Mulled fruit

250g frozen mixed berries 100g castor sugar 200ml water 2 cloves 1 cinnamon stick, split in half 150ml red wine 4 large pears 4 plums

Place the berries, sugar, cloves, wine, cinnamon stick and water in a pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the cloves and cinnamon and blend to a smooth sauce and pass through a sieve into another pan. Peel the pears and cut in half through the root. Remove core with a melon baller or teaspoon and place in the berry liquor. Cover with a sheet of parchment and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Cut the plums in half, remove the stone and add to the pan. Simmer until pears and plums are just done. Remove pears and plums and boil the liquor to reduce by half. Return the pears and plums to the pan and allow to cool. Chop into 1cm pieces. You’ll have a bit more fruit than you need but it will keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge.

Jelly 200ml of cooking liquor 2 leaves gelatine

Soak the gelatine in cold water for 10 minutes. Heat the liquor and add the gelatine leaves. Pour into a dish, cool and chill until set.

Coconut sponge 225g soft butter 225g castor sugar 4 eggs 200g self raising flour 20g cornflour ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 50g desiccated coconut soaked for 10 minutes in 150ml boiling water

Beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time. Sift the flour, cornflour and baking powder together and fold into the mixture. Add the coconut and vanilla. Pour into a prepared cake tin and bake at 180°c for about 40 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Cool Will make a bit more than you need but will keep for a week or freeze the excess. Alternatively use a Madeira sponge.

Vanilla custard 3 egg yolks 50g sugar 15g cornflour 250ml whole milk 100ml cream 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or extract

Whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornflour.Scald the milk, cream and vanilla and then pour over the egg mixture. Whisk and return to pan. Stir until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Pour into a bowl and cover the surface with cling. Cool and then chill. Alternatively buy ready made custard. Orange and cinnamon cream 500ml double cream Zest and juice 1 orange 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon icing sugar

Boil the orange juice, zest and cinnamon together until only a tablespoon of liquid remains. Cool. Whisk the cream and fold in the sugar and orange mixture.

To Assemble – Fruit liqueur Edible gold glitter

Cut the sponge into 1cm dice and place in the bottom of 6 individual trifle bowls or one big one. Drizzle over some fruit liqueur. Spoon over some of the fruit. Cut the jelly into cubes and spoon over the fruit. Top with custard. Pipe the cream over the top and spray with edible gold glitter.

2 pears, cored and chopped finely 2 sprigs rosemary, chopped 2 small onions, peeled and finely chopped 25g butter 500g sausage meat 35g chopped chestnut 75g breadcrumbs Handful chopped parsley

Cook the onions gently in the butter until soft and golden and add the rosemary, cook for a minute and then cool. Mix into the sausage meat with the breadcrumbs, pears, chestnuts and parsley. Press into a buttered baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes at 180oc.

Sweet and smoky cranberry sauce

1 small red onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon oil 1 dessertspoon tomato puree 350g frozen or fresh cranberries 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Dash Worcestershire sauce 75g soft brown sugar 25ml cider vinegar

Cook the onion in the oil until soft then add the tomato puree and cook for a minute. Add the cranberries, paprika, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sugar and vinegar and cook gently for about 20 minutes. Check seasoning. Can be pureed with a blender or left as is.

Braised carrots with leeks and sprouts

500g carrots, peeled and sliced thinly 2 onions, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, ground 25g butter 500ml vegetable stock 375g leeks, split, washed and chopped 500g sprouts, trimmed and cut in half through the root

Heat the butter in a large casserole pan and the onions and garlic. Cook until soft and add the carrots. Cook with a lid on over medium heat, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes. Add the fennel seeds and cook for a minute. Pour over the stock, add the lid and leave for about 15 minutes. Add the leeks and return the lid. After 5 minutes add the sprouts and place lid on again. Cook for about 8 minutes or until sprouts are cooked through. At this stage the liquid should have been absorbed but if not crank up the heat for a couple of minutes.

Crispy parsnips with parma ham

4 medium parsnips, scrubbed, trimmed and cut in half lengthwise 50g plain flour ½ teaspoon salt Few grinds black pepper ¼ teaspoon mustard powder 2 teaspoons onion granules 2 eggs 25ml milk 100g panko breadcrumbs 6 slices parma ham, shredded Oil for cooking

Steam or boil the parsnips until just done. Pat dry on kitchen paper and cool. Mix the flour with the salt, pepper, mustard and onion granules. Whisk the egg and milk in a separate bowl. Dip the parsnips into the flour and coat. Shake off the excess and dip in the egg then roll in the crumbs. You could do this stage the day before. Heat a thumb nail depth of oil in a pan over medium high heat. When you add a crumb and it sizzles add the parsnips – don’t over crowd the pan do it in batches and keep warm in the oven. Cook until golden and crisp all over. Add the ham to the pan and cook until crisp. Drain on kitchen paper. Place the parsnips on a platter and scatter over the parma ham and serve.

