5 things to make in advance

Make these before everything gets too hectic and store them in the freezer, fridge or cupboard

1 GRAVY

Turn to page 42 for our madeira gravy recipe that can be chilled for up to a week or frozen for up to three months. If you're after a vegan gravy recipe, go to page 117.

2 BREAD SAUCE

Find our extra creamy bread sauce recipe on page 42; it can be chilled for up to a week or frozen for up to three months. If you're reheating shopbought bread sauce, add a splash of cream or a dot of butter and garnish with a fresh bay leaf.

3 YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS

Try our new mushroom-flavoured version on page 34 or go for a classic recipe. Yorkies freeze brilliantly, so if you have the time (and the freezer space), it's worth making a batch ahead. 4 STUFFING Bake your stuffing ahead and you’ll have one less thing to fit in the oven on Christmas Day. Pop it back in to warm up once the turkey comes out.

5 MULLING SYRUP

Make several bottles of spiced syrup for easy doses of flavoursome mulled wine or cider.

Put 2 peeled and grated Bramley apples, 200g light muscovado sugar and the zest and juice of 1 orange and 1 lemon into a large bowl with 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp allspice, 500g mixed dried fruit and 50ml brandy. Stir in 100g grated unsalted butter or shredded suet and 1/2 tbsp ground almonds. Transfer to jars or containers. Keep in the fridge, unopened, for up to three months or in the freezer for up to six months.