Sophie Kooks Month by Month: December

'Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. Friends and family all flock home for a few weeks and there are endless parties and gatherings to go to, where you can catch up and laugh away together into the early hours. The other fantastic thing about Christmas is that it's the one time of year that we all allow ourselves to indulge in an enormous amount of gorgeously rich and delicious food. There are some lovely festive recipes in this chapter to enjoy with your nearest and dearest.' Sophie Enjoy gorgeous December recipes, including: - Sausages and Lentils with Baby Leaf Salad and Honey - Cranberry and Coconut Florentines - Christmassy Red Velvet Cupcakes - Pan-Fried Fillet Steak with Spinach and Potato Gratin - Throw-it-all-in Frittata - Jessie's Gooey Hot Choc Pud - Honey-Roasted Duck with Creamy Parsnips and Gravy - Guard's Pudding

Sophie Morris is owner of the innovative and exciting young Irish food company Kooky Dough. Started in her kitchen and initially selling at farmers' markets in Dublin, Sophie and her business partner, Graham Clarke, famously turned down the dragons on RTÉ 's Dragons' Den to build their food business their own way. Kooky Dough is now stocked in supermarkets and premium independent retailers in Ireland; in Waitrose in the UK; in Monoprix in France; and in Spinneys in the United Arab Emirates. Kooky Dough and Sophie have received extensive recognition for the quality of their product by winning numerous Blas na hÉ ireann food awards in Ireland, and Gold in the UK's Great Taste Awards 2011. With an MSc distinction in Economics along with a degree in Economics and Social Studies from Trinity College Dublin, Sophie enjoyed the challenge of academia and was always drawn to business-oriented subjects. However, away from the lecture halls Sophie developed an intense passion for food, not only in the eating but in the therapy of preparing and cooking. She completed an Italian cookery course in Rome in 2007, and after university she completed the 12-week Ballymaloe cookery course to develop her culinary skills further. Her experience at Ballymaloe only heightened her love for food and it was here that she developed the ambition to have her own food business. Cooking simple, feelgood food is what Sophie loves to do in her precious free time; it helps her to relax and escape from work. She hopes this book will help you to do the same.