If you are looking for some inspiration for this years’ Christmas-day feast, “Delia’s Happy Christmas” is packed full of interesting ways to take the predictable Christmas fare to new and exciting places. Anyone who has been in charge of Christmas dinner in the past will know how much preparation and timing is involved in getting things right. This book has every aspect of the challenge covered and is full of handy tips on how to organise your cooking plans, so the turkey or black pudding need never be burned again.

Of course the author, Delia Smith, will need no introduction to anyone who is familiar with the cookery world. As well as being a popular television cook, she has sold over 21 million books and has been creating recipes for over 40 years. But not only does she present some truly innovative ways of cooking the usual turkey and ham, but here she provides useful tips on how to prepare a vegetarian Christmas dinner, as well as some tasty ways to make the best of the leftovers.

Although many of the recipes from her 1990 Christmas book have been included here, there is still a list of new creations that have been added – there are 100 new and 50 old recipes to be exact. The author’s writing style is easily understood and the text is laid out in such a way that no recipe will be hard to follow. Glossy mouth-watering pictures add a real touch of class to the book. It is certain to be a hit with this year’s Christmas chef.