I can think of more than of my close friends who hoards a dirty little secret. Hidden deep in the draws below the socks and pants and student junk, a naughty Nigella cookbook. But in December the temptation endures and the seasonal excuse returns. Eat, drink and be merry as they say. Slobbing on the sofa flicking through the channels, the theme runs through and through festive TV. And reliable as always, Nigella graces our appetites with her Christmas Kitchen. No matter how many repeats they play, her lustful kitchen magic always puts a sparkle into Christmas. Her rich, indulgent recipes may make you squirm with guilt, yet look undeniably divine. And what better time of year for an excuse to try them out. As the great woman herself says, “I don’t believe you can ever really cook unless you love eating,” and who are we to disagree?

For recipes and inspiration visit http://www.nigella.com/