.
The best Christmas pudding and brandy butter is a hard combination to beat. Don’t be alarmed by the lack of precision and for goodness sake, leave the supermarket brandy butter on the shelf. Both are best homemade, and remarkably simple, says Ettie Neil-Gallacher. (However, if you are short of time,…
Preparing the festive feast can be stressful for even the most experienced country cook. So it’s best to know when to opt for shop-bought. If you missed Stir-Up Sunday this year and are still without the inclination to wield the wooden spoon, take your pick of the 6 best Christmas…
The gates spring open. Twelve thoroughbreds surge forwards through a cloud of snowflakes, a gaggle of neon-clad skiers jostling in their wake as scrabbling hooves hurl snow pellets into the sky. A furlong later and the chaos subsides, the horses settling into a familiar racing pattern as they stretch out…
Folklore, religion and revelry have combined over the centuries to create the festive figure so central to our celebrations today, writes Ettie Neil-Gallacher
Many may be familiar with the French, Spanish and Italian festive customs, says Ettie Neil-Gallacher, but what about the more unusual continental Christmas traditions? If your festive guest list is looking rather depleted this year, then a goose is a perfect option for the main event. Follow our top tips…
