Table tips

Carol O’Callaghan offers some ideas for those preparing the table this Christmas.

Christmas culinary matters are either joyfully anticipated or, for most of us, akin to 12 days of hard labour.

So we’re probably likely to give thanks for supermarket puddings and cakes, ready-peeled vegetables, bumper snack packs and a jar of curry sauce to add to left-over turkey on Saint Stephen’s Day.