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Coming together with friends and family to enjoy the festive season over perfectly golden turkey, piles of crunchy roast potatoes and glistening plum pudding is what Christmas is all about. So, no wonder so many of us get in a flap when it comes to hosting the big day ourselves. What with starters to be prepped, birds to be basted and endless veg to be steamed, cooking up a truly tempting Christmas feast can prove to be quite an undertaking.

Exquisite Rumburgh Farm Hand Finished Free Range Bronze Whole Turkey – on sale from 19th December at a great price in Aldi stores

But with a little help from Aldi – and Kevin and Katie, stars of the much-loved Christmas campaign that sees Kevin win the heart of Katie the carrot via a series of courageous spills and scrapes on board the Orient Express and Titanic by way of 007 – there’s no need for a Christmas kitchen nightmare. From the perfect Rumburgh turkey (date for your diary; all fresh meat goes on sale on 19th December) to party platters for all the family, Aldi is making things easy and delicious.

So take a look through our pick of the most appetising – and simple – Yuletide recipes to make sure your Christmas table is the tastiest around.

Cheesy Straws

Get the celebrations started with some super-easy nibbles that can be knocked up in minutes, like these moreish cheese straws sprinkled with Aldi’s Specially Selected Mature Blue Stilton for an unmistakably British twist that will have your guests oohing and aahing at your culinary prowess. Nobody has to know they take just fifteen minutes from start to finish – we won’t tell! Kids will love helping out with this foolproof recipe too.

Get the celebrations started with some super-easy nibbles that can be knocked up in minutes, like these moreish cheese straws sprinkled with Aldi’s Specially Selected Mature Blue Stilton

Katie says: 'This recipe serves six, but on second thoughts, best double up! Party goers can never get enough of these crisp, blue cheese straws served straight from the oven.'

You will need:

• 375g packet Greenvale Ready Rolled Puff Pastry
• 150g Specially Selected Mature Blue Stilton
• 1 Egg, beaten
• Flour, to roll
• 100g Specially Selected Cranberry Sauce Enriched with Port

What to do:

• Pre-heat the oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C/Gas mark 7.
• To begin sprinkle your work surface with flour and then crumble 3 quarters of the stilton over half of the Greenvale ready rolled puff pastry.
• Next fold over the other half of the pastry and then roll back to a rectangle about 1cm thick.
• Now cut the pastry into even 1cm strips and twist them and place onto a baking tray covered in greaseproof paper.
• Finally brush the pastry with the beaten egg and then sprinkle the remaining stilton over the top and bake for 12-15 minutes until the pastry has risen and it golden brown.
• Serve the blue cheese straws with the Specially Selected cranberry sauce as a dip.

Lime comes together with Spiced Rum and jewel-toned cranberry juice for a Christmassy cocktail that carrot be topped

Cocktail Hour

Give your party some seasonal sparkle with a classic cocktail that’s been given a suitably festive makeover courtesy of Kevin’s well-stocked drinks cabinet. Zingy lime comes together with Spiced Rum and jewel-toned cranberry juice for a Christmassy cocktail that simply carrot be topped…

You will need:

• Juice of ½ a Lime
• ½ Lime, sliced
• 35ml Spiced Rum
• 150ml Cranberry Juice
• ½ tsp Grated Ginger
• Fresh Cranberries to garnish
• Ice

What to do:

• Fill a glass with ice.
• Combine the rum, cranberry juice, ginger and lime juice in a shaker and shake for 30 seconds until thoroughly combined or a give a good stir in a tall glass.
• Pour over the ice and garnish with fresh cranberries and lime.
• Psssst! Kevin says: 'This is Katie’s new favourite Christmas tipple and it’s made extra special by using Aldi’s Old Hopking Spiced Gold Rum – so good it’s won the silver IWSC award – at the December-friendly price of just £10.49 for 70cl!'

The main event

We all know the drill with turkey now: brine it a day or two ahead of time, stuff it with aromatics and lattice the breast with streaky bacon. But, if you’re after a bit of a change this year – or don’t have to feed a crowd for once – then consider going for goose. This juicy, flavoursome bird has become increasingly popular in the last few years and Katie the Carrot’s recipe for tempting roast goose with chestnut, apple and sultana stuffing will have your guests honking with joy. This recipe will easily feed six people with succulent and tasty breast or leg meat. And don't forget to check Aldi's Super Six for great deals on meat and fish in the run up to the big day.

Katie the Carrot’s recipe for tempting roast goose with chestnut, apple and sultana stuffing will have your guests honking with joy.

