BBC Good Food

The Good Food podcastIn his first ever food interview, Queen guitarist Sir Brian May sits down with Sam to talk about the meals, memories and beliefs that shape how he eats, and about Red Special Gin, the spirit he's just created. Brian remembers his dad's prized runner beans and seaside prawns on childhood holidays. He talks about building his famous Red Special guitar with his father, why he plays with a sixpence and how calamansi oranges from his own greenhouse ended up in the gin. View oEmbe

If you're not a fan of traditional turkey or ham and fancy a change this Christmas, try our mouth-watering alternative Christmas dinners and desserts. Plan the ultimate Christmas dinner with hearty sharing recipes, including our vibrant veggie mains using seasonal ingredients.Looking for even more stunning Christmas centrepieces? Check out our fabulous collection of roasts, pies and pastries.Check out our ideas below, then have a look at our vegetarian Christmas recipes, freezable Christmas cent

A luxury hamper under the Christmas tree really does give you that magical feeling – and if it's homemade, you can feel truly smug.It makes a thoughtful, personal gift, and you can save cash by eschewing expensive shop-bought versions. And, the beauty of doing it yourself is that you can make it as simple or luxurious as you like.Here are our top tips for hamper success, including recipe choices and presentation advice.Get more inspiration from our pick of the best Christmas gifts for foodies an

Keep little hands busy on a rainy day with this easy salt dough recipe, using ingredients you probably already have in the cupboard.Kids can shape and paint their own creations, from simple models to salt dough ornaments for the tree, making Christmas salt dough crafts a fun festive activity. Just remind little ones that salt dough is not edible.For more hands-on crafts, see how to make slime, air-dry clay, paper mache, salt dough, bubble mixture, bath bombs, oobleck and moon sand with affordabl

Toffee is made from sugar mixed with milk, butter or cream plus an ingredient such as lemon juice or golden syrup to stop it crystallising. The mixture is heated to between 140C and 154C (‘soft crack’ stage and ‘hard crack’ stage), then allowed to cool and set.Larger amounts of butter or cream can make chewier, softer toffees that are like caramels, while toffee cooked to a higher temperature becomes brittle but is still chewy to eat. Lulu Grimes As Managing Editor for Good Food, Lulu has exten

The versatile marrow could well deserve the title ‘king of the allotment’. Its mild flavour and soft, creamy flesh lends itself to chutneys and curries, as well as being delicious stuffed and baked.These handsomely sized vegetables are classed as 'cucurbits', which mean they come from the same family as cucumbers, courgettes, squash and melons. In fact, the marrow is actually a courgette that has been left on the plant to grow a little longer and comes into its own around August and September.Wh

Serve your turkey with our ultimate roast potatoes. Next, browse our collection of roast dinner recipes for more inspiration.

View Green Video on the source website Eating tinned fish is an easy way to help limit your waste as it keeps much longer than fresh, is stored out of the fridge and doesn't lose any of its vital nutrition. Tinned fish is also cheaper than the fresh version so it's an ideal way to keep your weekly food bills low.If you've got some tins lurking in your cupboard that you're unsure what to do with, or you're simply looking for some cheap and sustainable ways to get more fish into your diet, then tr

The version of Christmas that I return to every year when the planning begins is this: a table that looks beautiful without having required a military operation; a fridge that empties satisfyingly over the days that follow, each leftover finding its purpose; guests leaving satisfied and happy, rather than slightly dazed by the volume. No bin bags of half-consumed food hauled out on the 27th. No creeping guilt about what it all cost, or where it all came from.I grew up spending Christmases on my

However well-behaved you are the rest of the year, Christmas can be an alcohol-soaked challenge for both drinkers and teetotalers. The many parties, gatherings with neighbours, and celebratory meals with friends and family mean that alcohol is more accessible, and the expectation to drink it is stronger and more frequent. One study estimated that Britons drink the equivalent of 265 million pints, 602 million shots and 286 million glasses of mulled wine over the festive season – or more than 600

The turkey Buy the best you can affordThe quality of turkey can differ massively, so we suggest buying the best you can afford. If you can stretch to buying straight from the farm or choosing a turkey with good provenance, it will make all the difference in terms of flavour and texture. A good value option is to buy a higher welfare or organic turkey that’s frozen, rather than a same-price fresh turkey that’s lower quality.Dry-brine aheadBy simply seasoning your turkey at least four hours ahead

Sabrina Ghayour My dream celebration meal will always be grilled fish and seafood. Simply cooked either fresh out of the water, or on a beach – the memory lingers even after the tan fades. For me, tuna, swordfish, squid, prawns, lobster and even langoustine served chargrilled with a selection of sauces – from simple aïoli to more exotic, fiery Thai sauces and even garlic butter – make me smile so much.I don’t even require any sides; I’d be only too happy to gorge myself silly on grilled fish an

‘You can’t go wrong with buttery pastry’ someone said in this week's Great British Bake Off... or can you? It's Pastry Week, which brought both traditional pies, brand-new bakes and giant pastry showstoppers to the tent.The opening signature challenge asked the bakers for eight identical handheld savoury pies: think pasties, pork pies and a broad range of global flavours sandwiched between flaky pastry. Would you go flaky, rough puff or shortcrust? The bakers heed Nigella's request for 'plump pi

Not sure which edible mushrooms to choose? Mushrooms are a versatile addition to many dishes, but each supermarket variety works best in different ways. Our guide will help you choose the right mushrooms for cooking at home.Which mushrooms are best for cooking?Edible mushrooms range widely in terms of flavour and texture, so they're suited to a variety of dishes. Shiitake and oyster mushrooms work well in a range of dishes from stir-fries to stews and salads. While some have a sweeter taste, oth

Blend pimiento peppers with soft cheese, cheddar and mayonnaise to make this creamy dip. Serve with crackers and veggies on the side

Try this take on a broccoli casserole that leans towards a gratin. Use a can of mushroom soup if you like, loosening the sauce with a little milk

Slow-cook a whole chicken for meltingly tender meat. Once you've deboned it, you can spoon the dumplings straight into the slow cooker to make them pillowy soft

Using a special tenderiser gives the signature dimpled surface of cube steak. This is quick to cook, so it's an ideal weekday dinner

Prep this for brunch the night before you want to serve and bake an hour before. Add crumbled crispy bacon to the mix to take it to another level

Showcase the fresh taste of sweetcorn in this quick and easy side dish. Serve in squares alongside your favourite meat, fish or veggie dishes