Local residents in partnership with the Church of God of Prophecy and GFM is organising an emergency fundraiser to help families in need who have been affected by these unprecedented times caused by COVID-19. We feel that this is needed amongst our community and decided to come together to support families who may have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own and are in need of help to get them through these challenging times. 

All donations given to this fundraiser (which is part of a registered charity) will be used to purchase food for children and families who have been affected by COVID-19, due to being self-employed and not being able to work or families that have been placed on Furlough or made redundant. Food packages will be made up and distributed from Church of God of Prophecy in Gloucester. If there are families who live locally and are not able to collect from the Church then we will deliver them for you.

Contact Details

Facebook Group: Community Fundraiser to Support Local Families https://www.facebook.com/groups/724600371504738
Crowdfunding Link: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/community-fundraiser-to-support-local-families
Contact Telephone Number: 01452 382906

Chloe and Nial Sharaf had been given a knitted woollen hat for their new baby Nakoa after his birth at Gloucester Royal Hospital but dropped it during a walk. For sentimental reasons they were hoping to find it. When they wrote about this in our Facebook group, someone said 'my grandmother knits those and still has the same wool - she can knit you another one just the same'! Lovely to see a happy story.

Owners of a parrot called Sweetie were distraught when she escaped and went on a local adventure. They posted on Cheltenham Noticeboard around the same time that Lydia Thomas was posting 'Has anyone lost a parrot? Please let me know as it is currently in my garden' with a photo of the pretty bird gripping on to her gazebo. Sweetie was happy to be caught and reunited with her owners, who have taken extra security measures in their home to ensure no more Houdini style antics. 

BBC iPlayer

I know, I know! I covered Australia’s Masterchef last month, but we now have Masterchef – The Professionals. I honestly tried (for about 10 minutes) NOT to get sucked in… but I couldn’t help myself!

The format is slightly different this year with socially distanced filming dictating how they proceed, but we have the usual line up of professional chefs showing off their skills (or lack of) to Monica, Marcus and Grocer Greg… I love that almost every time he opens his (quite often food filled) mouth, you can literally hear M&M’s eyes roll. Love a bit of prime time shade throwing. It will possibly not be a ‘Oooh we could have that tonight’ sort of food show, unless you have Ninja Knife Skills and a secret entrance to Harrods Food Hall, but it is rather entertaining.

Live show on BBC, reviewed by Jane Ashley. 

The show looks at how rap music can be a powerful platform for marginalised communities but how it can often be viewed by an establishment that sees rap music as un-constructive. George talks about his own story of education evolution from Grime MC to Cambridge student to spoken word artist, which highlights how rap music has shaped him and his peers today. George and his guests emphasise the need for rap music to be incorporated within the education system as a way of engaging young people to not only express themselves but to engage more in education, although it is also recognised that the whole education system really needs to change in order for this to happen fully. 

His guests on the show are DJ Target (1Xtra DJ), Dr Becky Inkster (Neuroscientist), Temi Mwale (a voice for youth violence and founder of 4Front Project), Sonita Alleyne (OBE – first black person to lead any Oxbridge College) and Holly Branson (Richard Branson’s daughter – founder of Big Change an education charity). It’s worth a watch.  

The sets and costumes would be worth watching even if the story and acting wasn't all that great, but this series surpasses expectations. It's a lot more captivating than you would imagine for a series based around chess. It was only because friends with similar taste were singing its praises that I felt compelled to give it a watch. The main character suffers terrible trauma as a child we see her move in to an orphanage and grow up there. She finds an unlikely companion in the caretaker (nothing seedy about the friendship, which is refreshing for a drama series) and becomes obsessed with chess. This isn't a waste of her energy as she turns out to be a genius at it. 

It would be unthinkable to overlook The Crown in our recommendations so we asked lovely Laura Stokes of Cheltenham Cleaning Company to come up with a review... 

You don’t have to be a Royalist to enjoy The Crown, far from it. From the start of Season 1 - where King George VI’s health deteriorates and pushes Princess Elizabeth into the limelight, to the current Season 4 episodes which introduce us to Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles - it’s not only a fascinating glimpse into recent history but also an insiders' view as to what might go on in the private moments of arguably the world's most famous family. 

