Guide to a last-minute Christmas

It's meant to be the most joyous time of the year but the last week before Christmas leaves some feeling frazzled and less than festive. But even if you haven't yet started your Christmas shopping, planned your Christmas menu or decorated the house, it's not too late. Ellen Irvine has your guide to throwing a "last-minute Christmas"
DECORATIONS:

If you still haven't put a tree up, there's a quick and inexpensive way to get the house feeling festive - tinsel.
Wrap it around doorways, banisters and picture frames - plus there's no messy pine needles to clean up after the big day.
PRESENTS:

It might not be personal, but with less than a week to go, vouchers are a great gift option.
Most women would relish a voucher for a beauty salon or their favourite clothing store.
Readers would appreciate a book voucher, and a voucher for a sports shop will go down well with the active types.
If you're feeling flush, what about tickets to the Rugby World Cup?
For kids, try a pass to the local swimming pool or the promise of a day out at a local attraction.
Kids also love movie tickets - and throw in a bit of cash to pay for the popcorn and ice cream.
If money's a problem, make your own vouchers offering the gift of time - babysitting, lawnmowing or cleaning are all much appreciated.
WORKPLACE SECRET SANTA IDEAS:

If you can think of a humorous - but tasteful - gift for your recipient, it will get a laugh around the Christmas tree.
But if you're stuck for ideas, play it safe. Chocolates or home-made sweets will always be more appreciated than plastic tat from a $2 shop. If they don't have a sweet tooth, they can re-gift it.
CHRISTMAS MENU:

Don't stress if you haven't yet bought a thing to eat.
If there are no turkeys or hams left, or they are out of your budget, just buy a large chicken. No one will know the difference.
An inexpensive packet of mince pies will look luxurious served on a white platter, and nothing says "Christmas" like a few scorched almonds in a bowl.
A fresh fruit platter with strawberries, fresh pineapple and mango adds a luxurious but inexpensive feel to the day.
Don't worry about slaving over a pavlova - just buy a supermarket pav and top with cream or yoghurt and sliced fruit.
CHRISTMAS CAKE:

Traditional Christmas cakes can literally take months of work to prepare.
But that doesn't mean you have to resort to buying one - chef Peter Blakeway has come up with a recipe to make a healthier version that takes just two hours.
The recipe, which appears in his cook book Fresh! uses Grove Avocado Oil.
"It's a fast, easy recipe that will produce an indulgent cake to enjoy with family and friends over the festive season," Mr Blakeway said.
Ingredients:
450g good quality mincemeat (cheap Christmas mincemeat will add too much liquid)
230g wholemeal flour
150g dark muscavado sugar
150ml Grove Avocado Oil
3 level teaspoons baking powder
Grated zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange
50g chopped walnuts
175g mixed dried fruit, chopped (eg: cherries, apricots, peaches and sultanas)
3 eggs
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 170C.
Sieve the flour to increase the air content then tip the bits of bran from the sieve into the same bowl. Add all other ingredients and beat together with a wooden spoon until thoroughly mixed.
Line a 20cm cake tin with greaseproof paper and spoon the mixture in, levelling off the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for about 90 minutes, or until the centre springs back when touched.
When ready, allow to cool for 20 minutes and then turn the tin out on to a wire rack to finish cooling. This tastes great as it is, but for a more decadent result, drizzle with brandy and glaze with fruit and nuts.
Fruit and nut glaze:
Enough no-soak dried fruits and nuts to cover the top of the cake
1 heaped tablespoon of apricot jam
2 tablespoons of brandy
Heat the jam and brandy together and whisk until thoroughly mixed.
Paint the top of the cake with the hot jam and brandy mix - this acts as the glue to stick the fruit and nuts to the cake.
Next, artistically arrange the fruit and nuts on the top of your cake and brush generously with the remaining glaze. This will keep really well.
DRINKS:
Don't feel you have to produce a fancy cocktail with loads of expensive and hard-to-find ingredients.
A mimosa - also known as bucks fizz - is a refreshing Christmas Day drink.
Just mix sparkling wine and orange juice.
Or, just throw a strawberry into a glass of bubbles for a festive tipple.
ACTIVITIES:

Start a Christmas Day tradition by visiting a particular beach or park, or start the day with a swim. Your body will thank you for it, and it's a great way of making memories.
ATMOSPHERE:

Snoopy's Christmas, All I Want For Christmas Is You, Do They Know It's Christmas? - the quickest way to feel Christmassy is to immerse yourself in sounds of the festive season.
You can get Christmas CDs for small change at music retailers near you.