JUST before the festive season, we make up lots of little packages with sugar, spices and thinly-pared lemon rind so when the pals arrive it’s just a question of opening a bottle of wine and warming it with the spices in a stainless steel saucepan.

Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers new paperback series, the River Café Pocket books, cost around €13. They feature delicious recipes from London’s acclaimed River Café.

From Cook, by Thomasina Miers.

Serves 8-10.

Recipe for Agen Stuffed Prunes with Rosewater Cream.

Join Frank, Annie and Robbie Krawczyk, in cooperation with West Cork Slow Food, for a Gwiazdka, a Polish christmas feast at Summersalt Restaurant, Ballydehob, Co Cork, on Wednesday, December 6 at 7.30pm.

From Cook, by Thomasina Miers: These truffles are easiest to make in big batches and you can store them in the freezer until you need them. They are brilliant for packing into boxes and giving as presents to friends.

From Rachel’s Favourite Food At Home by Rachel Allen:

From The Irish Farmers’ Market Cookbook, by Clodagh McKenna: Clodagh came up with this recipe when she had a stall in Courtmacsherry, next toAnthony Cresswell, owner of the nearby Ummera Smokehouse.

Fauchon est arrive! Lovers of luxurious chocolates, rare Champagnes and a range of speciality foods such as truffles and foie gras, will welcome the recent arrival of Fauchon which is now available in Ireland.