Author: Hugh Fearnley-whittingstall for the Daily Mail
Published: December 15, 2021 at 18:03 EST | Updated: December 15, 2021 at 18:11 EST
In recent decades, Christmas has become a bit distorted, and all of us are under pressure to buy endless things and show perfect, shiny performance in gift giving, decoration and entertainment.
In the worst case, it has fallen into a waste, expense, and short holiday, epitomized by panic supermarket trips, piles of plastic, and grumpy tempers.
In our hearts, we all want a holiday that is the opposite of all of this, especially after last year, when we were unable to meet the friends and family with whom we wished to spend Christmas.
For me, the essence of this Christmas and every Christmas is best expressed by bringing people together, giving them what they need, letting them put aside their worries, talk, laugh and eat.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his 16-year colleague Lucy Brazier at River Cottage (pictured) shared their suggestions for stress-free Christmas
Some of these still involve planning, doing, and buying-but these activities should always be people's own secondary activities. Take a quiet and cold walk with your loved ones, eat mince pies and chat with old friends, meet with neighbors indoors (or, better yet, outdoors), toast this season, and put some special snacks-these It is these that after a long, busy and tense year, this will truly comfort and fulfill us.
If we can frame it with simple gifts and beautiful, natural decorations, then who needs more?
At this time of the year, people tend to hide indoors. This is certainly part of the attraction. However, festive bonfires or outdoor Christmas Eve drinks are also mouth-watering invitations and a way to host large gatherings without having to sit down and enjoy a three-course lunch for 15 people.
As Lucy Brazier, my friend and River Cottage colleague pointed out in 2016, we must never forget the natural season of Christmas.
The beauty and seasonal abundance of December is part of the Merry Christmas, whether you breathe it on a rosy winter stroll, bring it indoors in the form of fresh greenery, or buy Brussels sprouts and bright colors Orange citrus.
Remember simple happiness, she tells us-the satisfaction of sending a homemade card, or the happiness of bottling candied fruit and giving it to others.
If you like to eat meat, now is the time to indulge. You can taste plump poultry and aged beef. If you are smart, turkey can not only provide a hearty Christmas "turkey au vin" (see the recipe below), but also a curry after Christmas without any waste.
Hugh (pictured) said that there is no reason why we can’t let family and friends come over and light a fire in the garden on Christmas
I hope this sounds like the kind of Christmas you want to enjoy: a simple, natural and happy Christmas, rooted in the winter solstice season, giving us time to celebrate, but also time to talk and rest.
In these special weeks, let us put aside our worries, gather with our loved ones, light candles, drink drinks, and share the good things. ..
Have a warm holiday bonfire party
Going out at this time of year can mean wet, muddy, and cold. But when the low winter sun makes the frost sparkle, the air is fresh, or the first snowflake falls, it becomes charming.
The fresh air at this time of year is also good for us. Some people may need encouragement to hang out outdoors, so give them some motivation.
The promise of food and drink often works, and outdoor cooking, whether in the garden or exploring the woods or beach in winter, is a wonderful way to meet a group of friends without the need for a house to host it. The bonfire does not have to be limited to November 5th-there is no reason why family and friends should not be allowed to light a fire in the garden during Christmas. Or light a barbecue or fire bowl.
A pot of dinner you have previously made, such as stew, curry or soup, can be reheated on the flame. After dark, at the most atmospheric time, you can use fairy lights, hot torches and festoons to make your picnic come alive.
Please be prepared for the weather and put on rain boots and coats. On a cold and clear night, outside, around the fire, chatting, and waiting for the stars to come out, it was so happy.
Hugh (pictured) says making two dishes with a bird will give you a welcome start to a grand feast
Be a crowd that does not waste-please
Roasting a perfect turkey is tricky, the breast is still juicy, but the dark meat is already cooked. The bigger the bird, the more difficult it is. Then the offal and gravy.
But I found that there is an easier way: two dishes with one bird, satisfy everyone, and give you a welcome start to the grand feast. In addition, it also helps to solve the problem of food waste, which may be a special problem of excess food during Christmas.
If you want, my turkey au vin includes legs, wings, neck and calluses. This makes the crown (breast on the bone) ready to bake quickly and easily for Christmas. The most important gravy is the rich wine from slow-cooked au vin dishes.
Just like the classic Coq au vin, it is best to make the day before and spend the night in the refrigerator.
Ask your butcher to prepare the turkey for you: you want legs like chicken legs and thighs, and whole wings.
Quick roast for the big day
On Christmas Day, quickly grill the remaining turkey combs-which takes 1 hour and 45 minutes, based on 5 kg of turkey-with perfectly cooked breast meat and golden roasted skin and rich wine gravy Eat with the tender legs.
On Christmas morning, lightly reheat the turkey au vin in the sauce, and serve the tender legs and wings meat (bone or bone-in) with the white carved meat on the top, and serve with plenty of wine /Gravy/sauce both.
