The Christmas Cook to Get Ahead by Jane Lovett | Cookbook corner

I’m far from alone in discovering that cooking is much more enjoyable and relaxing if much of what I’m preparing can be done in advance – and never does that seem more relevant than at Christmas. Jane Lovett, author of Get-Ahead Cook, is the patroness of the genre and The Get-Ahead Christmas Cook makes its welcome appearance on CookbookCorner not a moment too soon! Indeed, I’m sure many of you have been festively stocking your freezer since October when this priceless tome was released. For those, like me, who don’t get their act together until December or, especially, those who are preparing for their first Christmas, this book is the perfect gift for yourself right now. It’s full of calm advice, reliable practical advice and recipes that, for me, hit that seasonal sweet spot between comfort and elegance.

It covers a lot of ground, covering canapes and general party food and drinks, brunches, lunches, dinners and leftovers. I eagerly bookmarked the Gougères, these airy choux pastries of what I could call cheese profiteroles; Chicken liver parfait; Hedgehog bread with cheese and garlic; parsley ham, a ham terrine in jelly and parsley, my favorite and which my mother prepared; the creamy Brussels sprouts and chorizo ​​gratin; Post-Christmas Ramen, which can be used to accommodate any leftovers from the big day itself; Leftover bread sauce, ham and cheese croquettes, for which I have a particular desire; Slow-braised pork belly with Sriracha sauce and oysters; soft and chewy Amaretti biscuits; Frangipane tart with chocolate and salted almond praline; No-Churn Orange Cinnamon Ice Cream; Portokalopita, the Greek cake with heavenly orange and lots of filo – and much more.

The recipe I’ve happily chosen to share with you today is the fabulous Sausage Roll Wreath with Sriracha Mayonnaise but, as it’s Christmas, there’s also a bonus recipe on the site, in the form of its wonderful potted ham to help you with your leftovers later!

The Get-Ahead Christmas Cook by Jane Lovett (Headline Home, £28).
Photos by Tony Briscoe.