Bill Granger's Laid-back Boxing Day banquet

Advance preparation

1. Read through all the recipes in advance to familiarise yourself with the steps.

1. Purchase all of the ingredients and check them off the list to avoid last-minute panics.

1. Make sure you have enough room in your fridge for all the ingredients. You may have to rent or hire a second fridge if you're serving lots of people and don't have a larder.

Day before

1. Boil the gammon, before thoroughly cooling (to about 5C/41F). Store in the fridge.

1. Cook the beetroot and store in the fridge.

1. Make the salad dressing in a jam jar and store in the fridge.

1. Make the paste for the baked apples early and store in the fridge.

On the day

1. Remove the ham from the fridge and bring it back to room temperature before roasting.

Leftovers

1. Leftovers should be covered in cling film, stored in the fridge and consumed within two days of preparation.

Fruit and vegetables

1. 900g/2lb uncooked baby beetroot, washed

1. 175g/6oz lamb's leaf lettuce or baby salad leaves, washed

1. 1¼ tsp finely grated orange zest

1. 8 large green apples (such as Granny Smiths or Bramleys), cored

1. 300ml/10fl oz apple juice

1. 1½ large or 2 smaller, ripe mangoes, peeled and cut into small dice

1. ½ medium-sized red onion, finely diced

1. 1 red chilli, seeded and finely chopped

1. 1½ tbsp lime juice

1. 1.25kg/2¾ lb parsnips, peeled and halved lengthways

1. 4 tsp fresh thyme leaves

Cooking ingredients

1. 175ml/6fl oz extra virgin olive oil

1. 225g/8oz walnut pieces

1. 2 tbsp clear honey

1. 2 tsp ground cinnamon

1. 2 tbsp red wine vinegar

1. 135g/4¾oz dried cherries

1. 50g/2oz pistachio kernels, finely chopped

1. ¾ tsp ground cinnamon

1. good pinch ground cloves

1. 2 tbsp brown sugar

1. 24 whole cloves

1. 4 tbsp honey

1. 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

1. 1½ tsp soy sauce

1. 40g/1½ oz soft brown sugar

1. ¾ tsp caster sugar

1. 3 tbsp olive oil

1. 1½ tsp ground cumin

Baking and patisserie

1. 8 long slices French bread

1. 40g/1½oz sliced white bread, crusts removed, roughly torn

Dairy, eggs and chilled

1. 225g/8oz soft goats' cheese

1. 65g/2½oz butter, plus extra for greasing

Drinks

1. 2 tbsp port

1. 2 tbsp dry sherry or rum

Meat, fish and poultry

1. 3.2kg/7lb piece of boned and rolled ham, pre-boiled according to instruction