By cooking the legs one day in advance (or two days before), you will have much less stress on the big day.
If there are few people, you can enjoy Turkish red wine outdoors on Christmas Eve or bring it to your Christmas Eve campfire.
6–8 servings (based on 4–5 kg turkey)
Heat the oven to 140 degrees/fan 120 degrees/gas2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan, add bacon and cook, stirring, until the color changes. Transfer to a fireproof casserole or pan.
Now brown the turkey pieces in the frying pan to make them evenly colored. You need to do this in two batches. Transfer the turkey to the casserole.
Add a little oil to the pan and fry the onions, carrots, and celery until brown; add these too. Put the garlic in the frying pan, then pour the cider brandy to remove the glaze, scrape off the crumbs, and carefully add the wine. Pour the hot wine into the turkey pot, add herbs, salt and pepper.
Put the lid on and cook in the oven for at least 2 hours until the meat is soft and almost falling off the bones. (Or gently simmer on a low stove.)
Strain the wine into a separate pot so you can adjust your "gravy." If you want more depth, add a little soy and a little coffee, but not too much, you can taste them. If you want a little sweetness, add red currant jelly.
If you are satisfied with the thin sauce, pour it back onto the turkey now. If you want to make it thicker, simmer slowly over a simmer, then add the batter, one piece at a time, stirring as you go. You don't need much to thicken the sauce, so be careful.
When you have the perfect sauce, pour it back onto the turkey and let it cool. Keep in the refrigerator until Christmas dinner.
With the festive food and party atmosphere buzzing in the house during Christmas and New Year, squeezing on some alcohol-free days and allowing excessive digestive rest can be more challenging than usual. So this is when I asked Kombucha, a Far Eastern fermented tea full of beneficial bacteria, by adding it to some seasonal and celebratory dry cocktails, your intestines will thank you.
These recipes are best paired with sour homemade green tea kombucha. Or you can use store-bought "natural" or subtle aromatic versions instead of seasoning with spices.
This mildly spiced, rich kombucha blend is refreshing, but still full of festive atmosphere-when you or your guests are not drinking, this is a good "dry" wine.
Beat the ginger with a pestle or rolling pin to release its aroma, then pour it into a heat-resistant pot or bowl and add the spices. Pour 500ml of boiling water, add sugar or honey, and stir until completely cooled.
Filter out the fragrance and cool the infusion. Once cooled, mix with refrigerated kombucha. If you want, you can add floating star anise to the tumbler.
Substituting effervescent kombucha for a dollar of sparkling wine creates a fruity, non-alcoholic but dry substitute.
Pour kombucha into a champagne glass, fill up with juice and serve.
Here, LUCY BRAZIER, who has worked with Hugh for 16 years, shared her most important holiday tips. ..
LUCY space-saving natural "table view"
There is not always room for all the food on the table, let alone the table setting. solution? Forage for a large broken branch, let it dry in the shed to give the insects a chance to relocate, then hang it above the table and decorate it with trailing ivy, paper cuts and fairy lights.
You will need sturdy twine to hang the branches, and the florist's wires can help secure the decorations. Various sizes of beeswax candles on the table will cast different degrees of light.
Make moss wreath with friends
When walking with friends in winter, look for green plants to make wreaths when you return. Collect moss, holly, ivy, and fir as a base. You also need a ring with a diameter of 35 cm-you can buy it or make it yourself, or even weave one from willow branches.
After returning home, you will also need a hook (or person!) to secure the wreath during assembly. Cover both sides of the ring freely with moss-covered hands, and secure it by wrapping twine tightly around the moss, and avoid leaving gaps.
Make small bunches of your basic green plants, choose three varieties, and repeat these bunches until you have eight to ten. They should cover the bottom and don't intrude too much into the middle or the edges.
Working in a clockwise direction, fix each bunch to the wreath with wire. They should overlap slightly.
Now poke the extra leaves (such as laurel, rosemary, and berries) into the wreath, preferably into the existing wires.
Finally, use decorative decorations such as pine cones and seed heads.
Linen is not a napkin-and no biscuits
"Paper" napkins are not always recyclable-many actually contain plastic fibers. Linen napkins do not need to be matched. They can be bought cheaply in charity shops, which are better for the earth and better to use. There is a ribbon with a name tag around each napkin, which will make guests feel special.
The foil, glitter, and plastic items found in Christmas cookies will end up in landfill unless they are sustainable. As an alternative, make an envelope for each guest, including a handwritten joke and a small gift, such as a packet of seeds, desserts and (homemade) paper hats.
Adapted from RACHEL HALLIWELL, from Lucy Brazier and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Christmas at the River Lodge, published by Bloomsbury, £22. © Lucy Brazier and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall 2021. To order a copy for £19.80, please visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. Free shipping in the UK for orders over £20. The discounted price is valid until December 25, 2021.
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