Whether you're hosting a crowd or having a quiet celebration, a little planning and preparation will make things easier and could save you time. Whether you are preparing a meat free Christmas dinner or catering for one or two vegetarian guests you may find some recipe ideas here. Make a nut roast in advance to leave you stress free on the day. Or try these individual nut roasts or nut cutlets, both of which are freezer friendly. There are lots of desserts which can be prepared the day before...

November is about making the most of seasonal produce, be it root vegetables or late autumn fruits. Why not try some roasted Hasselback carrots or butternut squash and chilli soup topped with homemade croutons? If you have access to persimmons now is a good time to make a batch of persimmon jam. This tasty preserve is perfect for spreading on toast and will keep for several months. If you haven't already tried baked apples, pear and almond tart or oaty fruit crumble now is a good time while...

This fruity mincemeat recipe has been my most viewed post during October. It combines dried fruits, citrus zest, spices and brandy to make a luxury filling for mince pies. It will keep for several months in sterilised jars ready to use in one of these festive baking recipes. Other popular recipes include crunchy oat biscuits, no knead olive bread, almond slices, sweet shortcrust pastry and apple custard tart. Vegetarian mincemeat This mincemeat is made without suet making it a tasty treat for...