1. Slow-cooked beef cheek ragu

“My slow-cooked beef cheek ragu slowly fills the kitchen with a delicious aroma, culminating in rich, thick bowls of Italian goodness, perfect for dunking hunks of grilled sourdough in. All washed down with lots of red wine! ” – Jason Scullin, Chief Sub Editor.

2. Christmas pudding

“I take Christmas very seriously and that’s why I start my pudding in June. I begin by feeding the fruit for a month or two with different whiskies (and rum, brandy and whatever else I’m feeling like at the time). Quite simply, it’s like a baby – you need to feed it regularly to stop it from drying out. Come November, the booze-laden fruit mixture is ready to be steamed for a couple of hours. The family joke is that it should come with a warning for operating heavy machinery or vehicles.” – John Hannan, Digital Editor.

3. Spicy nuts

“I’m famous for my spicy nuts. Yes, nuts. I roast raw mixed nuts coated in honey, extra virgin olive oil, spices (allspice, cloves, cinnamon, chilli), salt and finely chopped herbs (thyme and rosemary). Make a large batch and it provides a great beer snack with a festive kick.” – Warren Mendes, Digital Food Editor.

4. Mulled wine

“There’s nothing more festive than a steaming cup of mulled wine or cider. The smell of cloves, cinnamon and oranges permeates the whole house, making it truly smell like Christmas.” – Sophie Kitchen, Editorial Coordinator.

5. Mangoes

“Fuelled by a liquid breakfast of Buck’s Fizz, my mum and I make a Christmas feast fit for Queensland temperatures. Piles of mangoes and prawns are a non-negotiable part of celebrations for us every year, as is a lazy swim to follow the feast.” – Sarah Bristow, Deputy Digital Editor.

6. Potato salad

“Every year I do a turkey for friends or a potato salad with leftovers – think crunchy bacon bits or celery, chopped walnuts or red apple and herbs.” – Kerrie McCallum, Editor-in-Chief.

7. Prawn cocktail

“It’s not Christmas without a retro prawn cocktail and, well, perhaps a few glasses of rosé. As a family we all sit around the kitchen table and peel the prawns together while one of us makes the dressing. Prawn cocktails should be enjoyed year-round, in my book.” – Morgan Reid, Digital Art Director.

8. Pina coladas

“For many years now my important role on Christmas Day has been to ply my family with my famous pina coladas. Who doesn’t love a frozen alcoholic beverage on Christmas day? And these coconut delights mean that the Christmas spirit lives on well into the evening.” – Josie Taylor, Deputy Art Director.

9. Seafood

“I hit the fish markets on the 23rd and buy a few dozen unshucked oysters and a glistening side of Australian salmon. Even in the early hours of the morning the market atmosphere is festive and buzzing. I cure the fresh salmon for two days in a mix of salt, sugar, herbs and spices, plus a splash of whisky to get into the Christmas spirit. On Christmas day, my dad and I shuck the oysters on the balcony while the rest of the family are on margarita duty.” – Phoebe Wood, Food Director.

This article is brought to you by Woolworths.