English

This English dessert is often called Eton Mess, taking its name from Eton College, one of Britain's most famous public schools, where it was traditionally served. The `mess' part is because it was all mixed together in one big bowl.

Do not thaw the frozen raspberries as their colour will bleed into the cake. These cakes are best made on the day of serving. Note

These mini beef wellingtons will be loved by both kids and adults. Great as a snack or with salad for a light meal.

If you would like to make your own delicious pastry cases, see the recipe for pastry in blueberry apple crumbles. Note

Make the most of summer cherries with this cooling dessert.

To sterilize jars, wash the jars and lids in warm soapy water. Rinse well. Place jars in large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes. Carefully drain water from jars; transfer jars and lids to a baking tray lined with a clean tea towel. Cover with a sheet […]

This spiced, slightly boozy fruit mince bread is just the ticket if you're looking for some raisin bread or toast with a bit of oomph. Serve it fresh or toasted with lashings of butter.

The following butters and creams make enough to serve with a dozen freshly baked muffins or scones. Note

This fruit cake is suitable for many allergy diets, as it does not contain wheaten flour, eggs, milk or butter; the only sugar is in the fruit.

Buy 200g (6½ ounces) muscatels for these cakes, use one-third in the cake mixture and the rest for decorating. Note

We used flathead for the firm white fish fillets. Pie can be made to the end of step 4 up to 6 hours ahead. Note

Mixture can be shaped into logs, divide mixture in half, roll each half into 2cm (¾-inch) logs. Wrap in foil or grease proof paper, twisting ends to secure. Refrigerate logs for 2 hours or until firm. We used Grand Marnier but you can use your favourite orange or citrus- flavoured liqueur. Note

This classic fry-up of mushrooms, ham and tomatoes is perfect for a lazy weekend.

Pudding can be prepared several hours ahead. Stand, covered, in the refrigerator. Bake as required. Note

We used Grand Marnier in this recipe but you could use any citrus-flavoured liqueur you like. Serve warm with lashings of cream, custard or hard sauce.

Brioche makes the very best bread pudding, this fruit mince brioche pudding has a rich spiced custard topping that's spiked with a generous shot of brandy.

Coconut frosting Put a tropical twist on Christmas with these pretty little cakes. Note

Breadcrumbs are good to always have on hand, and it’s a simple procedure to make your own. Place bread slices right on a shelf in a preheated hot oven and cook them until they are dry and crisp. Remove from oven, cool, crush them, with a food processor, blender or even a rolling pin. Store […]

This fun and pretty cake is extremely easy to make and tastes absolutely divine. The kid's will love the look and taste of their doughnut stack birthday cake.

Recipe is best made just before serving. Use the jam of your choice in this pudding. Note

You can cut the rind into strips as thin or thick as you like, adjust the cooking time accordingly. Note

Zesty orange complements and amplifies the strawberry flavour of this delicious conserve.

Lemony sponge pudding with a light, sweet meringue topping makes for a nostalgic, nursery-style pudding.

To cover pudding, layer a sheet of foil and baking paper together, large enough to cover the top generously. With paper lengthways in front of you, fold a vertical pleat; this will give the pudding space to rise. Note

Hot cross buns

To pipe the swan’s body, place the tube close to the tray and press down to finish the choux with a small point. To pipe the neck, start at the base of the neck and finish at the head. As you finish the head, press down on the tube to make a point, which will […]

The clue is in the name. This is, no question, the ultimate berry trifle. It is perfect for any special occasion.

Dig into this classic winter warmer with melt-in-your-mouth ham, tender lentils and juicy vegetables topped with fragrant gremolata. Serve with a generous slice of crusty bread and melting butter.

Perfect for school lunches or morning or afternoon tea, these fig jam and raisin rolls will not fail to satisfy. Spread them with a little butter and enjoy with your next cuppa.

The pudding is at its best made on the day and served hot. The big day wouldn’t be complete without a pudding of some sort. If there’s a large crowd, especially where you have a range of different age groups, it’s a good idea to serve both a hot pudding – either traditional, or one […]

Pop these delicious jam sensations in the oven and enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee and good conversation. The tartness of raspberry makes these cookies utterly irresistible. Experiment with quince jam or marmalade, if you like.

