Recipe of the Month from Simon Brown

Hi,

I'm Simon the guest presenter from cook's essentials. I'll be bringing you favourite recipes each month for you to try at home.

One real asset at this time of year is turkey stock. Homemade stock is dead easy to make, costs virtually nothing and tastes far better than those supermarket stock cubes.

Jill: Winter warmer tips from the Ice Queen

Hi everyone,

I hope you had a truly scrumptious Christmas and sparkly New Year.

Well, the snow has arrived and we are certainly feeling the crispy whisper of Jack Frost. Every year I count the days until Spring.

My friends call me the Ice Queen as I really hate the cold and will do everything I can to be as warm as toast.

They laugh at me when we go out as I have so many layers on and all my warm accessories. But, you've guessed it, I'm the only one who isn't moaning from the cold!

Here are a few winter warmer tips for if you're like me and really feel the cold. Oatmeal porridge every morning topped with bananas helps to keep that morning chill at bay.

Craig's cook's essentials dinner party

Hi there, hope you're all having a good week and are ready for Christmas.

Anyone who's seen me on the box will know I'm a HUGE fan of cook's essentials kitchen products! I always get a bit flustered when I'm cooking for people, so knowing my cookware is reliable always makes my feel a little bit calmer.

I got to test that theory out last week when I threw a little dinner party for friends.

Julia: here's my Christmas cake recipe

Wow, what a great weekend we had with the Elemis Today's Special Value - I'm so pleased you liked it, and what fantastic value it was too! Keeley's so nice, and I wasn't joking when I said that she texted me to say my 'chest' was looking fab and what was I using?

It was also brilliant to see the launch of ghd on QVC. I bought my pink straighteners a couple of years ago, as some of the money went to Breast Cancer charities.

And talking of new shows, don't miss the launch of Dyson this coming Saturday. If you're in the market for a fab new vacuum cleaner then be sure to tune in at 8pm.

Right, down to the serious stuff! Thanks for all your comments on my chocolate cake recipe, and as promised, here's the recipe I use for my Christmas cake - hope you enjoy it. By the way, the picture is of me holding the first Christmas cake I made!

Julia's delicious chocolate cake recipe

Hi all!

A few of you have been asking for my chocolate cake recipe, so here it is! It's more or less a chocolate Victoria sponge with fudge icing, but it seems to go down well with the family.

A few years ago when the children were small and didn't like 'proper' Christmas cake, I used to turn this cake into a chocolate log cabin - maybe you'd like to try that too?

Craig Rowe: My delicious apple crumble recipe

Hi everyone,

This has to be my all time favourite thing to bake and it's definitely a big hit with my friends and family. I even once had a friend drive down from Leeds just because I was serving it up at a dinner party!

It's a little different from most crumbles because there's far more crumble than fruit - it tends to be crunchy on top with a cookie doughie-ness underneath.

Enjoy!

Craig's vanilla and almond biscuity apple crumble

Prep time: 20 mins

Cooking time: 30 mins on 220'C (Gas Mark 7)

Serves: 6 generous portions

Alison Keenan: My classic Italian chicken

Hi everyone,

I cook this dish time and time again because it's an absolute doddle to make and not too expensive. Plus it looks impressive so if you're planning a dinner party, this is a great recipe to try.

Serve it with either fresh pasta, fried slices of polenta, or new potatoes and green veg - french beans are really good with this.

Enjoy!

Love Alison x

Check out Catherine Huntley's new crafting blog

Are you crazy for craft, do-lally for DIY or passionate about your pets? If so then QVC's own Catherine Huntley wants to hear from you.

Catherine Huntley's Craft Etc. is a brand new blog set up to give you the latest crafting news, stories and expert tips while also giving you a chance to tell us all about your craft experiences.

As well as craft we'll be chatting about recipes, DIY, pets, make-up and all manner of home styling activities.

We're keen to hear from you and find out about your experiences, questions and what you think of our new blog.

Check out the Craft Etc. blog.

Catherine Huntley: My Kitty Kedgeree

Hi everyone,

This is a recipe I adapted when my children were little and I had very little money. Ever been hunting down the back of the settee for coins? Then you get the picture! I have never actually had a conventional haddock kedgeree.

(Please note – no kitties were harmed during the making of this kedgeree. It’s only called that because my two cats love it with a passion!)

This dish is very affordable and a great last-minute standby meal. I also like it because you can chuck it in a Lock & Lock and it makes a great packed lunch without looking like yesterday’s leftovers. This is so easy to make and great if you’ve got a few people round for an informal gathering. It goes well on a buffet table at a bbq too!

Try Catherine's Kitty Kedgeree recipe

Jilly Halliday: My son's tasty recipe

Hi everyone,

My son Taylor had to devise a recipe for school that was relatively healthy and this is the dish that we came up with. It's called Taylor's Tasty Pork and it's really good.

Taylor is 7 and quite a fussy eater but he really likes Chinese-style cooking. You can adapt this recipe and sneak all kinds of vegetables in with the noodles - as long as it looks colourful the kids seem to love it! Taylor has also drawn a picture to go with it!

Enjoy!

Love Jilly x

Taylor's tasty pork recipe