Nigel Slater’s countdown to Christmas

In this exclusive extract from The Kitchen Diaries, Nigel Slater relishes the days spent planning and preparing for Christmas and offers his recipes for cake, pudding and winter suppers.

Nigel Slater’s Christmas recipes, part two

I get more excited about Christmas in the kitchen with each passing year. I love the warm fruit and spice notes that float through the house; the rich, sweet flavours and the sheer abundance of it all. With classic recipes and once-a-year favourites, there is never a better time for the cook of the house to have a good time in the kitchen ...

Mmm, nice buns

Britain's top baker, Dan Lepard gives some crumbs of know-how from his great new book.

Green & Black’s Chocolate Recipes

Cookbook of the month: The world's first organic chocolate company - launched in 1991, the brainchild of a British magazine editor - has compiled delicious recipes from around the world.

Observer Classic

Jane Grigson was The Observer's distinguished food writer for many years. Here are two recipes that were first printed in this paper in April 1984

Wild strawberry shortcakes

250g ripe strawberries, hulled 1 tbsp caster sugar, or to taste a squeeze of lemon juice 2 tbsps thick double cream about 300g wild strawberries, hulled