IT’S the time of year when many cooks start pulling their hair out in the crazy countdown to getting Christmas lunch on the table.

Will it be a traditional affair filled with old-fashioned flavours and all the trimmings? Or a breezily modern interpretation you can tuck into between swims?

Perhaps, like many families, you’ll be hosting a big, mixed group and trying to keep everyone happy — so it could easily turn into a combination of the two. That’s certainly the case in the Donna Hay household.

The queen of “fast, fresh, simple,’’ may be renowned for her contemporary take on classics but on December 25 even she makes an exception.

“I always have to have three traditional things which my grandma taught me how to cook — fruit mince pies, a Christmas cake and a pudding made using my grandma’s recipe,’’ she says.

For the most important lunch of the year, Donna will be dishing up turkey and ham, but she’ll also make sure she slips in a little seafood and salad to lighten the mix.

Donna says her parents prefer the traditional approach but to keep the kids (and her sister) smiling she’ll also prepare a modern pudding like a trifle, Pavlova or perhaps even a huge pile of colourful festive cookies.

Here she shares some of her favourite Christmas recipes that will be adoring her table on December 25.

Tarragon-brined roast turkey

“For the perfectly-cooked turkey, this is your go-to. Juicy and succulent, the turkey is brined in aromatics including tarragon and peppercorns, then roasted in a buttery marinade, which results in a golden, glossy finish”. Click through for recipe.

Apple cider, mustard and sage glazed ham

“The perfect ham is a Christmas must-have, and this year we’ve created a sweet and tangy glaze to create a showstopper everyone will love. Simple and so tasty — it really is the best ever!” Click through for recipe.

Parsnip, sweet potato and thyme Yorkshire puddings

“We’ve updated classic Yorkshire puddings by baking them with crisp, shaved sweet potato and parsnip in the centre. They’re the perfect side for your Christmas feast!” Click through for recipe.

Crispy leaf potatoes with oregano salt

“Besides being incredibly easy to prepare, this dish looks stunning on the table and tastes amazing. Make sure you arrange the potato slices so they touch the bottom of the dish and extend out of the tin — this way each slice will be tender, with beautiful crisp edges.” Click through for recipe.

Frozen Christmas pudding

“This is one of my favourite recipes for a summer Christmas dessert, combining vanilla ice-cream with Christmas pudding for a beautifully rich and creamy treat. And best of all, you can make it ahead of the big day!” Click through for recipe.

Spiced Christmas wreath pavlova with eggnog custard

“Pavlova is one of my all-time favourite things and I love giving it an extra-special twist for Christmas Day. This magical wreath is the perfect festive recipe. Dusted with spices, then served with an indulgent eggnog custard, it’s an absolutely gorgeous dessert that will be remembered for years to come.” Click through for recipe.

— With taste.com.au

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