You will need:

• 1 x 4.5kg Goose 600g Specially Selected Pork and Herb Sausages
• 3 Cox Apples
• 1 Large Onion
• 1 Stick Celery
• 200g cooked Chestnuts
• 1 Large Egg, beaten
• 3 slices Brown Bread
• 50g The Pantry Sultanas
• 80ml Del Rivo Apple Juice
• 100ml Napoleon Brandy
• 1 Quixo Chicken Stock Cube
• 300ml Water
• Salt and Black Pepper
• Quixo Gravy Granules

What to do:

• Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.
• Wash the goose inside and out, remove any obvious fat, pat dry and season with some salt and black pepper.
• Cut the bread into small pieces then soak the sultanas and bread in the apple juice.
• Peel the onion and core the apples.
• Chop the apples, onion and celery into small pieces.
• Skin the sausages and put the meat into a large mixing bowl.
• Add the chopped apple mix, the beaten egg, the soaked bread and sultanas and season with some salt and pepper, then mix well.
• Use this to stuff the neck and body cavity of the goose.
• Put the goose in a roasting tin, breast side down and roast for 90 minutes.
• Dissolve the stock cube in 300ml boiling water and mix with the brandy.
• Remove the goose from the oven, pour off any juices and put to one side.
• Put the goose back in the roasting tin, pour over the brandy stock and roast for a further 90 minutes, basting as you cook.
• Test the goose is cooked by inserting a skewer near the thigh meat – if the juices run clear it’s cooked.
• If not return to the oven for another 15 minutes and recheck.
• Drain off the juices into the juices from before, but drain off any fat.
• Heat through in a saucepan and thicken with the gravy granules.
• Carve and serve with the brandy gravy and a spoonful of stuffing. 

There’s no need for vegetarians to miss out this Christmas, and Katie’s glorious recipe for an indulgent Nut and Linseed roast is packed with festive flavours to ensure there’s no food envy around the Christmas table.

Veggie Alternative

There’s no need for vegetarians to miss out this Christmas, and Katie’s glorious recipe for an indulgent yet nutritious Nut and Linseed roast is packed with festive flavours of earthy thyme, rich red wine, hazelnuts and mushrooms to ensure there’s no food envy round the Christmas table. In fact this stunning loaf is so tempting, even your most carnivorous guests will be wanting a slice alongside their goose. Just don’t tell our plucky veggie hero and heroine that we’ll be needing 300g of carrots for this one…!

You will need:

• 120g Linseed with Goji Berries, Sunflower & Pumpkin Seeds
• 100g Hazelnuts
• 100g Salted Peanuts
• 300g Carrots, chopped
• 1 Red Onion, chopped
• 150g Chestnut Mushrooms, chopped
• 2 slices Brown Bread
• 2 Large Eggs
• 100g Medium Cheddar Cheese, grated
• 60ml Red Wine
• 2 tsp Paprika
• 2 tsp Dried Thyme
• Black Pepper
• 2lb 20 x 10cm Loaf Tin
• Greaseproof Paper

What to do:

• Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.
• Line the bottom and sides of the loaf tin with some greaseproof paper.
• Break up the bread into small pieces and add to a food processor along with the nuts, carrots and onion.
• Pulse until all finely chopped – do this in 2 lots if it’s too much for the machine.
• In a large bowl, mix the eggs with the cheese, then add the linseed and the chopped mushrooms, the seasoning and herbs and whisk in the red wine.
• Add the nut mixture and mix well.
• Pour all the mixture into the tin and bake in the oven for approx. 60 minutes until a skewer poked into the centre comes out clean and the roast feels solid.

Brussels Sprouts

Traditionally perhaps the most divisive part of the traditional Christmas dinner, Kevin and Katie have put their heads together to devise a dish to celebrate their miniature brassica pals, so that even the most ardent sprout hater will be asking for more. This divinely cheesy topped dish of sprouts with a parmesan, garlic and fresh thyme crumble is a luxurious way to enjoy your annual portion of sprouts – and this recipe serves four. TOP TIP: Kevin says, 'Keep a beady eye on Aldi’s Super 6 weekly offers, we reckon our Brussels-based friends will be popping up at an incredible price soon.'

Perhaps the most divisive part of Christmas dinner, Kevin and Katie have put their heads together to devise a dish that'll make even the most ardent sprout hater ask for more.

What you need:

• 600g Sprouts
• 30g Butter
• 30g Specially Selected Parmigiano Cheese
• 50g Plain Flour
• 3g fresh Sage – chopped
• 1 x tsp Paprika
• 2 x peeled Cloves Garlic
• Salt and Pepper

What to do:

• Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6.
• Trim and wash the sprouts.
• Cook in salted boiling water for 3 minutes and drain well.
• Grate the Parmigiano cheese.
• Mix the butter, grated cheese, sage, garlic and flour together, then season with pepper and the paprika.
• Rub the mixture together to make breadcrumbs.
• Put the sprouts into an ovenproof dish – sprinkle over the crumble and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

A tale of two carrots... 

After we left Kevin soaring into the skies on Santa's sleigh last year, the nation has been wondering what became of our favourite plucky vegetable.

Eagle-eyed singletons may have spotted Kevin's face popping up on popular dating app Happn in the lead up to the festive season, as he searched for his perfect match to cosy up to for Christmas. 

But happily, as the next chapter of Kevin's quest for romance unfurls in this year's Aldi Christmas advert, he finds love as he falls into the arms of his cute carrot companion, Katie. 

The adorable lovers go on to re-enact iconic scenes from some of our favourite romantic movies. It's enough to melt even the coldest of hearts and put a smile on the most cynical of faces. Awwwww!

So what's next for Kevin and Katie?

Well we hear Kevin is set to cut a dash as Britain's most charming spy, but that's not all he's got in store.

Make sure you keep up with all their festive adventures throughout the season on Aldi's dedicated Christmas page.