If you're looking for a spectacular festive season centrepiece, you've come to the right place. To create the perfect Beef Wellington, you need to be prepared to work in several stages. But each stage is a breeze for even the most inexperienced cook, with ready made puff pastry further lightening the workload; just read the instructions carefully, follow them to the letter and I guarantee you won't go wrong (and, given the cost of beef fillet, you really don't want to go wrong). Once prepared, Beef Wellington will happily sit in the fridge, ready to go when you and your guests are.

Ingredients  (makes 2 Beef Wellingtons, each serving 2 people)

2 x 400g beef fillets
500g mixture of chestnut and wild mushrooms, very finely chopped
The leaves from 1 sprig of fresh thyme
500g block of puff pastry
8 slices of Parma ham
2 egg yolks, beaten with 1 tbsp water and a pinch of salt

For the red wine gravy

2 tbsp butter
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 tsp plain flour
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
150ml red wine
200ml beef consommé (or beef stock)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Method

1. Remove the beef fillets from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature for at least one hour.

2. Cut the pastry block in half, place on a lightly floured surface and roll each piece into a rectangle large enough to envelop one of the beef fillets. Refrigerate the rolled pastry sheets for at least thirty minutes.

3. Briefly roll the beef fillets in olive oil, season well and sear in a very hot, dry pan for 30-60 seconds until browned all over (including the ends; kitchen tongs are helpful here). Remove the fillets from the pan and set to one side to cool.

4. Pour the fat out of the pan you seared the beef in, but don’t clean it; use it to fry the finely-chopped mushrooms with a little butter and olive oil until they begin to release their juices. Add the thyme leaves, season well and continue to sauté over a high heat for about 10 minutes until all the excess moisture has evaporated and you're left with a stiff mushroom paste (known as a duxelle). Remove the duxelle from the pan and leave to cool.

5. Lay a large sheet of cling film onto a work surface and place 4 slices of the Parma ham in the middle, overlapping them slightly to create a square. Spread half the duxelle evenly over the ham.

6. Season one seared beef fillet and place on top of the mushroom-covered ham. Using the cling film, roll the ham over the beef, then roll and tie the cling film to form a nice firm log. Repeat this step with the second beef fillet, then chill both logs for at least 30 minutes.

7. Remove the cling film from the beef, then wrap the pastry around each ham-wrapped fillet. Trim the pastry and brush all over with the egg wash. Place on a lightly-oiled baking sheet, cover with cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours. Meanwhile, make the red wine gravy.

8. Heat 1 tbsp of the butter in a saucepan and sauté the chopped shallot until soft (about 2-3 minutes). Stir the flour into the butter and cook to form a sandy paste, then splash the vinegar in and allow to simmer for around 30 seconds. Add the wine to the pan, stirring continuously. Bring to the boil and allow to bubble for around a minute before adding the mustard and then the stock.

9. Simmer the gravy, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced down to about 200ml in total. Season to taste before whisking the remaining butter into the pan. The gravy can be reheated when you're ready to serve the Wellingtons. 

10. To cook the Wellingtons, preheat the oven to 20°C/gas mark 6. Score the pastry lightly and brush with more egg wash, then bake for 15-20 minutes until the pastry is golden brown. Allow the Wellingtons to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving on hot plates, accompanied by the red wine gravy, creamy mash or roast potatoes and green vegetables of your choice.

Four Speedy Store Cupboard Suppers (all recipes serve 4)

Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella (vegetarian)

Cook 200g dry spaghetti, tagliatelle or fettuccine according to the instructions on the packet. Meanwhile, use a pestle and mortar (or a big bowl and the base of a rolling pin!) to crush/muddle 1 red chilli (deseeded and finely-chopped) with 2 finely-chopped shallots, 1 tbsp olive oil, the zest of 1 lemon, 2 tsp caster sugar,1 tbsp red wine vinegar and 1 level tsp of salt into a rough paste. Add 300g diced, fresh tomatoes (plus all their lovely juices) and muddle again until thoroughly combined. Drain the pasta and toss with the tomato mixture and 350g cubed mozzarella (or several generous dollops of burrata). Serve in warmed bowls scattered with fresh basil and freshly ground black pepper.

Creamy Chickpea and Coconut Masala (vegan)

Saute 1 chopped onion and 1 clove of garlic (peeled and crushed) with 1 tbsp garam masala (or medium curry powder), ½ tsp cumin, ½ tsp ground coriander and ½ tsp turmeric until the onion is turning translucent and the spices are releasing their fragrance. Add 2 x 400g cans of chickpeas (drained), 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes and 1 x 400g tin of coconut milk and bring to the boil before simmering gently for around 10 minutes. Add 1 x level tbsp soft brown sugar, season to taste and serve hot over steamed rice, sprinkled with fresh coriander.

