Snowball dippers

Make a batch of these to dip in warm milk or hot chocolate for a festive party or gathering, or wrap up and give as Christmas gifts

Sauté potatoes with sea salt & rosemary

There are few sides as simple and perfect as pan-fried spuds – the secret is boiling the potatoes in their skins before frying until golden

Wilted spinach with nutmeg & garlic

Throw a bag of baby spinach in a wok with some garlic and spices for a tasty last-minute side dish that still feels special

Butternut soup with crispy sage & apple croutons

The apple and sage contrast beautifully with naturally sweet butternut squash in this low-fat, gluten-free festive dinner party starter

Baked sea bass with lemon caper dressing

This elegant, gluten-free main is special enough for a dinner party, yet simple and quick to make for no fuss entertaining

Chocolate peppermint shooting star cake

A real festive showstopper, this extra-special bundt cake comes with a chocolate star centre – top with silver-coated Malteasers

Mincemeat, apple & cranberry lattice tart

Forget fiddly mince pies, fill puff pastry with juicy mincemeat and fruit and serve this festive dessert in slices – perfect for entertaining

Pineapple & ginger Pavlova

Pile whipped cream and charred pineapple on a meringue base to create a stunning dinner party dessert which you can make ahead

Mississippi mud pie

This indulgent American-style dinner party dessert has layers of Oreo biscuits, brownie, chocolate custard and whipped cream

Chopped green salad with herby chilli dressing

This fresh, crunchy side dish makes a great addition to any buffet, with avocados, cucumber, green peppers and a zingy dressing