[READ] Gourmet Today December edition online

The Christmas season has begun and with it the mad rush of shopping for presents and enough food for the big day.

Read the December issue of Gourmet Today here
Read the December issue of Gourmet Today here

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But aside from the stress that Christmas brings, it also brings with it family from overseas and time off work and school to catch up with family and friends.

Entertaining is high on the agenda at this time of year, so why not check out some of Chris Diacono's easy recipes ideal for dinner parties of six or more people.

Our homecooks make a great meal for entertaining, Gaby makes a blue cheese and pear parcel with a festive cranberry and port sauce while Ann makes an easy, prepare-the-day-before, spicy rabbit stew and Sandra rounds off the meal with a raspberry and torrone semifreddo that can also be made well in advance to take the pressure off while entertaining.

Keep the kids entertained and get them into the Christmas spirtit. Get them into the kitchen to make Christmas biscuits, gingerbread men and candy canes, which not only make delicious treats but are also great gifts.

The Christmas period need not all be about decadence. Mark Morales goes to the gardens of Villa Bologna to cut some exciting vegetables grown by Emanuela de Giorgio to make an almost vegan meal (which  can easily be changed into a vegan variety leaving out the yoghurt).