Naan 'Pizzas' topped with Roasted Cauliflower (vegetarian)

Preheat the oven to 190°C gas mark 5. Chop the florets from 1 large cauliflower and chop the stalks into bite-sized chunks. In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower with 1 large red onion (peeled and chopped), 250g paneer cheese (cubed) and 1 level tbsp garam masala. Drizzle with olive oil, season well, tumble the lot onto a large baking tray and roast for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven (but leave the oven on!), tip the mixture back into a large bowl and lay 4 garlic and coriander naan breads onto the hot baking tray. Divide the roast cauliflower and paneer mixture across the breads. Mix 2 tbsp mango chutney with a little hot water and drizzle over each pizza, followed by a smattering of dried red chilli flakes. Bake the pizzas for 10 minutes until the toppings have cooked through, the cheese is golden and the breads are turning crispy around the edges. Serve hot.

Prawn and Chorizo Polenta

Bring 1.2l vegetable oil to the boil and simmer on a low heat. Meanwhile, sauté 200g sliced cooking chorizo in a little olive oil until the chorizo starts to release its flavoursome oils. Add 2 cloves of garlic (peeled and crushed) and 350g raw king prawns to the pan and continue to sauté for another 3-4 minutes until the prawns turn pink (or, use cooked prawns and heat through thoroughly.) Add 200g quick-cook polenta to the simmering vegetable stock and whisk vigorously for around 1 minute until thickened. Remove the polenta from the heat and add 100g grated parmesan and 50g butter; stir well until the cheese and the butter have melted and season to taste. Divide the polenta between 4 plates and top each portion with the chorizo and prawns. Serve immediately.

Della Vite Prosecco Superiore DOCG

This is a superior Prosecco especially created for the Delevingne sisters, Chloe, Poppy and Cara. who launched the label in 2020 and ever since has become a real star in its own right.

Della Vite Prosecco is made by the Biasiotto family, who have been crafting superior Prosecco for over three generations in the heart of the Valdobbiadene appellation – the region noted by the DOCG credentials. The vineyards are sustainably managed, and the winery is solar-powered.

Della Vite Prosecco DOCG is rich, complex and extra-dry with a highly mineral palate and a soft lingering finish. The hints of crostini and chamomile open up plenty of potential for food pairings, or to just be enjoyed over great conversation and with stellar company.

This is certainly a quality Prosecco that fizz lovers should not be miss out on. Available from the Great Wine Co. £26.50

Looking for more delicious foodie inspo?

Click through to browse our full new look Delicious Guide below!

Netflix: The Power of the Dog

A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother's new wife and her teen son — until long-hidden secrets come to light.

Benedict Cumberbatch returns to our screens in Oscar winner Jane Campion's acclaimed Western; also starring Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Watch The Power of the Dog on Netflix: netflix.com

ROH Live: The Nutcracker, 9 December, 7.15pm

The Nutcracker is a family favourite at Christmas time and is one of the most delightful ways to discover the enchantment of ballet. The story of Clara, a girl on a magical Christmas Eve adventure, is accompanied by sparkling music and even dancing sweets! Watch the full company of The Royal Ballet in this much-loved ballet classic.

Book tickets to see The Nutcracker at the Little Theatre Cinema on the Picturehouse website: picturehouses.com

WIN a copy of new Christmas children's book, Santa's Secret Agents!

Be in with a chance to win the new children's Christmas picture book by local authors Steve Gunning and Chris Wheeler, Santa's Secret Agents: 

What if Santa could see through the sunroof and know whether children have been naughty or nice all year?

Santa’s Secret Agents will make the perfect gift for 5-10 year olds, inviting them on the (sleigh)ride of their lives as they follow Santa's highly-trained team of all-seeing elves and discover all of their gadgets and gizmos.

The book will also be hugely popular with parents too, with its humour and tongue-in-cheek James Bond spy references, as Santa (a.k.a. Double Ho 7) sits down to “a glass of milk shaken, not stirred”.

To enter the competition ... head to Instagram and follow @carrawaypublishing1, @stevegunning, and @thebathmagazine. Next, give our post of the Santa's Secret Agents book cover a like, and finally tag a friend in the comments section. 

We'll choose one lucky winner by 6 December!

And if you're not lucky this time ... Gunning and Wheeler's book is priced at £9.99, and is available online and from all good bookshops, including Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 13-15 John Street, Bath, BA1 2JL. You can also purchase the book on the Mr B's website: mrbsemporium.com

Above book cover illustrated by authors Gunning and Wheeler

Curated by Daniel McCabe

We sell the odd home sewing magazine, the ones with a pattern inside. People often comment to us that they're nice, but the clothes are always boring. Tauko is a new sewing magazine that seems to understand this and brings to the job of making the genre a bit more exciting an international network of contributors, designers, writers, photographers and illustrators who share a common vision 'to bring mindful and beautiful work to the world’. It’s a curious but successful blend of craft, community and climate awareness but, most importantly, the clothes you can create with Tauko are certainly not boring. £20

Magalleria has moved - The magazine store, which carries almost 2000 rare, specialist and independent titles, is now operating from much larger premises in the centre of the city at 5 Upper Borough Walls BA1 1RG.

