The one thing cheats don’t want to be doing on Christmas morning is running backwards and forwards to the k.

I would have no hesitation in recommending this or any other Delia Smith book, because in general terms they really are all you need and are often the best place to start. I haven’t ever made my own mincemeat but I’m certainly thinking that it might be time to make just a few little pies to get me in the chrimbo mood…. This year, she celebrates 40 years of writing recipes and brings you Delia's Happy Christmas—the definitive guide to all aspects of cooking for Christmas.Accompany it with the braised red cabbage with apple and roasted parsnips and potatoes (use the goose fat to roast them in). I took a few liberties with this soup so not sure how far the flavour has strayed from the original, but it is really good, earthy and tasty with a touch of sweet. Delia is one of those authors that if you follow her recipes, and instructions, and they are fairly easy to follow, it WILL turn out every time.

This weekend I assembled the ingredients and made the mincemeat in preparation for the trays of mince pies I will eat, but mostly give away, over the festive season. It is this simplicity of preparation which sets Delia apart from some of the other Chef's, whose recipes are designed for the more adventurous. But if this is your first Christmas or you're not feeling wildly confident, I don't thing there's anyone better than Delia to guide you through it. This is a glossy book with high production values but unfortunately there isn't a picture of every dish, but I’m nitpicking here.

I was particularly interested in her tips for a gammon/ham and her count down to Christmas was very helpful. This casserole freezes extremely well and fits the bill perfectly at Christmas when you have had enough tur. My copy is 2nd hand and whoever owned it before me highlighted which recipes are the best by the sheer amount of splatter on them! Overall, there's nothing very radical in here - the book is from about 1990 - and if you've been cooking Christmas dinner and catering for Christmas parties for the last twenty years, this may not be for you (though you'd probably still find one or two recipes that caught your eye). This book is an absolute must for the Christmas season as it has so many good ideas and suggestions.

This is a book which every mother should give a copy of to her daughter, when that daughter leaves home. Delia Smith's Christmas was originally broadcast in 1990 using recipes from the book of the same name, and maps the journey of Christmas baking and cooking beginning with cakes and puddings, right up to the last two hours before serving lunch with a detailed timed plan to ensure total success. Turning off the personalised advertising setting won’t stop you from seeing Etsy ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections - they may also appear in recommendations and other places. I also have her Complete Cookery Course and, from when or where I don’t remember – probably a book club (remember those! I used to make a large batch of these and freeze them, then make the sauce to go with them on the day of serving.