Chicken mulligatawny, literally meaning 'pepper water', is an English interpretation of an Indian dish.

When beating the egg yolks and sugar, the ribbon stage indicates when you’ve dissolved the sugar and properly aerated the mixture. To check, remove a spoonful of the mixture, drizzle it over the top of the remaining mixture in the bowl; it should hold its shape briefly, before disappearing into the mix. You need a […]

To prevent dough from sticking, dust the inside of the cutter with flour. Home-baked treats are healthier and more tasty than store-bought ones, and the kids can be involved in their making Note

Vary the flavour by changing the dried fruit to chopped dried apricots, raisins, seeded dates or seeded prunes, or a combination of any of these. Note

BUTTER CREAM Note

It is all in the title; delectable, rich and to add more, delicious and moorish. A great Christmas recipe.

If you have an electric pressure cooker you won’t need to reduce the heat to stabilise pressure,your cooker will automatically stabilise itself. Always check with the manufacturer’s instructions before using. Note

This recipe celebrates the classic scone by keeping the ingredients and flavours simple.

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 2. Add sour cream when reheating. Note

This delicious and hearty chicken and vegetable pie is a complete and easy one-pot meal that can be prepared in advance and popped into the oven when the troops get restless.

Scones are a classic in the United Kingdom but have also quickly gained popularity throughout the world, especially for high tea.

date and orange; fruit and spice (top tier) basic; choc chip and walnut (bottom tier) Note

This pie is suitable to freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. Note

serving per person for each of the five food groups 2 serves fruit; ½ serve grain foods Note

A classic British dish in canapé form.

This teacake usually sinks slightly due to the soft custard in the centre. Note

Tender meat and tasty vegetables make this hearty rabbit stew a winter evening winner.

It is fine to use just one 300ml carton of cream for the caramel filling Note

EQUIPMENT 12 plain white paper cases texture-embossing mat 7cm (2¾-inch) round cutter new large soft-bristled brush Ensure you have enough cakes for all the guests. If you like, choose a few different cake recipes, so you get a variety of cakes. The ganache and ready-made icing covering will keep the cakes fresh for a few […]

Use a whole-egg mayonnaise as it has a creamy texture. Swap watercress for your favourite leafy green, rocket (arugula) or endive would both work well as they have a slightly bitter taste. Note

Try substituting hazelnut meal for the almonds, and use vanilla instead of almond essence. Note

Suitable to freeze at the end of step 3. Note

You can use 375 grams of minced lamb instead. Add it at the same step of the recipe and cook it, stirring with a wooden spoon, breaking up any large lumps, until browned. Note

This is the trifle to end all trifles, the recipe for the ultimate trifle. Sponge fingers, liqueur, raspberries, strawberries and a liqueur spiked mascarpone cream. Delicious.

This deconstructed Beef Wellington makes for a new take on a genuine classic. A fabulous dish to serve up at a special dinner party.

Impossibly delicious, this cheesy egg and bacon pie makes a great lunch or light dinner. Leftovers make a lovely packed lunch.

Chocolate stout is available from bottle shops or online. You can swap it for a dark stout if you like. Make sure all fruit is chopped to the same size as the sultanas. Note

VANILLA SUGAR Split vanilla bean in half lengthways; scrape seeds into blender or processor. Add sugar; process until fine. Reserve 2 tablespoons for this recipe; store unused sugar in an airtight container for another use. This teacake is best eaten the day it is made. Note

Reserve the rind from the ham after it has been removed. When storing the ham (or the leftovers), re-cover the leg’s cut surface with the reserved rind ­ this will keep it moist. Use a small sharp knife to cut through the rind about 10cm from the shank end of the leg. Gently lift rind […]

For a gift-giving idea, spray a bamboo steamer (available from Asian food stores) with silver spray, line with tissue and fill with little cakes. Wrap it completely in cellophane and tie with a ribbon. Substitute brandy for Irish whiskey, if you like.

This homemade jelly pairs the fruity flavours of black grapes and port. It tastes divine spread on toast, or spooned on almond biscotti for a tasty afternoon treat.