We love Christmas, but we know many people have become jaded by the seemingly endless Christmas shopping. If you lost your festive cheer during a depressing dash around the department store, we intend to bring it back. So with only a fortnight to go until the big day, we’ve compiled a list of 14 brilliant things to make this Christmas.

1. Mince Pies

No Christmas is complete without a tasty mince pie on Christmas Eve. And rather than buy a box from your local supermarket, why not get busy in the kitchen with this unbelievably easy mince pie recipe from The Beeb. Just remember to leave one spare for Father Christmas.

2. The Belvoir Christmas Corker

Bursting at the seams with flavour, this fruity twist on the traditional glass of champagne is a treat for all. This corker of a cocktail will help waken your senses and definitely boost your Christmas spirit.

10ml Belvoir’s Elderflower Cordial
4 Fresh raspberries
35ml Gin
25ml Lychee juice
5ml Lemon juice
Top with Champagne

Crush the raspberries in a shaker and add all other ingredients. Shake and strain into a high-ball glass and top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon slice and fresh raspberries

3. The Blue Peter Advent Crown

You remember the Blue Peter Advent Crown, don’t you? The one with all the coat hangers. wrapped in tinsel. You watched Noakes, Purves and Singleton make it, but did you ever make it yourself? Well, this Christmas, opportunity knocks because full instructions can be found online!

4. Christmas Crackers

The first Christmas crackers didn’t crack. They were simply sweets, often with mottos or poems inside. Then, in 1860, Thomas Smith decided to add a little spark to these festive treats with a small strip of saltpetre (potassium nitrate) between two strips of thin card. Pulling both ends of the card creates friction and, finally, the crack.

Why not give your Christmas crackers a personal touch by making them yourself? Kits are available to buy online, or pop into your nearest craft store.

5. Paper Chains

If you can’t deck the hall with bows of holly, surely the next best thing is some homemade paper chains. Go loopy with endless streams of gummed coloured paper. We suggest a corner-to-corner arrangement (and a healthy dollop of Blu-tack).

6. Christmas Pud

It is a testament to Christmas indulgence that, after a massive roast dinner, we still find the space for Christmas pudding. If you want to make your own, why not follow Delia’s recipe? Alternatively, you could follow a 1945 recipe favoured by writer George Orwell.

7. Winter Berries Relish

Want to add the Christmas feast this year and wow your guests? Then try Belvoir’s Winter Berries Relish. Packed full with prunes, figs, apricots and orange this fruity relish will give added zest to your dish.

1 onion chopped
½ Red cabbage
1 tbs Fresh ginger, grated
50g Belvoir’s Winter Berries cordial
50g Ready soak prunes
50g Ready soak figs
50g Ready soak apricots
1 Glass white wine
Juice of 1 orange
100ml Chicken stock
1tbs Fresh thyme

1. Sweat off the onion in a little butter. Add the ginger followed by the white wine and Winter Berries cordial. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the remaining ingredients
2. Cook ½ a shredded red cabbage very slowly with 100g of Winter Berries cordial and 100g water for approx 1½ hours to give a perfect winter veg to accompany this dish

8. A Snowman

The question on everyone’s lips this Christmas (and every Christmas) is “Will we have a white Christmas?”. Here on the farm, we think it’s vital that when the weather outside is frightful and the first snowflakes begin to fall, to get your mitts on and build an outstanding snowman. We’ve found the best tips on how to make a brilliant snowman. It’s far more complicated than you think! And if you want to be a bit more original, why not take some inspiration from the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado.

9. Edible Christmas Tree Decorations

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol embodies everything we think of today as a traditional British Christmas. The Victorians were infatuated with the extravagance of Christmas. And one thing that we are delighted has stuck is edible Christmas decorations.

Thread popcorn on a piece of string or bake your own tree decorations. They make fantastic last minute presents for unexpected guests. And when the festive season is over, what’s better than tucking into your Christmas decorations?

Check out these gingerbread trees, cut out some gingerbread circles and add some fruit sweets to make your decorations that more colourful.

10. Origami Snowflakes

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without folding up some paper and cutting holes in it. Slightly addictive, origami snowflakes are the quickest and easiest way to keep the kids entertained. For origami snowflakes novices, find out how to make three beautifully different snowflakes.

11. A Donation

Because it’ll brighten up someone else’s Christmas too.

12. A Nativity Scene

If you’re feeling very crafty this Christmas, why not attempt to make your own nativity scene? If paper and glue aren’t your thing, try it with Lego. Or simply arrange your scene online and click ‘print’!

13. Belvoir’s Winter Spice

Dazzle your taste buds with this spicy festive treat. This scrumptiously fruity cocktail is perfect for the designated drivers at your party, though if you want to spice things up and appeal to everyone then why not add a drop of rum!

15ml Belvoir’s Winter Berries Cordial
35ml Pomegranate Juice
35ml Cranberry Juice
5ml Fresh Lime
All Spice

Pour all ingredients into a high-ball with cubed ice and garnish with mixed berries

14. A Christmas Playlist

Many spirits have passed through the mouth of The Pogues’ lead singer Shane MacGowan, but who’d have thought the spirit of Christmas would come from the man’s lips? When he sings the opening line of Fairytale of New York, many a humbug’s heart will melt.

