Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 i The English Home

There is a hubub of excitement as The English Home team prepares for Christmas this year, and we all look forward to gathering at home with our loved ones to enjoy the festivities to the full. It feels important to create a Christmas that feels special at the end of another challenging year for many, and part of that is embracing traditions. This time of year, perhaps more than any other, is about traditions – whether passed down through the generations or creating one’s own – and making memories for all to cherish. Who better to share their own favourite Christmas traditions, must-attend events, and what’s on their wish lists than a selection of our finest interiors and lifestyle experts including Nina Campbell and Sophie Conran (p114). New ideas are…

Christmas Markets Browse festive finds and feast Sip mulled wine and indulge in a mince pie whilst wandering around stalls bedecked with fairylights and laden with crafts and gift ideas as Christmas markets return across the country. More than 400,000 visitors flock annually to Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market (19 November to 22 December; winchester-cathedral.org.uk ), browsing a broad selection of high-quality goods and fine artisan produce, with street theatre performers to keep everyone entertained. Stall-holders will dress in period costume at Stratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market (9–12 December; stratford.gov.uk), which, as well as stalls, will include entertainment, street food and a traditional funfair with a carousel. A hearty hog roast will keep shoppers warm at Chester Christmas Market (18 November to 22 December; visitcheshire.com), which will feature 70 traditional wooden chalets…

Add seasonal flavour to the kitchen and dining table with textiles and serveware embellished with Christmas motifs. Whilst it might seem frivolous to have tableware and linen that is used solely in December, they are sure to raise a smile when brought out to use each year. An apron or oven gloves with a suitably festive design ensures the cook feels in full Christmas spirit, as do decorative touches around the kitchen such as fairy lights and sprigs of foliage. Berry-red cookware heightens the sense of warmth and cosiness, whilst glints of gold on china and cutlery lend a table setting a sense of decadence and luxury. Finally present the Christmas cake on a charming stand, to bring cheer until the very last slice.…

MAKE A SCENE Create a professional-looking display for the dining table – or perhaps over a buffet table on Boxing Day – with a hanging arrangement. A handy clamp-on frame provides the structure from which to let creativity run wild. Adorn with winding leaves, twinkling lights and golden beads. Suspend large baubles or pretty honeycomb paper decorations, pom poms, stars and snowflakes for a visual feast for the eyes. Clamp-on table stand, from £55, Rockett St George…

HANDMADE TOUCH Simple pleats, coloured card and a neat central needle stitch combine to create these delicate forms to decorate the tree. Starting with one long strip of card (try 30cm by 5cm as starting point) and folding concertina-style along the short edge, bring the opposing ends round and fix these and the centrepoint with a neat stitch, before adding a hanging ribbon. For a similar effect, honeycomb paper decorations lend a charming traditional touch should time be in short supply – try Sarah Raven, Bloomingville, or Broste Copenhagen.…

Something of a Sicilian classic, but its crunchy sharpness cuts across the opulence of the goose. For 6 people INGREDIENTS 3 fennel bulbs 3 oranges Extra-virgin olive oil 125g black olives METHOD • Slice the fennel as finely as you can. I do this on a mandolin – not one of those expensive professional ones, but a simple blade on a sturdy, plastic frame that my mother bought me. It does the job very well. Put the slices into a bowl. • Peel the oranges right down to the flesh, then cut out the segments from the surrounding membranes by cutting in from the outside towards the centre (it’s easier than it sounds, so do give it a go). • Add the orange segments to the fennel slices, then stir…

SPOTLIGHT ON… Poinsettias: Enchanting Emblems Poinsettias are just as synonymous with Christmas as holly. Often seen in their traditional red, these exuberant plants come in a surprising array of colours such as pink, yellow, cream and white, with variegated and marbled varieties to harmonise with any decorative scheme. Bringing the beauty of nature indoors, poinsettias are the perfect gift when arriving for festive drinks with family and friends. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the Aztecs cultivated them for use in traditional medicine. To ensure long-lasting poinsettias, keep them wrapped up and protected from the cold on the way home from the shop or garden centre; water sparingly, allowing the compost to almost dry out in between waterings; feed monthly with a standard indoor plant feed, and keep away from…

