What makes this one of the most sumptuous Christmas puddings is the use of fresh cherries, which come into season in December.

Amazing lemon shortbread from Warkworth's Quince Cafe.

The addition of buttermilk makes these scones particularly light. Scones are best baked immediately after mixing, and in a hot oven, to ensure maximum rise

A healthier take on our favourite fish fry-up, this crumbed piece of fish is beautiful served with crispy golden chips and a homemade creamy tartare sauce.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week. Note

This pastry is a little more work than regular shortcrust, but the rich almond flavour, flaky texture and great crunch makes it worthwhile.

If your local butcher doesn’t stock rabbit, ask them to order one for you. with notice, they can joint it for you, if you like. Note

Mince pies can be frozen before baked and will keep for up to a month. Note

The perfect Easter bun, whether it's enjoyed for breakfast, morning tea or dessert, the combination of sweet, juicy dried fruit and spices swirled through fluffy bread is utterly irresistible. Enjoy one warm or cool with a thick spread of butter.

Stuffing suitable to freeze. Onion mixture suitable to microwave. Note

Budget tip: Large cuts of meat are often cheaper in winter, so shop around. Note

Store remaining beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. It’s perfect in salads. Not a fan of rocket? Use baby spinach leaves instead. Note

This butter chicken recipe is perfect when you are looking for a quick mid-week curry. Garnish with coriander and serve with naan bread to help bring the taste of India into your home!

For glossy, golden pastry, brush tops with egg-yolk instead of milk. If liked, sprinkle top with sesame seeds before baking. Note

These are delicious served with vegetables or salad. Note

Can be made in individual dishes if preferred. Note

Delicious individual blueberry and rhubarb pies.

If liked, use a store-bought butter chicken flavour base and omit the spices. Garam masala is a combination of dried spices, usually including coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, cardamom seeds, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and grated nutmeg. Note

To save time, ask your butcher to score the rind and truss whole loin with string. For a crisper crackling, keep pork uncovered in fridge overnight, to dry out rind. Note

Nutritionists suggest that we consume at least two servings of fish per week. What better way than these individual fish pies, topped with creamy mash.

Soft, sweet brioche makes a fabulous bread pudding, especially when it's liberally studded with dark chocolate and raspberries. Serve warm with double cream or vanilla ice-cream.

Eating brains can be a daunting prospect for some but if you can get over it, these herbed crumbed brains are utterly delicious. They make a very tasty breakfast dish, or a light snack.

The great thing about this pineapple and citrus fruit marmalade is the celebration of so many delicious fruits in the one jar. The balance of different flavours is just perfect. Spread liberally on hot buttered toast.

Do you need something spectacular for your Christmas table? Look no further than this celebration Christmas cake. Sophisticated and elegant on the outside, it has the perfect balance of fruit and liqueur on the inside.

There is quite possibly nothing more decadent and rich than this steamed chocolate and golden syrup pudding. Served with a velvety butterscotch sauce, it will send you straight to dessert bliss.

There is nothing quite like the smell and taste of raisin bread with lashings of melted butter. Try this honey and oat version for something different this weekend.

If you fancy a decadent dessert for those long cold winter nights, consider this indulgent caramel self-saucing pudding. Serve it with lashings of thickened cream or ice-cream for a truly warming end to the chilliest of evenings.

No Christmas is complete with out a classic boiled Christmas pudding. Leave it simmering happily away while you while away the day with family, friends and children. Enjoy it just when you thought you couldn't take another bite.

Marmalade is really jam for grown-ups and our grapefruit and brandy marmalade is especially sophisticated. Spread it liberally on your hot buttered toast or scones for an elegant morning snack. Serve with tea for two.

We love this succulent lemon and garlic rack of pork. Score the fat on top diagonally before baking, and you'll be rewarded with an extra crispy crackling that is easy to snap into pieces and share.

If you're dreaming of satisfying your craving for chocolate, why not try these delectable chocolate and cherry puddings. Serve them piping hot from the oven with a generous scoop of good quality vanilla ice-cream.

Cobble these ingredients together (do you see what we did there?) and make this rhubarb cobbler and enjoy a warming dessert on a cold winter evening. Serve with cream or ice-cream, or both!

Back in the day, bread pudding was a practical (but uninspiring) way to use up cupboard ingredients, and fill hungry bellies. This cranberry and fig bread pudding will show you just how far we've come since then.

Years ago, when the cupboard was almost bare and sweet dishes were simple, your nana made pudding from stale bread and a few cupboard staples. These white chocolate and raspberry bread puddings show just how far we've come since those days.

Pork pie is a classic British dish made with hot water pastry that is traditionally eaten cold. This makes it perfect for picnics or even as a quick snack snatched from the fridge while you're on the go.

Bread and butter pudding is as old as the hills and it's great for using up stale bread. There are many different ways of making it. This recipe is a bit of a departure from the traditional, with the addition of bananas.

As the weather cools off, a luscious hot dessert really hits the spot. This baked pudding is simple and tasty - a fine old-fashioned treat.

Impress your guests and feast on this succulent baked ham with redcurrant and balsamic glaze, from Christmas through to New Year. Store it in the fridge in a damp pillowcase while you work your way through it.

You'll know when this lemon and passionfruit marmalade is ready, because when you put a teaspoonful on a very cold plate (put it in the freezer for a few minutes) it will set, or 'jell'. Further boiling will make it thicker.

This winter lamb shank and vegetable soup takes some time to make but it is oh so worth it. With just a little patience you'll be rewarded with a hearty, meat-filled bowl of thick soup you could practically stand your spoon up in.

