babies & toddlers and early readers.Down on Christmas pud? Then try these exciting dessert recipes...White Christmas From snowy fleeced lions to icing sugar beaches, we present 12 destinations for a white Christmas.

’s an acetate sheet with a coloured image. Flip it one way and you get one image, flip it another and something quite different emerges... a hungry green bird is transformed into a brown rabbit, an orange sunset becomes a chocolate ice cream. It’s a book filled

suitable spoilt. From handwritten welcome notes and champagne on ice, to oodles of goodies for the children – a teddy bear suited like the Claridge’s doorman, London souvenirs of a toy black cab and double-decker bus, a host of fun creative activities and a

, available in cool ice blue or zingy citrus, and who knows what flights of fancy you might inspire. Or, to create a dreamy mood, try the Dandelion Fields design, with its tranquil sea of swaying dandelion clocks. Funky Little Darlings, from £45.Find more

of decorating and of course taste-testing your creations.To make it easier, you can buy a festive kit with the gingerbread dough already made. Or try your hand at good enough to eat centerpiece, with a Gingerbread house kit, that children can assemble, and ice

. Delightful in spring and summer, as the snow falls you can take in the fresh mountain air as you hit the slopes, and the ski concierge will take care of equipment, planning, and bookings.Ice-skating and horse-drawn carriages are also available nearby

was constructed using over 2000 individual pieces baked by the hotel pastry team. Prices from £486 for a double room. For details, visit www.thedorchester.comRead more...Enjoy an ice-skating session in the French capitalSeek out winter sun in Dubai

The Verandah Resort & SpaBeaches and books go together like, well, jelly and ice cream. Combine them both at The Verandah Resort & Spa in Antigua during the month of June, where author and illustrator Ed Vere will be in residence. As well as live

icing sugar, sifted50 g unsalted butter, at room temperature125 g cream cheese, coldMakes enough to frost 12 cupcakes(double the recipe for 20-cm cake)Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or

/2oz) plain flourA pinch of salt1 tbsp caster sugar1 tbsp rose water1 tbsp chilled water200g (7oz) jar good quality mincemeat1 tbsp icing sugarMethodCut the butter into cubes, put it into a food processor with the flour and salt and, using the cutting