Many episodes – for instance S3. Ep3 'Aberfan' & S4. Ep7 '48:1' - portray enormous national and international events from a different perspective, many of which happened in our own living memory (depending on how old you are!). The cast on the whole are amazing in their roles but Claire Foy as a young Queen Elizabeth II and Helena Bonham Carter’s portrayal of an older Princess Margaret are perfectly cast and make compelling viewing. 

So many people won’t watch the series because they dislike the royal family but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what is effectively a fly on the wall look into a very dysfunctional family’s life. Fascinating stuff! 

The world's best way to learn a language.

My brother's girlfriend Solene is French and fluent in English, so he decided to take the bull by the horns and learn her beautiful language. I was surprised by his swift progress and confidence and he told me he's been using Duolingo and thoroughly recommends it. Debs is now using it to learn Italian - she'll be better at it than our friend Marchello. 

'Learning with Duolingo is fun and addictive. Earn points for correct answers, race against the clock, and level up. The bite-sized lessons are effective and proven to work.'

It's a free app that you can download to your device: https://www.duolingo.com.

by Ani King

We flew together
through spheres of life
chased by shifting ghouls
(Conceived by our minds)
through clouds of despair 
glancing to the side
to make sure neither was left behind
your wingbeat and mine
(as different as can be
yet) somehow forming a rhythm
(Soon to become three) 

 Now I glance 
to see not you
(for you have gone)
but You And I is
left 
in one
and that 
is what I see.  

Outstanding domestic cleaning in Cheltenham and surrounding areas. 

Welcome to our Cheltenham office! We specialise in residential cleaning for homes in Cheltenham and surrounding villages, on a regular or one off basis. Domestic cleaning, laundry and ironing services are provided by our team of highly trained employed cleaners to provide an outstanding quality home cleaning service every time we visit.

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Linnet Comments “Having worked as a cleaner myself enables me to pass on my knowledge from many years to my team of maids, to help them deliver the best possible results. We aim to provide complete customer satisfaction and strive to deliver the best cleaning service in Cheltenham. I pride myself in providing outstanding customer care with guaranteed results every time. As with all Haus Maids offices I understand every customer is unique and we tailor our service to meet those requirements. I’m proud to own the Haus Maids Cheltenham office and look forward to leading the way in domestic cleaning locally.”

Haus Maids Cheltenham offers cleaning to the highest standard every visit, thanks to our 100% Guarantee, nothing is overlooked. We provide a range of professional domestic services that can be tailored to your specific needs and at intervals to suit your life. 

Website: hausmaids.co.uk/cheltenham
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Telephone: 01242 329000
email: linnet@hausmaids.co.uk    

I must confess, I’m having sequin withdrawals. This time of year is usually busy with revellers celebrating with turkey dinners sloshed down with glasses of fizz. What I wouldn’t give to be looking forward to a work party, my family get together and that wonderful down period in between Christmas and New Year when nobody knows what day it is, let alone which calorie milestone you have hit that hour. I lost track around mid-July.

Thank the technology heavens for Zoom! My wonderful peers have been reworking their usual festive offerings and have come up with some brilliant activities to do online with your loved ones this season. So fling on your Christmas best, grab yourself a bottle and fire up your computer, and check out my top fun activities for celebrating rather differently in 2020:

1. A call with virtual Father Christmas – yes an actual real life Santa will sit and chat to your little ones all the way from Lapland (probably via Croydon but they will never know).

2. Christmas sleepovers – hire beautiful festive theming to delight your mini people for a night with a special twist.

3. Crafting workshops – anything from decorating baubles to making wreaths from the comfort of your own front room.

4. Tasting sessions – wine, port, cheese, chocolate, cocktails… the options are endless and getting sloshed is encouraged.

5. Cook-along with – chefs from all over the region are creating ingredient boxes to go along with live cooking demos. Competitive cooking with Aunty Barbara. Yes please!

6. Pub quiz and gamification – from the UK's largest virtual quiz to apps that feature competitive selfie taking.

7. Virtual shows – magicians and comedians up and down the country are using this time to hone their acts for the virtual audience and the results are pretty impressive!

