TV chef Rick Stein shares two stellar treats ...

SERVES 8-10 PREP 10 mins plus cooling and setting COOK 2 hrs 45 mins EASY V 1kg mixed dried fruit 1 lemon, zested and juiced 150ml sherry, plus 3 tbsp 250g butter 200g light muscovado sugar 150g plain

We eat around 2pm, starting with foie gras and sweet Monbazillac wine – a throwback to when we lived in Paris. Then, we move to the Sri Lankan part: biryani, chocolate biscuit pudding, before Sri Lank

Warm, spicy and special, gingerbread is a favourite festive treat. Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas ballet The Nutcracker features an army of gingerbread men. And gingerbread houses, which originated i

Take the stress out of the proceedings and let your kitchen appliances do all the hard work

MAKES 10-12 PREP 5 mins plus cooling COOK 30 mins EASY V 100g panettone 200g rolled oats 50g pumpkin seeds 1 tsp ground cinnamon 500g flaked almonds 50ml vegetable oil 50ml maple syrup 50ml honey 100g