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This month’s bumper December issue aims to help you celebrate the best of the festive season with fabulous food, gorgeous gift ideas and entertaining features to enjoy.

The weeks leading up to Christmas always seem to be extra busy ones, but forward planning your menus can help reduce a bit of stress in the kitchen.

Rachel Green’s flavoursome appetisers are perfect if you’re planning a special lunch or dinner for friends and family (page 78), while Dominic Franks shares a delicious Pear and Amaretto Steamed Sponge Pudding, which can be made in advance (p.80).

Anthony, who was rescued and restored thanks to leather craftsman Martin Ashworth, from TV’s Salvage Hunters (p.24).

The countdown to Christmas is traditionally also awards season and our own Taste of Excellence Awards evening, now in its 27th year, once again proved a night to remember.

Nominees and their guests came together at Lincoln’s Drill to enjoy a night of food, fun and celebrations.

Compère Joseph Begley from Lincs FM did a fantastic job overseeing the smooth running of this sell-out, glittering occasion featuring a ’70s theme with entertainment from The Soul Solution, whose music brought everyone to their feet.

Huge congratulations to the winners, finalists and those awarded Gold Citations in each of the 14 categories who were recognised for their outstanding achievements.

Check out all the fun in our special awards supplement (p.51) and thank you to everyone who helped make this a night to remember.

A favourite family festive tradition is an annual visit to the panto and I caught up with dance professional Ian Waite, star of this year’s Aladdin at Lincoln’s New Theatre Royal (p.28).

Best known from Strictly Come Dancing, Ian is planning to spend his Christmas Day off in Lincoln, which he describes as “one of my favourite places”, with his mother and two dogs.

Wherever you’re planning to spend your festive holiday, here’s wishing you a very happy Christmas from all of us at Lincolnshire Life.