Take a trip back to your childhood with this old fashioned corned beef recipe. Serve warm with creamy mashed potato, mustard, cornichons, caperberries and parsley or with steamed potatoes, carrots and cabbage.

These lovely textured lace wedding cakes will make a stylish and sophisticated display on your big day. You can mix and match the colours of the plates, cakes, flowers and decoration to suit any occasion.

Make your custard adults-only by giving it a kick with the liqueur of your choice. We've chosen orange flavoured liqueur for this recipe, but brandy, drambuie or even rum would work, too.

Put these lovely little gift cakes on pieces of thick cardboard, measuring about 9cm-square, covered with special foil or glossy paper or wrapped with brightly coloured ribbons. They can be made a month ahead.

Making your own stock from scratch is easy and has the added satisfaction of knowing exactly what it is made of. Freeze in larger portions to use in soups, and smaller ice-cube sized portions for sauces and stir-frys.

Traditionalists may scorn at the inclusion of chocolate in this best ever hot cross bun recipe, but we think there is a place for the humble choc-chip. Either way, enjoy them hot from the oven with lashings of butter.

Give your usual full English a little bit of French inspiration with this creamy scrambled eggs on brioche version. Remove your eggs from the heat when they are still slightly undercooked and let them finish off in the pan for a perfect result.

Easy as pie and just as delicious, apple and almond cobbler will satisfy your sweet tooth. Serve it to your loved ones with a generous dollop of whipped cream or a good quality vanilla ice-cream.

Sure it's convenient to buy liquid or cubed beef stock from the supermarket, but nothing quite beats the natural goodness and flavour of the home made version. Freeze in convenient batches to use in sauces and gravies.

There can be few things as comforting or nutritious as a warming bowl of porridge. Here, we've teamed up the humble oat with this delicious fruit compote to give you a breakfast that will set you up for the day.

The beauty of homemade jams are that you can adjust the sweetness to your taste. The addition of the mandarin to this recipe adds a lovely citrus flavour. The jam will be ready when a teaspoon-full 'jells' when placed on a cold plate.

Home made baked beans, with bacon, sausages and eggs really is the full monty when it comes to a great breakfast. Toast a couple of slices of good bread, brew a cup of your favourite joe and you're set for the day.

Stay cosy indoors this weekend with this hearty, slow-cooked beef casserole topped with dumplings. A side order of mash and greens completes the meal.

A jar filled with this mango and strawberry jam will make a delightful gift for family and friends. It also tastes delicious, so don't forget to keep a jar or two for yourself

Beef fillet is a beautiful, premium cut of meat. This dish can be created successfully with a boneless mini lamb roast or lamb rump. It's all cooked in the one baking dish, minimising the washing-up, and is so easy it could be delegated to anyone in the family.

Recipe is best made just before serving. Old-fashioned cast gem irons are available from specialty cookware shops or second-hand shops. Note

Sausage and mash is right up there in the pantheon of comfort foods, and this version boasts scrumptious pea and bacon mash with caramelised onions on top. Perfection.

Originating in Scotland, shortbread has become very popular in many parts of the globe and is now eaten all year. Enjoy the crumbly, golden biscuit with a mug of your favourite brew.

This beautifully flavoured sun-dried tomato relish can be used in all sorts of dishes. It compliments cheese very well, and is delicious with steak or a burger.

You need a 60cm (2-feet) square of unbleached calico for the boiled pudding cloth. If calico has not been used, soak it in cold water overnight. The next day, boil it for 20 minutes, then rinse it in cold water. Note

To save time chopping the walnuts, put the roasted nuts in a food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are finely chopped but not ground. Note

Give your usual fish pies a sophisticated variation with this smoked fish version. They can go straight from the oven to the table in pretty individual dishes and make a lovely dinner party main meal.

It is fine to use just one 300ml carton of cream for this recipe. Note

Scones are best made on the day of serving. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in oven, wrapped in foil. Not suitable to microwave. You could substitute the double cream for clotted cream or whipped thickened cream. Note

A sponge cooks best when the top of each pan is in the centre of the oven. If pans are on different shelves, swap them around half way through baking so sponges cook evenly. Note

Lovely as creamy mashed potato is, there's something addictive about the crispy, golden rösti topping of this cottage pie.

Take fish 'n chips upmarket with our beer battered john dory and sweet potato chips version. Any other firm white fish will do if you prefer. Finish the dish with slices of tangy, fresh lime.

The combination of tender baked apples, tart raspberries and a wonderfully crumbly quinoa and almond topping makes this healthy fruit dish perfect for dessert, brunch or a sweet snack.

This gorgeous bird will take pride of place at your Christmas table this year. A delicious roasted almond stuffing, spiced cherries, and a smooth, savoury gravy complete this amazing turkey.

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.

Any firm-fleshed white fish is suitable for this recipe. Cooking time will depend on how large and how thick the fish is.

This slow-cooker chicken with leeks and artichokes is succulent and gorgeous served on a bed of mashed potatoes and drizzled with the cooking juices.

These take a little bit more time and effort than school sandwiches, but they are delicious. They freeze well, too, and are just as nice cold as they are warm – perfect for the lunchbox.

A perfect Christmas glazed ham needs to have just two things; a wonderful flavor, and a gorgeous, shiny festive appearance. This easy to make dish has all those things in abundance. Tip: if you don't have a barbecue, make sure your ham will fit in the oven before you start.

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

Plump with fruit, this traditional cake is wonderful served with a pot of hot tea.

A classic in the thrifty housekeeping repertoire, corned beef hash is as delicious as it is economical, especially topped with a soft-poached egg.