BBC Easycook Christmas 2019

It’s hard to please everyone these days, what with special diets and picky eaters – it makes Christmas eating a potential conflict zone. But with some planning and festive inspiration, you can make your Yuletide a pleasure for everyone, especially you! In this bumper issue of Easy Cook, we’ve got everything you need for a stress-free Christmas: all the drinks, all the nibbles, all the starters and all the mains. Yes, there’s turkey (a choice of two), but we’ve also got pages of veggie options, plus pork, beef, salmon and – if you’re feeling a bit posh – goose. All this, plus festive favourites from top BBC talent Tom Kerridge, James Martin, John Torode and Gregg Wallace. I ho-ho-hope you have a very special Christmas.…

The perfect make-ahead gift, these will keep for up to a month after baking and look really impressive. • Makes about 72 biscuits • Prep 15 mins • Cook 1 hr part-baked and sliced 1 Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. Put 350g plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp mixed spice and 250g golden caster sugar in a large bowl, then mix well. Stir in 3 eggs, beaten, and zest of 1 orange until the mixture starts forming clumps, then bring the dough together with your hands. Add 85g raisins, 85g dried cherries, 50g blanched almonds and 50g shelled pistachios, then work in until evenly distributed. 2 Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into four pieces. With floured…

Stem ginger & mustard glazed ham • Serves 10-12 • Prep 20 mins plus cooling • Cook 3¾ hrs when cooked 3kg boneless gammon joint, smoked or unsmoked2 litres ginger beer1 onion, quartered2 clementines, halved horizontally20 cloves3 bay leaves, plus a few extra to decorate (optional)2 tbsp English mustard4 tbsp ginger syrup, plus 3-4 balls stem ginger from the same jar, thinly sliced 1 Put the gammon joint in a deep saucepan (if tied, leave it as it is). Pour over the ginger beer and add the onion, clementine, 5 of the cloves and the bay leaves. Top with enough water to just cover the gammon. Bring to a gentle bubble, cover with foil and cook for 2 hrs, topping up with water if you need to. 2 Remove the ham from its cooking…

Smoked salmon Irresistible beech & oak smoked salmon (100g), £4, Co-op A combination of pleasantly subtle smoke, a soft, almost buttery texture and natural colour makes this our clear winner. Gravy Taste the Difference Christmas gravy for chicken & turkey (450g), £3.15, Sainsbury’s This has a clean poultry flavour, pleasant vegetal base and a fairly thick yet pourable consistency. Vegetarian main The Best layered vegetable tart (500g), £4, Morrisons This was commended by our judges for its homemade look and taste, thanks especially to its buttery, flaky pastry that produces the perfect crunch when cut. Gammon Deluxe gammon with a spiced rum glaze & pineapple topping (1.4kg), £11.99, Lidl A welcome break from traditional flavours, this is cooked in an all-spice rum glaze and topped with pineapple rings. Alternative meat centrepiece Specially Selected beef rib joint with salt &…

STOCKING FILLERS A moreish popcorn and dark chocolate snack that you won’t want to share with anyone. Joe & Seph’s dark chocolate popcorn bites, £3.50, Sainsbury’s Dr Will’s spicy mayonnaise is delicious with salads and in sandwiches – definitely one for the friend who loves to dip everything into mayo. Dr Will’s spicy mayonnaise, £3.49, ocado.com CHEESE LOVERS There’s no need to share your fondue with this set of two cheese warmers. Raclette set, £25, Habitat This strong cheddar has a subtle truffle flavour throughout – we loved it. Godminster black truffle vintage organic cheddar, £7.50, godminster.com KITCHEN ESSENTIALS This well-priced and sturdy non-stick pan came out top in our tried-and-tested products. VonShef cast iron skillet, £17.99, vonshef.com This gadget doesn’t take up too much kitchen space and makes quick work of creamy mash, dips, cake batter and…

Bourbon cocktail • Makes 4 (easily doubled) • Prep 5 mins plus chilling 2 tbsp bourbon2 tbsp créme de cacao2 tbsp lemon juicedash of grenadine2 tsp golden caster sugar TO SERVE pared orange zest Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with some ice. Shake, then pour into martini glasses, add the zest to serve. Alternatively, serve over ice in highball glasses. PER COCKTAIL 95 kcals, fat 2g, saturates 1g, carbs 6g, sugars 5g, fibre none, protein 1g, salt none Tropical coconut rum punch • Serves 4-6 • Prep 5 mins plus chilling 500ml pineapple juice500ml mango juice250ml coconut rum250ml coconut milk TO SERVE sliced pineapple and limes on skewers Put all the ingredients in a jug, mix well and chill. To serve, add ice to glasses, pour over the rum punch and decorate with pineapple and lime skewers. PER COCKTAIL (6)…