Put all your favourite festive hits in one place, ready for a good-old-fashioned singalong on Christmas morning. Or if you’re using Spotify, you could just play someone else’s favourites.

This week at Belvoir Fruit Farms we’ve dusted off our party frocks, blown up the balloons and poured ourselves a delicious Belvoir cocktail as we celebrate something very close to our hearts.

There’s a dedicated week for everything these days whether it’s celebrating teddy bears, lauding felt hats or hugging vending machines… But some, we feel, are more deserving than others and that’s why we are celebrating everything organic with National Organic fortnight (that’s right, it’s so good they’ve given us fourteen whole days to party).

The fortnight launched on 5th September and there is still plenty of time to celebrate this year’s theme ‘Wake up to an Organic Breakfast’.  Here at Belvoir we have been washing down our organic toast and honey with some Organic Ginger Belvoir Cordial.

But we’ve become bored of the monotonous toast and cereal, so we’ve searched for an alternative and here’s a couple of our favourite suggestions:

Prepare the night before:
Bran Conference Pear and Bullace Breakfast muffins.
We thought these looked great as not only are these a sweet treat in the morning, they are healthy for your digestive system too. If you find it difficult to find Bullace, we suggest using cherry plums which are lacing our hedgerows this very moment.

In a dash: Belvoir Breakfast Smoothie.
The best things to start your day-fruit and a kick of Organic Ginger Cordial.
Fill a glass as you usually would with a mixture of Organic Belvoir Ginger Cordial and water.  Add the juice to a blender with raspberries, bananas and any other fruit you may fancy.  Simply whiz the mixture and enjoy.

Long, leisurely and lazy.
We’ve done a poll at Belvoir Fruit Farms and our favourite breakfast treat is a poached egg.  Whether it’s with bacon, homemade hollandaise sauce or simply on its own with some wholemeal buttered toast (all organic of course) it was a clear winner.
Let’s be havin’ your perfect poached egg recipe, Delia. It never fails.

If you fancy  brushing up your organic knowledge, why not head down to the Organic Food Festival in Bristol this weekend. You can sample organic delights from across the globe, pick up some cooking tips from organic chef Sophie Grigson and learn how to make chutney at the Granny Skills Workshop.

If the Autumnal weather is getting to you and you’d rather hibernate, perhaps stay at home and experiment with this dish we found from across the pond.

We were thrilled to discover that our Organic Ginger Cordial has crossed the Atlantic and is commemorated with its own Belvoir Ginger Cake!

Drop us some post and let us know how you are celebrating Organic fortnight. Why not send us your photos of our Organic Belvoir Ginger Cakes or even better, a slice? And do give us your suggestions for a great breakfast too.

Mother’s Day (or Mothering Sunday, if you prefer) is this Sunday. Perhaps you’ve already ordered the chrysanthemums, booked a table and bought a compilation CD of crooners.
Well done if you have. Fear not if you haven’t – Belvoir is here to help.

You could, of course, scurry off and find the perfect gift on the internet. But that’s cheating. And as for restaurants, it’s one of their busiest days – they might squeeze you in like sardines.

So this Mother’s Day, why not avoid the cost and the queues by treating your nearest and dearest to a splendid three course meal? You’ll save yourself some cash, and get to impress the whole family with your culinary skills. And your mother prefers it when you make gifts. Believe us.

Right. Apron on? Washed your hands? Okay, here’s our suggested three course menu – embellished, naturally, with a little bit of Belvoir.

Starter: Thai Pea Soup

Go East with this snappy little starter. You’ll transform 250g of frozen peas into delicious Thai pea soup with a little help from some coconut milk, fish sauce and Belvoir’s Organic Ginger Cordial. It’s deliciously different.
» Thai pea soup recipe

Main: Spicy Chicken Wrap

Quick and simple to make, this main course is full of colour and flavour. Spicy chilli flakes and Belvoir’s Lime and Lemongrass Cordial bring a pleasant zing to diced chicken and peppers. The whole thing’s wrapped in warm tortilla. Go on, pick it up with your fingers.
» Spicy chicken wrap recipe

Dessert: Elderflower Lime Cheesecake

Cool your taste buds with this delicate and delightful cheesecake for dessert. You’ll need three quarters of a large pack of Digestives. Try not to scoff the remaining quarter while you’re baking – you’ll spoil your dinner. And what would your mother say about that?
» Elderflower lime cheesecake recipe

And to drink? Well, take your pick from our fine range of cordials, pressés and juices. Or if you’re looking for something with a little more kick, why not try one of our cheeky cocktail recipes? Mums deserve a special treat once in a while.

So this Mother’s Day, instead of saying it with flowers, we suggest saying it with elderflowers. Let us know how you get on in the kitchen by sending your pics to the usual address – we’ll publish the best ones on this blog.

Good luck! And if you’re a mum – enjoy!