Are there any benefits of ditching tradition and trying something new this Christmas?

Niki: It’s a great idea to think outside the box and make something special. Take veggie and vegan options, for example. The centerpiece is always going to be the big important part of any festivities, but there are lots of ways of doing so that don’t involve meat; other cuisines, especially South Eastern, or Central Americas have a wide variety amount of herbs and spices that pair amazing with a vegetable hero dish that wouldn’t traditionally go with Turkey so you can really try something new and to experiment with friends and family.

Amanda: I always like to opt for something a little less traditional but still hearty, memorable and something the whole family can get stuck into. Game, rabbit or even fish can make a truly spectacular centerpiece. Try making individual portions, rolled and stuffed with festive flavours such as sage or slow cooked in a rich wine and clove and cinnamon spiced sauce.

How can we cook a traditional Christmas dinner on a budget?

Niki: Focus on seasonal root vegetables - they’re one of the easiest ways to reduce the costs at Christmas and enhance them with simple ingredients you’ll already have in your pantry. You can also change the way you cook them - opt for slow cooking, or roasting to really condense their flavour without spending out on luxury ingredients.

Amanda: You can utilise the ingredients and produce multiple meals over the festive period, reducing the costs of each meal. So think about what you are going to eat on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, too. But be a little bit more experimental than just cold meat leftovers or Turkey sandwiches. If you’re prepping your vegetables the day before, save the peelings such as the cauliflower stalks, potato peelings and broccoli leaves which can be made into a festive burger patty, using some sausage meat and breadcrumbs from your stuffing and the peelings boiled and blended together before pan frying.