Mince Pies with Streusel Topping and Orange Cream

Homemade Mincemeat 100g ice cold butter, coarsely grated 200g dark brown sugar 2 Armagh Bramley apples, peeled, cored and coarsely grated zest and juice 1 lemon zest and juice 1 orange 50ml rum or orange liqueur 150ml Port 100ml Brandy 600g dried mixed fruit – I like a mixture of dried cranberries, cherries,figs, sultanas, pear and raisins 2 teaspoons mixed spice 1 round preserved ginger, finely chopped 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves

Place everything in a bowl and mix well with your hands to incorporate all the ingredients. Place in sterilized jam jars, seal with a lid and leave for at least 3 days before using.

Pastry 225g plain flour 110g cold butter 35g icing sugar 1 egg

Rub the flour and butter together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and mix well. Make a well in the centre and add the egg. Mix to a dough.Wrap in cling and chill for 20 minutes.

Butter 2 x 12 hole pie tins. Roll out the pastry and cut into rounds and press into the tins.

Streusel Topping 125g plain flour 110g butter 50g chopped nuts 50g Demerara sugar

Rub together until the mixture resembles crumbs. Spoon mincemeat into the bottom of the pie cases and then top with some of the streusel. (You’ll have more mincemeat than you need for this recipe but it keep in the fridge for a couple of months) Heat oven to 180°c. Place pies in the oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden on top. Cool for a few minutes before removing from tins.

Orange cream 250ml double cream Zest 1 orange 1 tablespoon icing sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla paste

Whip the cream to stiff peaks and fold in the orange zest, sugar and vanilla. Serve with the warm mince pies.

Crostini with triple crème cheese, roasted grapes and walnut

1 ciabatta loaf 200g red seedless grapes, removed from stem 1 tablespoon oil 1 teaspoon seasalt 1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary 2 rounds triple crème cheese 4 walnut halves

Slice the bread as thinly as you can with a serrated knife and place on a couple of baking trays. Bake in a 180°c oven until crisp and golden – about 10 minutes. Cool. Place the grapes into a baking dish and drizzle over the oil. Scatter over the salt and rosemary and place in a 180°c oven for about 25 minutes or until the grapes are blistered. Cool. To serve – slice the cheese thinly and place on a crostini, top with a few grapes and then finely grape walnut on top. Crostini can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container. The grapes can be stored in the fridge for up to a fortnight.

Crostini with local prawns, roast tomato, chilli and horseradish

1 ciabatta loaf 1 x 350g pack frozen local prawns, defrosted Juice and zest 1 lemon 1 teaspoon salt 250g cherry tomatoes, halved 1 tablespoon oil ( I used a basil rapeseed oil) 1 teaspoon finely chopped red chilli or chilli paste 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce 75g mayonnaise 75g sour cream Salt and pepper to taste Citrus balsamic pearls and dill fronds to garnish

Prepare the crostini as above. Fill a pan with half a thumb depth of water and season with half a teaspoon of the salt. Add the lemon juice and zest and bring to a simmer. Add the prawns, cook for a minute then turn off the heat. Leave for 2 minutes then drain and cool. Place the cherry tomatoes in a baking dish and drizzle over the oil and remaining salt. Cook in a 180°c oven for about 20 minutes. Cool. Mix the prawns with the cherry tomatoes (strain off the juice), chilli, horseradish, mayo and sour cream. Mix well and check seasoning. Spoon onto the crostini and garnish with the dill and balsamic pearls.

Chicken and leek minestrone soup with walnut and parsley pesto toasts

Chicken and leek minestrone soup 1 small chicken, about 1kg 2 onions, peeled and quartered 1 stick celery, roughly chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled 1 bay leaf 1 large leek, split, washed and chopped 25g butter 75g macaroni pasta 1 tin borlotti beans Large handful parsley, chopped Salt and pepper to taste

Place the chicken in a pot and add the onions, celery, garlic and bay. Season with salt and pepper and cover with cold water. Bring to a simmer, place a lid on and cook until fork tender on the stove – about an hour and a quarter. Alternatively place in a casserole and cook in a 180oc oven for a couple of hours. Remove chicken and set aside. Remove bay leaf and blend the liquor. Cook the leeks in a pot with the butter, season to taste and cook until soft – about 5 minutes. Add the blended cooking liquor, bring to a simmer and add the pasta. Cook for about 10 minutes or until pasta is done. Meanwhile rip the chicken from the carcass. Add the shredded meat to the pot with the beans and parsley. Check seasoning.

Walnut and parsley pesto

40g parsley coarsely chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 35g walnut halves 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar 50ml olive oil or good local rapeseed oil Salt and pepper to taste

Toast the walnuts in a dry pan for a minute and coarsely chop. Blend with the remaining ingredients to a thick paste and check seasoning.

