Thistle Hotels have shared their secret to the perfect Christmas cocktail. Try your skills at home with these festive recipes.

When a two-Michelin star chef tells you he’s going to make a pudding using mustard and vinegar, you don’t turn your nose up, found Keyan Milanian

There are some who will not eat turkey at Christmas, ever. Most of us are tempted to try something different once at least, only to default to turkey because it seems so much more, well, Christmassy. Whichever you are, this menu – a selection of recipes created by Leiths School of Food and Wine specifically for Asda – could be the alternative you seek.

Asda and Leiths collaborating? Yes, surprising. But no more surprising than Waitrose coming out with an Essentials range. Both are trying to appeal to people at opposite ends of their food spend spectrum. Don’t scoff cynically; make these recipes and scoff with smugness. They are ridiculously easy but impressively delicious.

Born in the US to Japanese parents, Jun Tanaka has headed up the kitchen at Pearl since its opening in June 2004. During this time, the restaurant has gained an excellent reputation for its modern French cuisine, served in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Pearl Assurance building. He also cooks in Street Kitchen, a refurbished Airstream serving simple and healthy bistro style dishes

You don’t have to as rich as David Beckham to sample the delicious dishes of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel & Al Khayal in Dubai. Executive Chef Maurice Fitzgerald has jotted down his recipe for Hummus for us. So get some pittas and get stuck in!

To celebrate the release of Christmas at Downton Abbey on Blu-ray and DVD (available from 26th December), Hus Vedat, Executive Chef of the St Ermin’s Hotel, has compiled some traditional canapé recipes from the Downton Abbey era. They tell us that even cousin Violet would approve…

Try these crispy, creamy Philly cheese smoked salmon crackers for your next Christmas Cocktail Party.

Oh the joy of breaking through that solid layer of pure milk fat and filling your spoon with the rich, creamy, artery-hardening pleasure of clotted cream.

Jackie Lee shares her recipe for Mexican roasted corn – a traditional street food easily made in your home!