Christmas ham: By Isle of Wight

Recipe idea Christmas ham

By Isle of Wight Meat Co.

A Christmas ham is a classic choice for a festive feast. Reared to the highest standards at the family-run Cheverton Farm in Shorwell and traditionally cured with a touch of juniper, this cured boneless gammon from Isle of Wight Meat Co. will be the star of your Christmas table

Both decorative and delicious, a Christmas ham deserves to be styled accordingly; simmered with festive peppercorns, coriander and fennel seeds and finished with a seasonally-cheering scored diamond pattern of criss-crossed cloves. Glazed to a shine with dark syrupy sugar and local Isle of Wight honey, bring to the table part-carved on a wooden board, garnished with charred Christmas fruit and fresh rosemary. Top tip: should fridge space allow, reserve the cooking liquid for Christmas stock, festive soup, or even as a game-changing base for homemade mushy peas. Fabulous hot and steaming with trimmings galore; equally delicious the day after with chutneys and cheeses, divine stirred through creamy Christmas pasta during the ‘inbetween’ – a Christmas ham really is the gift that keeps on giving.

For your full simmer-to-score recipe • Visit styleofwight.co.uk • Order your boneless cured gammon directly from Isle of Wight Meat Co. – priced at £12.50 a kilo

Recipe idea Beef Wellington

By Farmer Jacks

Christmas is all about creating memories through food: this show-stopping Beef Wellington recipe from the expert butchers at Farmer Jacks will ensure your Christmas dinner is truly unforgettable

Beef tenderloin fillet is one of the most exclusive and exquisite cuts available. Reared at Shorwell’s Cheverton Farm, Farmer Jacks’ fillets are hung for three to four weeks, ensuring a cut that is both tender and bursting with flavour.

Seasoned generously and seared in a smoking hot stovetop skillet, we suggest brushing our own Farmer Jacks food hall favourite – award-winning

Tracklements Strong English Mustard – on all sides for some serious Victorian

Christmas heat. Layering thin slices of Parma ham and sautéed puréed mushrooms, the Beef Wellington is then rolled into a tight puff pastry barrel before finishing in the oven until golden.

This really is a statement dish in its own right – all that preparation instantly worth it upon first sight of those perfectly festive slices. Best served with some simple seasonal greens, and perhaps a garnish of Christmas berries.

For your full moment-bymelting-moment recipe: • Visit styleofwight.co.uk • Order your tenderloin fillet from Farmer Jacks before 15th December; from £27 per kilo Farmer Jacks offers a wide range of seasonal goodies and buildyour-own festive hampers; ribbon-wrapped and Christmas ready. From fresh turkeys, pigs in blankets and locally grown Brussels sprouts to traditional stuffing, cranberry sauce, mince pies and marzipan. In the delicatessen you’ll also find Christmassy delights from around the world – from Panettone and Baklava to European cheeses and continental festive beers.