For a lot of people, Christmas probably still feels like a long, long way off. Others will probably already have all the Crimbo shopping sorted, with all the presents wrapped. Aren’t those people annoying?!

Well, the fact is, Crimbo always comes around faster than we realise. I honestly don’t know where the time goes.

As has become a regular phenomenon in the MacRae householed, my brother and I will be donning our aprons to create a festive culinary delight for the entire clan. This year we expect 19 mouths to feed and, with people (especially the six kids) usually more fussy about what they eat than what presents they get, we need to plan ahead.

My brother and I have already indulged in intense conflabs regarding all aspects of the meal. Which recipes will we use and will everyone enjoy the meal? Only time will tell, but I’ve already perfected the best brussell sprouts recipe (email me for details!). The only certainty is that my brother will probably get kitchen rage, fall out with the entire family and eat Christmas dinner on his own.

Cooking such a big meal for a large number of people can be challenging and sometimes the bro just can’t stand the heat.

There’s an app for everything, though, as they say. So how about making use of the ‘Perfect Christmas Dinner’ app, which brings you the expert guidance of the professional chef tutors at Ashburton Cookery School, a top culinary school in the UK.

With more than 25 video recipes included, from the perfect roast potatoes to the most succulent turkey, this is a step-by-step guide to cooking a delicious and memorable festive meal whether you’re a beginner or a confident cook.

Also covered are Christmas Canapés, Main Courses, Accompaniments, Puddings and Drinks, and there are tools such as shopping list maker and menu list to help you get organised.