In theory this should be made with leftover sprouts, and at any other time it is, but at Christmas we never seem to have enough left over, so we just cook some more. The ease and simplicity of this recipe belie its excellent depth and flavour - definitely one of those recipes that tastes infinitely better than it sounds. However, this year I read both from cover to cover and I’ve concluded that I will keep this one and the other one I can let go. There are recipes for all your favourite traditional dishes - Delia's Classic Christmas Cake recipe has been in print for over 40 years and has never been bettered, but Delia has also created a Chestnut Cupcakes recipe to satisfy modern tastes.

I went All through it and wrote notes about what to select, some to avoid , but many many must do this. There are 100 new Christmas recipes added to this book and I think they are totally characteristic of Delia’s excellent style. And even if you don't, there is always Delia's The Last-Minute Christmas - a chapter for those who leave things to the eleventh hour. The book starts with Christmas cakes and puddings that you ought to be making in November if you're doing things properly, though I bought this in late December by which point it was a bit too late. This is an original 1994 soft-cover copy, in excellent, clean condition, ready to be re-loved and pulled off the bookshelf to guide you for many Christmases to come.First, most of you will have forgotten about it by now so it's an obvious way to cash in with little effort. With 150 gloriously photographed recipes there is something here to suit everyone: 50 much-loved classics, including Delia's Christmas Cake, Christmas Pudding and Roast Turkey which have faithfully served generations of Christmas cooks, along with 100 inspiring new recipes from Pot-roasted Guinea Fowl with Calvados and Salmon in Champagne Sauce to Drambuie Trufle and Chocoloate and Sour Cherry Crumble. I was particularly interested in her tips for a gammon/ham and her count down to Christmas was very helpful. Delia gives advice on how to choose the very best produce from turkeys to chocolates, from glace fruits to smoked salmon.

This is a book which every mother should give a copy of to her daughter, when that daughter leaves home. Of course there is Delia's foolproof recipe for a Traditional Roast Turkey and all the trimmings, and The Only Traditional Christmas Pudding as well as ideas for parties, boxing-day suppers, vegetarian feasts and what to do with leftovers. Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections - they may also appear in recommendations and other places.

Filled with illustrated recipes that have stood the test of time - a very nice and useful book to take some of the stress out of Christmas preparations. She shows you how to organise yourself so that you've got plenty of time when the family and friends arrive.