1 ciabatta loaf 35g parmesan

Slice the bread and cook on a hot grill pan until toasted on both sides. Spread over the pesto and top with finely grated parmesan. Serve with the soup.

Chicken with leeks and mustard

8 boneless chicken thighs, skin on 1 tablespoon oil 15g butter 2 shallots, chopped 1 medium leek, split, washed and chopped 100ml dry white wine or dry cider 250ml chicken stock 2 tablespoons double cream 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Heat the oil in a large frying pan until hot and add the chicken skin side down. Cook for about 5 minutes or until skin is golden and crisp. Flip over and cook for 5 minutes on the other side or until cooked through. Remove chicken from pan. Add butter and shallots to pan and cook until shallots are golden. Add the wine and cook for a minute, then add the stock and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half. Add the leeks and cook for 5 minutes. Add the cream and mustard and cook for a minute.Return the chicken to pan with resting juices and check seasoning. Serve with the buttered Queens.

Buttered Queens 12 medium Queens potatoes, scrubbed Handful parsley, chopped 50g butter

Place the potatoes in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook gently until done – should take at least half and hour. Drain well and peel the potatoes. Return to the pan and add the butter and parsley. Add a lid and cook gently for a couple of minutes. Toss around to coat the spuds and serve with the chicken.

Beef sausage stroganoff with parsnip mash

500g beef sausages 1 tablespoon oil 2 onions, finely sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 25g butter 250g sliced mushrooms 1 tablespoon tomato puree 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 150ml beef stock 75ml double cream 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Heat the oil in a large pan and add the sausages. Cook to seal on both sides and then add the onions and garlic. Cook until golden. Add the mushrooms and dot the butter around the pan. Cook until the mushrooms are golden and mix in the tomato puree. Add the Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and stock and cook until the stock has reduced by half. Add the cream and mustard and cook to spoon coating consistency. Check seasoning.

Parsnip mash 1kg peeled potatoes 200g parsnips, peeled and chopped 200ml whole milk Salt to taste 25g butter

Boil the potatoes. Place the parsnips in a pan and cover with the milk. Season with salt and place parchment on top. Cook gently until parsnips are soft. Blend to a smooth puree. Drain the potatoes well and mash with the butter. Mix in the parsnip puree and check seasoning.

6 red eating apples 80g blackcurrant jam 100g self-raising flour 50g butter, coarsely chopped 175g caster sugar 250 ml dry apple cider

Preheat oven to 200C. Butter a baking dish or skillet. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Slice each quarter in half. Spread the jam over the base of the baking dish. Place the apples on top. Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles fine crumbs. Add the sugar and mix well. Whisk in the cider to a smooth batter and pour over the top of the apples. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and firm on top.

Apple cream 1 large bramley apple, peeled, cored and chopped 50g castor sugar 250ml double cream

Cook the apple and sugar until soft. Blend to a smooth puree and cool. Whip the cream and fold in the apple. Serve with the hot pudding.

Coffee Cake 250g soft butter 125g castor sugar 125g soft brown sugar 3 eggs 50g chopped walnuts 225g self raising flour 50g chopped dates 1 vanilla extract

Set oven to 180°c and line a loaf tin or baking tin with parchment paper. Beat the butter and sugars together until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then fold in flour, walnuts, dates and vanilla extract. Spoon into the tin and bake for about 40 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

Coffee and white chocolate cream

35ml espresso 275ml double cream 75g chopped white chocolate 250g mascarpone 2 tablespoons icing sugar

Warm 75ml of the cream with the espresso and add the white chocolate. Stir over a low heat until chocolate is melted. Whisk the remaining cream with the mascarpone and icing sugar and mix in the chocolate mixture. Spoon into a piping bag and pipe over cool cake.

250ml double cream 50g soft brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 100g dark chocolate chopped

Simmer the cream, sugar and vanilla until the sugar has dissolved. Pour over the dark chocolate and stir until melted. Cool for 5 minutes and whisk in the egg. Pour into 4 ramekins or glasses and chill until set – about 6 hours.

Poached plums

4 plums, halved and stoned 50g castor sugar 100ml water Pinch cinnamon 25ml rum – optional

Place the sugar and water in a pan and cook until sugar has dissolved. Add the cinnamon and rum and place the plums in. Cover with parchment and cook gently for 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow to cool in the liquid. Peel the plums and cut each half in half.

Muscovado cream 200ml double cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 25g dark muscovado sugar

Whip the cream and fold in the sugar and vanilla.

Candied hazelnuts

50g skinned hazelnuts 75g castor sugar 50ml water

Place the sugar and water in a pan and cook until the mixture is thick and syrupy but not starting to go brown. Add the hazelnuts and stir. A sugar coating will form on the nuts. Place on a sheet of parchment paper to cool.

To assemble –

Place a spoonful of the cream on top of the chocolate pot and arrange the plums around. Scatter over some hazelnuts and serve.