It is a nice recipe to make with children, or people learning to bake, because after the grating is completed, there are no mixers or specialist equipment needed

When I make this dessert, I like to pack it full of nuts and dried fruit. It is also a great way to use leftover mince after Christmas. it works very well at the centre of the apple.

"I like to bake with Agen prunes in particular, the only problem is I find it difficult not to eat half of them before they are added to the recipe."

These cute but spooky sausage rolls are a great Halloween party treat and fun for little hands to decorate with you. 

"I love this recipe because of its versatility, it is basically a binding agent for seeds, nuts and dried fruit. The honey does not stick things together as firmly as golden syrup, so they have a nice crumble to them."

You can snuggle up with a sweet slice of the loaf cake filled with dates, walnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg.

"Damsons were first introduced to the country by monks during the Norman period. People of the time were said to make a ‘fruit cheese’ from the damsons which sounds a little like a Spanish membrillo."

"I love making it with apricots earlier in the summer but at this time of year it is a great way to embrace the autumn bounty of fruit such as pears, apples or blackberries."

Cherries always go well with chocolate

I suggest raspberry jam in this recipe as it is one of my favourites, is generally a crowd pleaser and is quite versatile.