Carols are on repeat at the shops, children are asking for expensive video games, and your calendar is suddenly full to bursting. It’s true – Christmas is nearly upon us!

Here are our top tips to help make your festive season is stress-free and jolly delicious.

Decide on your Christmas ham

Does anything say ‘Aussie Christmas’ better than a glossy glazed ham? Whether you like a little tradition on your lunch table, or something with a modern spin, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your Christmas ham. Try a simple maple glaze, or shake things up with a ginger beer option. Or both! Ham sandwiches for weeks!

Find all our Christmas ham recipes here: Christmas ham recipes: the complete collection. Or keep it easy and try your hand with this maple glazed ham recipe.

Start the Christmas pudding

When it comes to a dense and fruity Christmas pudding, the longer the lead time, the better. Six weeks out is a great time to start. Choose a recipe with loads of gorgeous dried fruits, and regularly top up your pud (and yourself) with a little rum to give it moisture and depth of flavour. Singing carols to your cake is optional (but encouraged).

Try our Christmas pudding with brandy butter recipe.

Get creative – make some edible gifts

From time-honoured White Christmas cookies to crunchy spiced nuts, there’s a Christmas treat to go under every kind of tree. With heaps of options that will keep well in the pantry until the big day, you can get started this weekend. Dig out the tree-shaped cookie cutters, get the kids involved and create something delicious for the whole ‘who’s been nice’ list.

Work your way through our 70 incredible edible presents to give this festive season.

Make heaps of friends with salad

Ever had a Chrissy dinner when all the guests turned up with a plate of prawns? This year, why not ask them each to bring a different kind of salad? Warm ones, cold ones, lamb ones, vegan ones, Moroccan, Thai, Mediterranean. Plenty of variety, and no double-ups. Give everyone plenty of time to get organised with these salad suggestions.

Get planning with these:
80 impressive Christmas salad recipes
Healthy buckwheat, pomegranate and roasted carrot tabbouleh
Potato and fennel salad with chilli yoghurt dressing

Start stocking up (no pun intended)

Filling your trolley with everything for a great spread can be overwhelming. Manage your to-do list by putting it away a little at a time. Drinks, nuts, chips, chocolate, spreads and even cheese will all keep until you need them. While you’re at it, pop a few sausages and vegie patties in the freezer. It’s like a gift to your future self.

Be barbecue ready

There’s nothing sadder than a sunny afternoon and a spider-infested, grease-spattered barbecue. To avoid disappointment on Christmas Day, grab half a lemon now and use it to wipe down your outdoor cooking surfaces. When the family lunch rolls around, it will be ready for fresh seafood, spicy chicken wings, stuffed mushrooms, or a classic burger.

Start with these easy recipes:
Spicy chicken wings
Orange and soy glazed seafood
The best summer burger  

Put yourself first

This can be a pretty stressful time of year, and it’s important to remember to take care of you. Now would be a great time to stock up on a few staples so there’s always real food in the freezer, ready to go. Curries, soups, lasagne and even par-cooked vegies are all easy to prepare and will keep in the freezer for up to three months. Plus, they make a great change from all that silly season party food.