8. Murder mystery dinner parties with a festive twist – the old favourite has just got a bit more tech savvy. So just who did kill Rudolf in the lounge with the carrot stick?

9. Live streamed virtual DJ experience – glowsticks at the ready! Tune in to your own personal DJ show live and direct from, well, probably their living room.

10. And after all of that, joining friends in a meditation yoga on Boxing Day is how I shall be recovering. Honestly, Christmas has never looked so busy!

If you’re after supplier recommendations then please get in touch with me via the Cheltenham Noticeboard. Happy Christmas everyone! XoXo

by Sarah Cross, Stylist & Wardrobe Editor @myvosuk

I’m going to keep it short and straight to the point. The Party Season in a pandemic is not party season as usual. Office parties and group gatherings are likely to be on Zoom, any real meet ups will be minimal numbers and specific times that don’t overrun with time losing cheer, and it’s our dearest friends and families who are important to us this year. However, this doesn’t mean that we won’t bother. In fact, I believe we will all bother that little bit more, because the truth is Christmas Day is the only event that has not been cancelled this year!

So, let’s dress for the occasion - or more precisely let’s prepare to dress for several 'Mini Christmas Days' because that may well be the reality of managing to see all our loved ones safely.

There are many different ideas about what a Christmas outfit should look like. Some of us dress up in sparkles and sequins, others do the Christmas jumper parade, while the strict 'pyjama only' policy maybe your bag (No PJs in public, please!).

The key to making every celebratory meeting, albeit at home or as a visitor, the best it can be is for you to feel special in how you choose to dress. Your 'best' may not be someone else’s. For example, one of my close friends has already ordered family festive PJs in the same design for herself, hubby and 2 children. It is not every woman’s desire to dress in exactly the same outfit as an 8 year old boy. On the other hand, another one of my friends is planning to start her Christmas Day the same way as her wedding day with champagne in one hand while her adult daughter does her make-up for the day while wearing a cocktail dress (she’s obviously not the one cooking the dinner!). 

Myself, it’s always a dressy occasion. I personally don’t feel comfortable wearing any sort of slouch wear when I’m sitting at the table with others wining and dining, but I will be wearing slippers on my feet although the rest of me will be dressed up to the nines! 

Wherever you stand on the 25th December dress code, my top tip is to be YOU.

Here are 5 outfit guides for 5 different Christmas style personalities. Which one is you, or are you a combination?

• Max glamour - Take the opportunity that anything goes and simply dress up! When you’re dithering between which jewellery, wear it all. When you’re not sure if it’s too much, go with it. You can be the most glamorous glitterball for the day.

• A special kind of comfy - Opt for a bright coloured dress that is really comfy, nothing too tight or figure hugging, red or green is great for Christmas, and add a statement gold belt or oversized dress jewellery - you could even use small gold baubles (tastefully).

• Going for a long walk - Whether you live in town or country or if the weather turns and walking is out of the question, the country walking look is still a great Christmas look - and great for jeans lovers too. Try baby-corduroy, add a waistcoat for layering and make your boots part of the look, even if you have to take them off indoors - which means a super pair of socks will be necessary too to pull this look off.

• Relaxed with or without children - Lounge wear may be exactly what you want. But my advice is treat yourself to new PJs and look around for the type that make you feel special, don’t just go for your norm. Wrap them up and open them in the morning as a gift to self, or if you are in a household surprise the rest of the family.

• Being a big kid! - Go on then - reindeer onesie, Mumma Santa, fairy lights halo, dress up like the tree... If it makes you happy just do it, but make sure you enjoy it!

www.myvos.co.uk

I went to the supermarket the other day and as I wandered around I was gripped by a low level panic. Not because I was masked, not because the prices on display seem to increase each and every time, but due to the sheer quantity of Christmas food on the shelves. A strange feeling of having to buy it all. Now! What if they run out of Pigs-In -Blankets? Is Christmas in fact Christmas without the presence of assorted nuts in a festive box (this from a woman who would literally die if she ate them!)? Ludicrously large festive wrapped boxes of chocolates? More mince pies than you can shake a stick at? It was mid-November for goodness sake! I took myself in hand (not literally – that would be inappropriate) and had a quick chat with my inner feeder! I managed to escape with not one single Christmas related item in my trolley, but reader, it was close!

