Nigella reveals how to enjoy the run up to Christmas and how some of her sanity-preserving short cuts can make even the most routine recipes redolent with festive sparkle. Nigella begins by gathering inspiration at the Christmas Market in Salzburg and adds a few twists of her own back in the kitchen with her aromatic spiced ham and Christmas cake. Dealing with large numbers of hungry people invading our homes, all capable of defying the laws of nature by being perpetually hungry, is a Christmas challenge. Although the idea of canapes seem to resonate 1970s, they are always greeted with gratitude and Nigella presents some simple guides to getting them right. Salty combinations of Parma ham, creamy goats cheese and figgy wraps are quick and simple to assemble as are Nigella's spicy mini ribs are and her irresistible crab cakes. Saving the day is Nigella's never-failing hangover cure, a Cuban chorizo and black bean soup.

Nigella Lawson sets out to cook a Christmas lunch that attempts to marry the weight of Dickensian expectation against the modern worries of today's chefs. For many, a laser-thin line exists between salmonella and leathery disappointment and the thought of spending Christmas night in A&E makes most of us lean towards the safety of an overcooked bird. With an affection for turkey, there is no alternative to Christmas lunch for Nigella and she sets out to deliver her method of preparation with a super-spiced, juicy roast turkey. Accompanying the bird on its final journey are pancettta and chestnut sprouts, gingerbread stuffing and maple syrup parsnips, all finished off with Fanny Craddock's gift to the world - vodka flamed Christmas pudding.

Baking, Mulling, Larder filling, and fun food to hang on the tree are at the heart of this programme. Nigella’s last minute Christmas Cake is a revelation. It’s also worthwhile having a few substantial standbys lurking in the fridge at this time and Nigella’s Spiced and Glazed Ham does the trick. And perhaps the new millennium is the right moment to revive the odd retro classic such as Gravadlax but with a Nigella twist!