Festive feasts with a side o' cider

With the season of goodwill just weeks away, Breast Cancer Campaign wants you to throw a Christmas dinner party and raise vital funds for breast cancer research.

Since it launched earlier this year, Campaign’s gourmet get-togethers have received support from celebrity chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Aldo Zilli and Angela Hartnett, who have all donated mouth-watering recipes.

Now, to celebrate the festive season, chefs Andrew Nutter and Lotte Duncan, have rustled up two festive treats for friends and family to enjoy.

For those who want a change from turkey, Cooking The Books star Lotte has donated a recipe for baked ham with apple and cider, fresh plum and ginger chutney while Utter Nutter chef Andrew has offered his Chocolate Wonderbites recipe (pictured) for dessert.

Andrew said: “Go nuts this Christmas and cook up a festive feast. Invite your friends and family round for a gourmet get together and ask guests for a recommended donation of £15 or whatever amount they can give. You don’t have to be a nutter to get involved, but you’d be a complete utter nutter not to.�

For more information and to register for a fundraising pack full of ideas and recipes, call 020 7749 3700 or email gourmet@breastcancercampaign.org

Credit crunch biting? Forget Chardonnay or Champagne with your turkey this Christmas and crack open a bottle of chilled Merrydown Vintage cider.

Vintage uses the juice of ripe apples which is then fermented by the same yeast as used in the Champagne-Ardenne region.

Use the dry version to replace Champagne in cocktails such as Bellinis and Kir Royales. £2.49 from major supermarkets.