'Tis the season to be jolly....or whatever the song says. But sometimes, between shopping and cooking and parties, things get a little stressed. 

Here's this website's Christmas present for you - some help that may help the day be even better.

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The gifts!

You've spent hours buying just the right present for everyone on your shopping list and it's OVER! No it's not!! THere is still the wrapping to do.

Are you someone who is not wrapped in Christmas?  There is a solution. Read on.......

Don't know what to cook? 

People remember the fun they had, the warm welcome, not what they ate. Here are some tips for de-stressing Christmas lunch.

Seven tips which might change your day......

Here are a few of Sally's suggestions:

This stunning angel food cake is actually very easy to make, and I like it because it reminds me of my dear friend, Kathy, who lives in Minnesota where, when I am trying to cope with 30C and a Christmas dinner, she might be experiencing -30F!  

After all, who better than an American to share an angel food cake recipe? Especially one who, when she returned to the States, also passed on the unique tin in which these lighter than air cakes are baked. If you don't have one, use a ring tin.

I have baked this cake many times and although it is quite simple, it is a showstopper.  Note, too, that the only fat is in the cream you put on top!

Make it yourself.....

Christmas morning.....

Every family develops traditions over time, and one that happened by accident in our home were these blueberry pancakes, that now have to begin the day, no matter how expensive blueberries become during the leadup to Christmas.

I began making these blueberry pancakes years ago for Christmas morning breakfast, and they were such a lovely way to start the day that now I wouldn't dare to NOT serve them.

 I offer a dish of cream and some cinnamon sugar, and this year I plan to make some orange honey butter as well. That is easy: soften the butter then stir in orange zest and some honey to taste.

Don't overcook these pancakes or cook them at too high a heat, though. The blueberries should be just bursting and bleeding a little into the batter, not sizzling onto the pan.

Here's the super-simple recipe....

Chocolate is never wrong!

This sponge roll can be made for many occasions, but the best thing about this one is that you don't need to do anything with it immediately after baking - and it doesn't crack when you roll it!

No need to do the full disaster of chocolate icing and decorating, a simple filling of cream and some on top with berries is fine, or else just a fine dusting of icing sugar. The compliments will come anyway because the cake is so moist and delicious.

If you want to use it for Christmas, fill with raspberries and cream and slather the roll with ganache (a mixture of melted chocolate and cream) some toasted almonds if you like, and finish with a dusting of snow (I mean icing sugar!). Add some confectionery mint leaves and more raspberries and hey-ho - it's Christmas!

Here's the recipe.....

Festive fondue

Have you noticed that the younger generation is not keen on traditional Christmas pudding? Save yourself hours of work with this crowd-pleaser. I was lucky enough to find plates with three sections so that each person had their own dish of dippables. That way it's easier and avoids jabbing across the table, but make sure there are several platters of fruit. Do it any way you like though, with as many extras to add as you like. It all just adds to the fun of the day.

If the fondue forks went out in your 1990s garage sale, don't worry. Use regular forks or bamboo skewers. Keep extra chocolate fondue in its pot warming in the centre of the table and replenish as needed. However, on a typical Australian Christmas day you may not even need to light the candle underneath! 

Make it in minutes...

A blast from the past

Christmas is partly about tradition, but in Australia it seems to come at the wrong time of year The weather just doesn't suit the heavy Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, mince pie dishes we seem to think we have to have for Christmas lunch. Yet my palate craves the taste of Christmas. You know, spice and dried fruit, the scents that make the house smell wonderful and set the tone for the festive season. 

However, here is a happy medium - currants, pastry, spices - easier than making your own fiddly mince pies and infinitely better than store-bought ones. Add grated orange rind or mixed peel to the mix too, if you like the flavour. 

Quick, simple, these little dainties won't overheat the house as they cook, and they will keep well if made a few days ahead. They'd even pack nicely as gifts! That's if you can bear to give them away.

How to make these delicious treats....

Think you can't do without turkey.....?

How about a turducken??

Can't decide between turkey, duck or chicken for Christmas lunch? How about all three in one spectacular three-bird roast? Maybe it's time to try the TURDUCKEN.

FYI that's a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed into a de-boned turkey. The word 'Turducken' is a combination of turkey, duck and chicken.

Australia's most awarded butcher, Adam Stratton, says Australians have embraced the TURDUCKEN with whole-hearted festive fervour.

You may be too late to order one for this Christmas - but you can put it on the to-do list for next year.

Read more...

Or what if you (or any of your guests) have a food sensitivity?

This stunning cake will tick boxes for gluten free diners. Read more.....

There is even much you can do for people with lactose, egg, yeast and wheat sensitivities. See Allergic to Christmas!

Go to an expert

If you are lacking inspiration for what to cook, Australia's grandmother of cookery, Margaret Fulton is the person to go to. A leading cookery writer for many decades, she is also a family person and it is obvious she oves Christmas!

Absolutely packed with everything for the Christmas table, as well as gifts to make, there are little notes in her inimitable style throughout, and the best thing is that you can be sure everything is going to work! It's almost like having her at your elbow the whole way - and we all need a bit of support when it comes to Christmas cooking, don't we?

Find out more....

Say chee-e-e-se!

The Dairy Kitchen makes it so easy.

And one last thing. Here's how to finish off with a sensational cheese board. WATCH this video for pointers....

Christmas around the world

Not every country celebrates Christmas, and even those that do don't always agree on the date. Some, like Holland, have it on December 5, St Nicholas Day, and many Orthodox Christians celebrate Epiphany on January 6th.

New Year varies too. In some Orthodox countries, it's January 14, Chinese Lunar New Year moves according to the lunar cycle, anywhere between late January and mid-February, and while most Western countries usually ring in the new year on January 1st, at midnight, Israel's New Year is in September.

MORE about other countries' festivities here....

One thing is common, though. People, the world over, enjoy these occasions and love to gather with friends and family. Food, fun and games, fireworks, gifts, more food - that's the common theme.

However you spend the coming weeks, may they be filled with love and laughter, fun - and good FOOD!