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that, as consumers, we are being played by the big supermarkets. They tap into our psyches with the ‘fear of missing out’, of not providing enough of the things that could make or break our Christmas and that of our families and friends. This year more than ever before, we are holding Christmas (other religious festivals are available) up high as the blazing beacon that will bring back the joy that we are so desperate to experience again. 

Why don’t we give ourselves a break? Christmas lunch is just a roast. A posh roast maybe, prepared under the influence of one too many Bloody Marys definitely, but just say we did leave it too late to buy a massively overpriced turkey. Would the world stop turning? No. Supposing there was only one packet of bacon wrapped sausages, just the one tonne of chocolates, only enough booze to sink the front half of The Titanic…

I think the point I’m trying to make is that we don’t have to be slaves to corporate greed. There is no sense in getting into debt for one day. Just. One. Day. The present buying is bad enough, but the consumables we can really rein in. When you do finally get your Christmas food shop – even that phrase feels wrong at this time – please do one thing: put a shopping bag together for the Food Bank, buy a lovely gift for someone whose family has been left broken by COVID, put a care package together for a women’s refuge. Without wanting to sound worthy it will make such a difference. And please – Shop Small & Shop Local.

PS Should you bump into me in Sainsburys wheeling 2 trolleys – please escort me out!

When I was buying stamps to send out magazines I came across some Christmas ones with Mary and Baby Jesus on and it got me thinking, is this actually how they would have looked? 

In 1977, British actor Robert Powell was cast as Jesus for Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth, but in reality Jesus was unlikely to have looked much like the blue eyed version those of us who are middled aged grew up with / had a crush on. 

I imagine I was pretty apprehensive when I moved to Cheltenham as a fresh unemployed, newly married graduate. It was a rollercoaster ride for everyone, starting with the financial crisis, ending in a double dip recession. I was pretty anxious moving to an area I knew nothing about. I lived in Bishops Cleeve with my mother-in-law and my husband (also sporting that fresh-graduate-deer-in-the-headlights look), while we saved up money to buy a place of our own. Three years later, we did it! We bought a flat in Cheltenham on a first-time buyer's scheme and soon after started our family. That was in summary, how I found myself in Cheltenham, following my husband to the area he grew up in. I came here ultimately for love, but I also stayed here for love too.

Besides the beautiful parks and picturesque hillside vistas, I had no idea what a place like this offered me as a 'creative'. "That's what Bristol and London were for", I would smugly tell myself. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong! Cue the theatres, the world-renowned Cheltenham festivals - Music, Jazz and Literature, the Paint Festival, grassroots business start ups and green enterprises, Gloucester Cathedral and Gloucester Guildhall (because it is possible to have a venue that simultaneously hosts a ska concert and jive lessons on sprung Victorian floorboards. Why on earth not?!) It was the privilege of working for venues like these that made me see the historic, artistic and cultural richness of the area I now lived in. 

Moreover, it has been a privilege to see Gloucestershire's cultural capital take shape over the years. I imagine despite our current challenges, we will continue to surprise ourselves with our resilience and love for one another. Ultimately people want to be kind, want to live in loving and supportive environments, and want peace of mind. In this way, Gloucestershire has offered me many of these gifts, allowing me to carry on my creative pursuits.

Welcome to 'I imagine' -  a column where I talk about my local inspirations and heroes, my work process, challenges and interests. I hope you enjoy it!

Top facialist, industry trainer in skincare and medical aesthetics devices, Sonia Norman, gives you her top tips for helping keep skin youthful.

Use SPF 50 or 30 every single day, even in winter! One of my hero products is a beautiful natural tinted SPF and is a Factor 30 - the one I love is called GLO - it’s the best BB crème I have found. It gives a touch of colour and coverage, but filters out that ageing UV as people often forget to protect their skin in the winter. 

Next tip is thorough cleansing at night, it can be easy to NOT do this, especially late at night when we are tired, and it can feel like a chore. Without proper cleansing, skin cannot breathe, pores can block and skin can appear sluggish and congested. Never use skin wipes but do use a foamy or creamy cleanser and rinse well with warm water.

