There’s nothing quite like homemade lemon curd. And when you add passion fruit to the mix, you’re on to something really special. Serve it with freshly baked scones (or shortcake), hot buttered English muffins, or spread between vanilla sponge cake layers with lashings of whipped cream and fresh berries.

A box of these chocolate wafers would make an ideal gift for Mother’s Day — they are easy enough for little hands to make as the only cooking required is to melt the chocolate.

Fill homemade paper cones with spoonfuls of these mixed spiced nuts. They’re the perfect little package to give to the cocktail enthusiast in your life.

You really do need a sugar thermometer for making caramels and toffees, but it won’t be a wasted investment — once you’ve tried these caramels you’ll be hooked. The saltiness is just enough to cut through the intense caramel sweetness, making them dangerously moreish. Wrap each caramel in a twist of non-stick baking parchment.

WE’RE determined not to do doom and gloom. So, on the basis that a yummy little treat can cheer up even the grimmest day, we’re having lots of fun these days experimenting and making delicious Christmas presents for all our friends.