Nigella Lawson enjoys the run-up to Christmas and prepares her Christmas larder in advance. She starts early by filling her shelves with homemade seasonal beetroot and ginger chutney, bright red chilli jelly (fabulous with cold ham and spiced beef), spiced fruits steeped in Ximinez sherry (poured over Cornish ice cream) and winter spiced vodka.

Nigella also makes her Christmas puddini truffles and cookies, showing that Christmas doesn't have to come 'off the shelf'.

There is a sense of homely Christmas industry but it isn't all solitary work. Nigella opens her doors to a few friends for a pre-Christmas brunch featuring an espresso Martini, triple cheese and onion strata, a glazed and toasted vanilla cake brioche and an antioxidant fruit salad.