Exfoliate once a week only as a minimum, though oily skin can take a bit more exfoliation. I like to use AHAs for this alpha hydroxy acids or light fruit peels, if you have sensitive skin and cheeks prone to redness, or slight red veins, never use a scrub.

A good moisturiser for face and neck should be twice daily; try and find ones that contain hyaluronic acid, sounds scary but it’s really just our own skin’s lubricant, by the time we are 60 we only have 10% of it left. 

Serums that are really great are ones that contain high a % vitamin C and ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin B5 and retinol.  

I also love peptides and growth factors that really help keep skin rejuvenating and youthful. Epidermal growth factors are very exciting in skin care and can help the skin cells become more efficient at regenerating. Often they are called EFGs on the packet.

A good facial massage will also help your whole skin circulation; you can do this yourself with rose skin oil. I sometimes do this late at night before bed, once make up removed. 

MASKNE! = Mask & Acne. I have found so many clients coming to me with spots, breakouts and congestion and during COVID-19 due to wearing of masks – skin cannot breathe as normal. My solution is BLUE and red light LED therapy and the occasional chemical peel; they can be so effective to getting skin clear again. Other wonderful tip is a silk mask as it lets the skin breathe. 

I would absolutely recommend a good skincare regime and regular 6 weekly facials. The Medi-facial is very much the thing right now as they are truly results based, combining state of the art cosmeceutical ingredients to get right to the skin cell and work, and very often combining innovative science based devices.

I love to combine treatments with radio frequency, or LED light therapy, or 'wound to heal' treatments like Tixel, which can take years off the skin, all non-invasively, by stimulating your own collagen.

I hope you like these skin tips! 

Cynneth at Penny Red Media speaks to Jess Whittle of Jess A Little Creative.

Hi Jess, thanks so much for your time today.  Tell us about how you came about starting 'Jess A Little Creative'.

Hey, thanks for inviting me along! It all started from a massive love of patterns. Patterns on clothing, fabrics, packaging, interiors, tiles... You name it, if it’s highly decorated, it will capture my imagination.

2 years ago, I took part in 36 Days of Type, a creative challenge set on Instagram to produce a full alphabet of letters and numbers over the course of 36 days. I decided to use my love of patterns and create some hand-drawn, highly detailed, patterned lettering. It was a great excuse to get away from the computer and create something by hand, and everyone who I showed the letters to really loved them. But then they just sat in a cupboard at home.

During lockdown, I had a lot more time on my hands, and I saw so many people taking to social media with all their creative outputs, and it inspired me to do something with my letters. So I started creating again. A few friends told me I should be trying to sell them, or share them somewhere, and as a massive fan of greeting cards myself, it seemed a logical medium to start with. So that’s basically where Jess A Little Creative was born!

Jess says about being self employed: '...do something you really really really really love. Because it is hard…'

You can read the full interview here: https://www.pennyredmedia.co.uk/news-notes/greetings-cards-with-jess-whittle 

Did you know that there's a plant called 'Mind Your Own Business'? Real name Soleirolia (genus) soleirolii (species). I noticed one in my stepmum's kitchen and asked what it was, to which I was told to mind my own business. She then explained the same thing had happened to her at a friend's house. 'Rozanne's not normally like that', she said. That's when she discovered there's actually a plant with this brilliant name. She had to have one, so she could tell people to mind their own business regularly. 

The BBC's gardening section say: 'Best known as an indoor plant, Baby's Tears, or Mind Your Own Business, makes an attractive and maintenance-free alternative to grass as ground cover in moist, shady areas. It will tolerate sun or shade. Frost hardy, its leaves are killed by winter frost, but it will recover to grow vigorously in spring.'

Our gardening expert, Emma Reuvers, says: 'Mind Your Own Business is a gorgeous little foliage plant that can be used indoors and out. It is the perfect groundcover plant for those dark and difficult outdoor areas, particularly damp and shady courtyards. Allow it to creep between the gaps in paving stones, or cascade down a damp wall.' 

Emma Reuvers is a keen gardener who has set up her own business Wild Edge Garden Design to help people achieve their dream garden without charging the earth. (See what we did there?) 

'As a garden designer based in Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, I have a passion for creating sustainable, functional and beautiful outdoor spaces. I believe that, as our lives become increasingly hectic, our green spaces are more important than ever.

