Your 12 days of Christmas

Try shaking up traditions this year – we’ve revamped 12 classic recipes from the perfect ham to mince pies, to see you through the season

1 ULTIMATE HAM

Spiced pomegranate & orange glazed ham

A glazed ham is delicious served warm in thin slices alongside the Christmas turkey. This one has a sticky sweet-and-sour glaze, made with sharp pomegranate molasses and brown sugar. Cassie Best

SERVES 12-15 PREP 10 mins plus cooling and resting COOK 3 hrs EASY

• 1.5-2kg unsmoked boneless tied gammon joint

• 2 bay leaves, plus extra to serve (optional)

• 3-star anise

• 4 whole cloves, plus extra for studding the ham

• 8 allspice berries

• 10 whole peppercorns

• 1-litre pomegranate juice

• 2 small oranges, 1 halved,

• 1 sliced, plus 1 tsp juice

• 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses

• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tbsp honey

• 80g pomegranate seeds, to serve (optional)

1 Put the gammon in a large pan with the bay leaves, star anise, cloves, 6 allspice berries and 8 peppercorns. Pour over the pomegranate juice to cover the gammon (you may need to top up with water). Add one of the orange halves, then bring to a simmer and partially cover with a lid. Cook for 2 hrs 30 mins, topping up with water as needed to keep the gammon covered. Leave to cool in the liquid for 20 mins, then lift out and place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.