Steve Reed, atmosphere secretary: I’m barbecuing the turkey this 12 months, so I can’t inform you but whether or not that’s a high tip or a complete catastrophe! Apart from that — brining the turkey in a single day massively improves the flavour.
Liz Truss, ex-prime minister: My high ideas for the proper roast potatoes — don’t peel them, don’t parboil them and don’t even fear about preheating the oven. Merely minimize them into chunks and put them straight right into a roasting pan lined with olive oil or goose fats and put them within the oven. To make sure the proper crispy exterior, simply give them a very good shake midway by cooking.
Wait, what, pizza?
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI chief government: With a mix of vegetarians and carnivores within the household, we began a brand new custom of do-it-yourself pizza from scratch for our Christmas meal throughout lockdown and have saved it going. There may be nothing just like the scent of rising dough if you come again from a Christmas stroll and all of us get to placed on our favourite toppings collectively.
Mel Stride, shadow chancellor: Mine can be cocktail-related as certainly one of my proudest possessions is my cocktail cupboard! I might advocate a spiced Negroni for Christmas. Basic Negroni, however use gin spiced with star anise, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury: My favourite cocktail is an easy Negroni — equal measures of gin (ideally Plymouth, infused within the fridge with cinnamon, star anise, cloves and bay leaf for a festive twist), Campari and candy vermouth; stirred with ice and a slice of orange. However my surprising new ability of 2024 has been making mezcal cocktails. Swap out the gin for mezcal for a extra earthy and smoky Negroni, extra becoming for winter than the summery authentic.
David Lammy, international secretary: Add a serving of Guyanese pepperpot to the aspect of your Christmas turkey. My aunt bringing this round all the time places our household within the festive temper.