 A well planned and thought out garden can become that much needed oasis – whether it is somewhere to quietly relax and read a book, to entertain family and friends on sunny days, a space for children to play or simply habitat for the birds, hedgehogs, butterflies and bees that make up our much needed garden wildlife.

​Having dabbled in the world of gardening and permaculture for over 10 years I finally made the decision to change my career completely, and in July 2017 I graduated with a distinction from the Cotswold Gardening School and received a diploma in professional garden design. From here I set up Wild Edge Garden Design, a garden design business based in Cheltenham with a focus on sustainable, thoughtful and beautiful designs.

​2020 saw me entering into the third year of this exciting new journey. I am constantly excited to use my skills and passion to help others to create their own dream gardens. Sustainability, biodiversity and the ways that we, as gardeners, can work towards making our living, everyday environment a better place are more important than ever. Get in touch with me today to find out what you can do to create your own garden oasis.'

www.wildedgegardendesign.co.uk

Winter can be tough. Especially winters where we are confined to our homes, unable to get out and socialise as we normally would. Over the last few months I've found that nature has been what has kept me balanced and calm. When the world around seems to be getting a little too dark, taking some time out for a little bit of gardening never fails to brighten my day.

Thankfully winter always leads into spring. And the spring garden is an amazing place. There is no end to the wonder felt as the sun slowly starts to warm and new shoots emerge. Leaves uncurling on trees and hesitant buds pushing up through the soil. There are lots of tasks to be done to prepare your garden for spring. I've listed my top five below:

1. Cut back last year's herbaceous perennials and lift and divide any congested clumps of established perennials. 

2. Remove any weeds as they appear.

3. Mow the lawn if the day is dry and warm and there is no frost due. 

4. Plant out new shrubs and perennials. When choosing new plants for your garden be sure to select plants that will suit the situation you are planting in. Have a think about their value for wildlife and how they will fit with your existing plants.

5. Help birds with their nest-building by tying up bundles of small twigs and dried moss near your bird feeders.

It’ll be a funny old Christmas this year, so here’s a crafty idea for sending Christmas magic to loved ones who can’t be with you. Sting would approve. You can also use these cute little bottles as place name markers at the Christmas table or to ‘send’ messages to children from the fairies, Santa’s Little Helpers or even from the big ole’ red fella himself! 

You’ll need: Craft bottles (£1 set of three, The Range), craft sand/sequins/glitter, trinket for embellishment, ribbon/string, tags, paper to write on. I chose everything in natural materials and neutral colours to match my Christmas table, but you can put your personal touch to them to match your own theme. 

1. Firstly, cut your paper small enough to fit in the bottle when rolled up. Write your message on it, roll it up tight and tie with ribbon or string. 

2. Pour a little of your glitter, sand or whatever you’re using into the bottle using rolled up paper as a funnel. Pop the scroll in the bottle ensuring the ribbon is long enough to pull the scroll out.

3. Write the recipient’s name on the label and tie it - along with the embellishment if using - round the bottle neck. 

If you’re gifting your messages in a bottle, you could even put them in little organza bags. These are guaranteed to make your loved ones far more emosh than a mere Christmas Day text will! 

Love Jo x 

I was joining in with a Twitter conversation the other night and noticed Beverley Adjoa chipping in with a link to her Instagram telling people to go and look at her artwork. 

I thought it was so lovely that I asked if we could use it in the magazine. Beverley kindly sent these images over. She takes commissions if you'd like one done in her eyecatching style. 

Art by Beverley Adjoa (Ah-ju-waa) London, UK

adjoasartwork@hotmail.com

www.instagram.com/adjoasartwork

A nut roast is of course the default for a vegan or vegetarian Christmas dinner. Does it really have to be that somewhat dried up slab of something like softened chip board? No, of course it doesn’t. This Christmas dinner suggestion is bursting with colour, vibrancy, protein and nutritional punch. At the same time, you will not be asking for seconds, I guarantee it. Neither will you be reaching for the mince pies by the time the Queen has said her Christmas day piece. You will be, to be frank, stuffed! 

So, there’s a few ingredients in here you probably won’t have in stock everyday, but hey it’s Christmas right?

