With the start of December comes the sometimes nail-biting reality that the Christmas season is here. Dust off that tree (or buy a new one) and set the household off on a tinsel spree to get everyone in the festive mood. Now’s a good time to start preparing anything that can be made ahead, like preserves and pickles. You can even pour these into jars and tag them, ready to gift. Mince pies also freeze well, so bake these up now and freeze in airtight containers. Give infused spirits a go this year, for a Christmas tipple with a twist. Use the season’s bounties as your flavour inspiration – try berries, stone fruits, elderflower, coconut, herbs such as mint and thyme, and spices such as cardamom or nutmeg. If you haven’t already, it’s a good time to finalise your online gift purchases and stock up on cards, wrapping paper and ribbon. Write a couple of cards each night until you can head to the post box, rather than constantly shying away from a mountain of work. Pick up Christmas cards as early as possible, like these festive ones from Woolworths, to ensure they get delivered in time.
Four weeks to go