Delicious UK December 2017

As the days shorten, the anticipation grows. Gifts are chosen and cards to faraway friends are written. Festive aromas from mince pies and mulled wine fill the kitchen as ‘Hark the Herald’ rings out from the radio. Now’s the time to dig out the decorations for the traditional untangling of the lights. There’s a flurry of last-minute shopping until finally the big day arrives – bringing with it friends, family and the sumptuous feast. Then, happy and relaxed, you can see out the rest of the year on the leftovers – maybe the best moments of the Christmas break. The 5-minute recipe Marsala glögg SERVES 4-6. HANDS ON TIME 5 MIN Put 450ml marsala in a medium pan with 450ml water, a splash of brandy (optional), 1 vanilla pod, 3…

This time of year is about making memories and feasting. For most of us, a chunk of days off means a chance to regroup, talk to each other (hello family, remember me?), relax, take stock and, inevitably, do a whole lot of cooking, eating – and washing up. As ever, we started thinking about this twinkly, glowing Christmas issue way back in the summer on a warm day at my house. Everyone came armed with ideas, then we voted for our favourites and worked in tiny teams to create the stories brought to life in the pages of this issue. My favourite of all is the one we dubbed ‘Christmas in songs’ (see p25) – features assistant Phoebe’s idea. The premise is simple: key recipes for the festivities…

Time out Put festive planning aside just for a weekend and enjoy a wintry lakeside walk or two in the Lake District. Fresh-sharp air a-plenty, so many good places to eat (Gilpin Hotel, Sharrow Bay, L’Enclume, the Drunken Duck, to name but four), so many beautiful lakeside walks to choose from, with (if you’re lucky) a snow-capped mountain backdrop. And breathe… Superior barn dance Join Dewsall Court’s Furs, Fire & Ice party on 7 December in a beautifully decorated rustic Herefordshire barn, glowing with candles and fairy lights. There’ll be cocktails, a fine dinner and dancing too – with a few surprises promised. Tickets are selling fast, but they’re holding a few back for delicious. readers – you need to move fast, though! £60 a head for dinner, drink and…

RECORD BREAKERS Can you ever have too much of a good thing at Christmas? It seems not… Here are some great festive achievements from Guinness World Records – and the countries that hold the honour (we’re thinking we could beat the mince pie record) World’s largest GINGERBREAD VILLAGE: 1,251 houses (USA, 2017) World’s longest STOLLEN: 72 metres (Holland, 2010) World’s longest CHRISTMAS CAKE: 561 metres (Indonesia, 2015) World’s longest YULE LOG: 1,067 metres (China, 2011) World’s fastest time TO EAT THREE MINCE PIES: 54 seconds (Australia, 2013) DONATE £1 AND HELP CHANGE LIVES The charity StreetSmart is working this winter to ensure the UK's most vulnerable people don’t go hungry at Christmas – and you can help. From now until 31 December, more than 500 restaurants around the UK (including…

DECKING THE HALLS Tinsel. Baubles. Christmas trees. Such ridiculous notions and a complete waste of money. Trees are meant to be burned and then very rarely. My clerk, Cratchit, acts sometimes as if we should light a fire, even on days when the Thames hasn’t frozen over. The extravagance of some people. CHRISTMAS PARTIES My nephew throws an annual party. He also wishes people a ‘Merry Christmas’, whether or not they have settled their debts. My old employer, Fezziwig, did the same. It seems a rather extravagant diversion from work. Once you start having fun, they expect you to do it all the time. Who needs that burden? It would be like dragging chains around for all eternity. THE CHRISTMAS REPAST I have turkey and all the trimmings, a bottle…

Tell us what you think of delicious. (good and bad) or send your tips, pictures and queries to: info@delicious magazine.co.uk. Or write to us at: delicious. magazine, Eye to Eye Media Ltd, Axe & Bottle Court, 70 Newcomen Street, London SE1 1YT See what other delicious. fans are talking about at facebook.com/ deliciousmagazineuk Follow us at twitter.com/ deliciousmag Follow us at instagram.com/deliciousmag THIS MONTH’S STAR PRIZE!* This month’s prize is 12 bottles of KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2015. From one of South Africa’s leading wineries, this ruby red wine has dark cherry and plum flavours with sweet spice and floral notes. It’s great with hearty beef stew or matured cheeses. Available at £14.95 from Ocado, Slurp and SH Jones. kwv.co.za WIN! £50 SAINSBURY’S VOUCHERS Great recipes need great ingredients. For…