This impressive plan-ahead Christmas lunch from Flora Shedden is a mouthwatering mix of traditional recipes and deliciously unexpected flavours

SERVES 4-6 PREP 20 mins plus cooling COOK 50 mins EASY 1 medium pumpkin or butternutsquash2 tbsp olive or rapeseed oilpinch of Aleppo chilli flakes, plusextra to serve (optional)3 tbsp maple syrup100g

It’s time to shine in the kitchen with our delicious, make-ahead recipes

SERVES 1 PREP 3 mins COOK 3 mins V 1 egg2 tbsp sugar2 tbsp double cream150ml whole milk1 tbsp brandy (optional)few drops of peppermint extractgrating of ground nutmegcandy cane, to serve Whisk the egg

From a showstopping turkey to next-level roasties… we asked the experts at our sister title Good Housekeeping to share their best-loved recipes for a cracking Christmas dinner

■ Serves 10 ■ Prep 10 mins ■ Cook 1 hr 45 mins 2 tbsp olive oil2 tbsp butter2 red onions, grated2 garlic cloves, crushed2 tbsp grated ginger1 red cabbage, tough stalkdiscarded and finely sliced1 cooki