How to delight your guests (and keep your sanity)

Ingredients (Makes 12) 200 g plain chocolate50 g unsalted butter225 g light or Genoa-style fruitcake, crumbled2 tsp mixed spice12 plastic lolly sticks50 g white chocolate chips25 g green coloured read

SERVES 6 PREP 20 mins plus chilling NO COOK EASY 50ml gin2½ tsp dry vermouth1 lemon, zested and juiced90g pitted green olives from a jar,plus 1 tbsp of the brinelarge pinch of caster sugar3 tbsp extra

Ingredients (Serves 6) ◆ 1.5 litres dry sparkling cider ◆ 50g light brown sugar zest and juice 1 orange ◆ 3 long cinnamon sticks, halved ◆ 8 cloves ◆ 2.5cm piece ginger, sliced ◆ ½tsp grated nutmeg ◆

These delightful little gingerbread houses will perch perfectly on the edge of your mug. Try them with hot chocolate or mulled wine for adults. MAKES 8 PREP 30 mins plus cooling COOK 10 mins MORE EFFO

Serves 6Prep time 15 min • 150g hot-smoked trout, roughly chopped • 1 small garlic clove • Finely grated zest ½ lemon, plus juice of 1 lemon • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle • 19

SERVES 6-8 PREP 35 mins plus 2 hrs cooling COOK 3 hrs 30 mins MORE EFFORT V 4 clementines or satsumas, peeled,pith removed and cut into thinrounds crosswise25g shelled pistachios, chopped25g dark choc