For those of us longing to be festive, we officially announce that Christmas prep is on! In Great Britain the last Sunday before advent is Stir Up Sunday—November 24 this year. A Victorian tradition, this is the day to make those Christmas treats that need to be made well ahead—such as Christmas pudding, fruitcake, and the mincemeat for mince pies. Several weeks of maturing and being ‘fed’ regularly with spirits ensures they are at their tip top best when the time to serve them comes around.

We have a collection of Stir Up Sunday recipes, whether you are seeking The Best Christmas Pudding recipe, a Seriously Epic Christmas Cake, or the Fruited Mincemeat that will later fill your homemade Mince Pies de Luxe. So put on some festive tunes, gather the family, and pass that wooden spoon around—it’s extra good luck if everyone has a stir, that’s part of the tradition.

Chef, patisserie royalty, and Australian Bake Off judge, Darren Purchese’s book Chefs Host Christmas Too, might be the best advance Christmas present you could receive—don’t worry, you can thank us later. Darren loves Christmas so much he wrote a book about it. As a seasoned host and professional foodie, he understands the pressures of entertaining. So, as he puts it: “Think of this book as a little survival guide to the holiday season—it has everything you need to totally crush Christmas.”

From that first drink your guest, or you, need to get the party started, through to what to do with those inevitable leftovers, Darren will guide you through. He’s even got a section of sample menus, from The Traditional and beyond, to help with your event planning. There are so many recipes you will want to make, from Gin-Cured Ocean Trout with Blinis, to Turkey Saltimbocca and Cheeseboard Pasta Bake. And his Christmas Trifle is a showstopper if ever we saw one.