Made with love

Capture some quiet time in the kitchen to craft these thoughtful treats to give to loved ones over the festive sea eason

- 

Clementine spritz marmalade

MAKES 1.5LTR

Your loved ones can have their favourite cocktail on toast with this boozy marmalade.

2 red grapefruits

1.2kg oranges

1kg bag jam sugar

500ml Aperol

YOU WILL NEED

Jam thermometer

Sterilised jars and screw-on lids

1 Cut the skin and pith from the grapefruits and discard.

2 Wash the oranges then cut off and discard the very top and bottom 'peaks' and cut in half. Put the grapefruits, oranges and sugar into a large, tall-sided pan. Pour over the Aperol and 500ml water.

3 Bring to the boil and reduce to a simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

4 After 2 hours, use the thermometer to check the mixture's temperature, it should be at 150C. Remove the pan from the heat and being careful not to splatter yourself with the hot jam, use a hand blender to blitz until the orange is broken down and the marmalade is your desired texture.

5 Cool for 15 minutes then ladle marmalade into a jug and pour into warm, sterilised jars through a funnel. Seal and screw lids on. The marmalade will last for around 6 months when stored in sterilised jars.

Clock face biscuits

MAKES 10

The perfect biscuit for a New Year countdown.

600g plain flour

½tsp bicarbonate of soda

1tbsp ground ginger

½tsp each of ground nutmeg and cinnamon

200g unsalted butter

200g soft light brown sugar

150g golden syrup

1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk