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Struggling, as usual, with the end game. I've carried out the first 3 steps and highlighted the product (yummy) of the process. Currently the fourth step and the by-product are defeating me - here's hoping that the magic of posting provides the necessary inspiration to finish this!!

Well Gitto, between us we have cracked it, because I have got everything except the first step. I think I can see where it goes, but Chambers only gives one word which will fit and whilst it has a tenuous connection with the highlighted word, I cannot see how it would work.

0pt0, look at the letters you haven't got in that word, I still can't fathom out the fourth step but I have identified the by-product now.

Gitto, thanks for the hint re. the first step. For the fourth step, look for a synonym of the last word and think what it will become.

0pt0, Thanks for that. Once again I am feeling rather stupid because I knew it HAD to be that word, I just couldn't see what to do with it, doh^n.

If this is a debut puzzle, I am impressed and look forward to more from Check. Just the right level of difficulty and an amusing endgame. Thank you.

Thanks, Check! It was (at least for me) the perfect level of difficulty - gridfill coming after several hours of good puzzling, then off bed to let it ferment, then a seamless endgame which embedded the process the theme refers to. My favorite puzzle this year!

(Will check the board at the end of the week for someone to explain the title).

Fun puzzle, thanks Check.
One small query: is one of the clues of the form [definition][wordplay][wordplay]? Don't think I've ever seen that before if so, though perhaps that particular clue's parsing is open to some other interpretation that I can't see. I'm never much of a fan of the triple def, but this seems even weirder.

Nxe, the answer to your query is yes. Had me stumped for ages.

Some v clever if tricky clues. 34d is defeating me as are the omitted letters at 34 and 38 - looks as though it should be a five letter word rhyming with the assumed product.