Lesley Fernández-Armesto on a superior cake for Christmas

Betty Middleton had only moved in two weeks earlier, but already she was starting to annoy me with her frequent knocks at my back door. “Would you like a slice of my lemon drizzle? It’s home-made!” No

Get your winter bake on with these fabulous creations

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

WHO SAID DINNER WAS THE MAIN EVENT? CLODAGH MCKENNA’S TWIXMAS BRUNCH IDEAS MIGHT PERSUADE YOU OTHERWISE…

Food and recipes have always offered comfort to Diana Henry. As she brings out a book celebrating her life as a food writer, she reveals how festive cooking brings her the most joy of all