To serve 4-6 people

For the nut loaf:

• 200g red lentils

• 1 red onion finely chopped

• 50g sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained and chopped (hang on to the oil!)

• 2 large cloves of crushed garlic

• 50g dried cranberries

• 100g chopped mixed nuts

• 100g of chopped chestnuts

• 50g of mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, linseed, flaxseed etc)

• 1.5 tsp of dried Herbes de Provençe

• 1sp maple syrup

• 1 medium carrot finely grated

• 1 tsp turmeric

• 1 tsp sweet, smoked paprika

• Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.

Method

1. Cook the red lentils in plenty of boiling water for 15 minutes until soft, drain with a mesh sieve.

2. Heat the reserved oil from the sun-dried tomatoes in a sauté pan and cook the onions for 5 minutes until they just brown. Add all the other ingredients except the dried herbs and spices and stir well to combine. Add the dried herbs, spices and salt and pepper.

3. Line a large loaf tin (approximately20cm x 10cm) with baking paper. Spoon the mixture into the tin and spread evenly with the back of a fork. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees, gas mark 4 for around 55 minutes. Test by inserting sharp knife or skewer, which should come out clean when the loaf is cooked. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before turning the loaf out and slicing.

Loaf topping

This can be prepared in advance, reheated and added to the top of the loaf after baking.

• 250g of chestnut mushrooms

• 250g of baby leaf spinach

• 1 sweet potato, baked and mashed

• A good squeeze of lemon juice

• A pinch of nutmeg

• A few good twists of freshly ground black pepper

• A few dried cranberries, soaked in boiling water for 5 minutes to soften

• A few whole walnuts

• A handful of pomegranate seeds

• A handful of fresh parsley roughly chopped

 Method

1. Pop the sweet potato in the oven with the nut roast and bake for 30-35 minutes in its skin until soft.

2. Sauté the mushrooms in a cooking oil of your choice for around 5 minutes until they brown, turn off the heat and toss in the spinach until it wilts, stirring together with the mushrooms at the same time. Scrape the cooked potato into the pan, mashing with the spatula as you go. Add the lemon juice, black pepper and nutmeg and stir to combine. Spread the mixture in a thick layer onto the nut loaf and decorate with the cranberries, walnuts, pomegranate and half the roughly chopped parsley.

3. Arrange the topped nut loaf on a warmed serving platter and surround with roasted vegetables (carrots, parsnips, squashes, potatoes, celeriac, swede, even a few cherry tomatoes etc) and your winter greens – broccoli, purple sprout tops, sprouts, black kale (cavalo nero), fine green beans etc and serve with a jug of rich onion and red wine gravy. Toss the remains of the parsley over the vegetables.

Bon appetit!

If you prefer fresh, airy and creamy tasting desserts for your Christmas dinner, try this fabulous recipe from Lucy's Indulgence.

Ingredients

For sponge:

3 free range eggs - room temperature
45g brown sugar
75g spelt flour or any white flour 

For the filling:

2 x cans of mandarin segments in juice, drained but reserving the juice
2 x mascarpone cream cheese
3 tbsp Greek style yogurt
1 tsp vanilla beans or essence 

For gelatine:

Mandarin juice from 2 cans
4 tbs white granulated sugar
3 tbsp potato starch

Method

1. Heat over to 180'C, line base of 24cm form cake tin with greaseproof paper. 

2. Using an electric whisk beat the egg whites and brown sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg yolks in one at a time and whisk well again. Add sifted flour, use a spatula and mix until combined. Pour into the tin and bake for 15 minutes.  Then leave to cool down completely. 

3. Filling method: In a bowl mix mascarpone cream cheese, icing sugar, white Greek style yogurt and vanilla essence. Use a spatula and mix well. Spoon about one third of this into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle and set aside. Spread the rest of the cream over the sponge.

4. Drain mandarins, but reserve the juice.

5. Arrange all mandarine segments over the cream.

6. Gelatine method: Use all juice, add white granulated sugar and potato starch. Mix it well, then heat in a saucepan until hot and combined. Warm, but not too hot pour over the mandarin segments. 

7. Let it cool down and pipe swirls of the cream around the edge. Place in the fridge overnight to set.

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