Mixed Winter Exhibition at David Simon Contemporary

An eclectic feast of new work by gallery artists plus new invited artists. This popular and anticipated annual Mixed Winter Exhibition includes paintings, ceramics and bronze sculpture. Works may be taken at any point of the exhibition during December and January.

Works on display by Daisy Cook, Julia Cooper; Isabel Coulton, Parastoo Ganjei, Andrew Lansley, Peter Lloyd-Jones,  Mungo Powney, Yuta Segawa, Mike Service, David Ralph Simpson, and Frances Watts.

The Mixed Winter exhibition will be held at David Simon Contemporary, 37 High Street, Castle Cary BA7 7AW, from 4 December until 29 January 2022. 

Visit the David Simon Contemporary website for more information: davidsimoncontemporary.com 

Peek through the wardrobe into the land of Narnia...at Milsom Place!

For a limited time only, make a trip to Milsom Place and follow the paw prints to discover a vision of Narnia.

A wondrous diorama created by Planet Gold Decor, exclusively for Milsom Place, will transport viewers into a magical world complete with a life-size lion accompanied by his faithful animal companions, the witch’s throne and, of course, the essential wardrobe…

Illuminated to bring the scene to life and spread some festive cheer this Christmas, this other-worldly scene has to be seen to be believed – an Insta-worthy trip for some, a nostalgic trip down memory lane for others – it’s sure to delight all ages this festive season.

The magical diorama will be open to the public until 30 January 2022. Find out more at the Milsom Place website: milsomplace.co.uk

Images of Bath and Tokyo exhibition at BRLSI

Bath Mind are delighted to be charity partner of artists and co-exhibitors Jason Dorley Brown and Andrew Polson, in this exciting photographic exhibition, Images of Bath and Tokyo: opening at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution on 9 December.

Andrew explains “I had visited Tokyo for the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and while I was there I took a series of ‘street’ photographs. I was set to exhibit these images in Bath and was keen to hear Jason’s opinion of them. Jason was incredibly helpful and generous with his advice when we met. By the end of the meeting I had asked Jason to curate my upcoming exhibition, he had said yes and a friendship had formed.”

Jason finds that his creative work supports his mental health: “having a creative outlet was a godsend for me during the pandemic. It gave me a focus and meant that each day I was able to wake up and engage in something which brought me joy", he explains.

The exhibition runs at the BRLSI, Queens Square, Bath, from 9 December through to end January 2022. Entrance is free. A percentage of profits from sales will be donated to Bath Mind by Jason and Andrew.

If you would like to support Bath Mind by fundraising or donating, please text 70085 to donate £5, or visit their website, bathmind.org; Jason’s work can also be viewed and ordered at jasondorleybrown.com

Bath Mind urge the community to look out for one another during these challenging times, and to get in touch if you or someone you know needs support with their mental health and wellbeing.

Bath Camerata Christmas concerts conducted by John Rutter

The incomparable John Rutter will lead Bath Camerata (and the audience!) in a magical celebration for the festive season, with songs and carols old and new to celebrate this most wonderful time of the year. 

Two concerts will take place at St Marty's, Bathwick, BA2 4EB, on 20 December: the first beginning at 5pm, and the second at 8pm.

Nowell, Nowell: Tudor Christmas Songs and Carols

4 December, 7.30pm in the Picture Gallery at The Holburne Museum

A concert to herald the Christmas season sung by The Dowland Youth Works Choir which was founded to encourage talented young singers, specifically lute players, with an interest in early music. The choir of around eight voices will be accompanied by Sam Brown on the lute, and conducted by musical director Laurence Williams. Tickets £18. 

Click here to buy tickets: holburne.org/events

Christmas Carols in The Circus, Friday 17 December, 7pm

To all Circus Area Resident Association (CARA) members, neighbours and friends...do come along to our "Carols in The Circus" event and join in the carols with the Salvation Army providing the music. There will be a charity collection at the event, with all the profits going to the Salvation Army Fund. 

With so much happening near Christmas...get the date in your calendars now! Everyone is invited to enjoy the Christmas magic of The Circus! We can't promise snow, but maybe...just maybe? 

This event is organised by the Circus Area Residents Association. 

English Christmas Carols Lecture at BRLSI, 10 December, 7.30pm – 9pm

You would be forgiven for thinking that the standard Christmas carols you have sung since childhood are all the carols that exist. What surprises many people is that there is a long and rich heritage of people still singing Christmas carols from their own particular part of the country, which are now largely unknown. However, in recent years there has been a gradual revival of some of the old carols, perhaps even the beginnings of a renaissance.

This talk uncovers the archaeological layers in the history of English Christmas carols and comes to some perhaps surprising conclusions, and will be taken by Anne Gregson. 

You can watch this event live at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (16–18 Queen Square, BA1 2HN, Bath) or online; make sure to choose the relevant tickets when booking.

Tickets can be booked from the BRLSI website: brlsi.org