Even if art is not your thing, it is hard not to be struck by the beauty of sculpture. In whatever form it may take, whether the subject matter be real or imagined, there is something extraordinary about taking a rough and raw material like bronze and turning it into something beautiful to behold. No one knows this more than Stella Callaghan, who, with her husband Dan, runs the gallery Callaghans of Shrewsbury, nestled in the centre of the beautiful Shropshire market town. Over the 35 years since they launched their gallery, the couple have garnered a reputation worldwide for their extensive knowledge, helping many collectors grow their art collections from scratch. “I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful things every day at work,” says Stella, “and nothing…

Robert May published The Accomplisht Cook, one of our earliest cookery books, in 1665. His suggested menu for Christmas Day starts with ‘1. A collar of brawn’, before moving on to ‘2. Stewed Broth of Mutton marrow bones; 3. A grand Sallet; 4. A pottage of caponets; 5. A breast of veal in stoffado’ and so on and so on for twenty dishes. Twenty dishes! I kid you not. May finishes with ‘20. A Custard’. They were true trenchermen and women back then. May’s menu makes our Christmas indulgences look like a Weight Watchers mid-week fast. What about the range of meats, too? May lists brawn, mutton, marrow bones, veal, beef, partridge, venison, swan, goose, sweetbreads and even turkey, that would have arrived relatively recently, like so many good things,…

Gifts That Keep On Giving Imaginative wrap to multiply the gesture Wrapping gifts in fabric rather than paper is a centuries-old tradition. Its origins can be traced back to eighth-century Japan, when hot-spring bathers wrapped their belongings in a piece of cloth – or ‘furoshiki’, ‘furo’ meaning ‘bathing’ and ‘shiki’ meaning ‘spread’ – to identify them and keep them safe. This practice spread to merchants and traders protecting their goods, and has evolved into an elegant and lasting alternative to wrapping paper. Folded and secured with a simple knot or bow, with no scissors or sticky tape required, gifts can be wrapped in a pretty piece of fabric or even a silk scarf for maximum luxury. A stylish, thoughtful and eco-friendly gesture, it can also be reused as gift wrap,…

The little details at Christmas can make everything all the more special. Start the countdown with a charming card advent calendar and by writing cards to loved ones. Wrap a thoughtfully chosen present (see our gift guide on p76 for inspiration) with beautiful handmade paper and finish with velvet ribbons and bows for a luxury look. Give Father Christmas a helping hand with a sack to fill that will delight both young and old. On the big day itself, make sure the Christmas table is set with plenty of enticing crackers to pull.…

SOCIALISING & DRINKS Go with the curve Steve Saunders, technical manager, Burbidge “When it comes to socialising and drinks, now, more than ever, the kitchen has become the hub of the home: • In line with the desire for clutter-free kitchens, pretty and practical glass-fronted cabinetry is growing in popularity. This stylish solution (above left) allows decorative items to be beautifully displayed behind glass, adding a visual and personal touch to a contemporary kitchen. • Consider investing in freestanding kitchen units – these are a versatile and popular storage choice as they are incredibly functional and stylish. They maximise the usability of your space, not only benefiting the overall look but also providing further storage. • Using curved edges on your worktops will give your kitchen a softer, more relaxed…

Christmas just would not be the same without the flickering flame of a candle or the twinkle of fairy lights. From lighting the way to the front door on a cold December night to decorating the mantelpiece and setting the table for Christmas Day dining, lighting can be used to great effect to create welcoming warmth and atmosphere at the darkest time of the year. So prepare to add magical sparkle throughout the festive season, both indoors and out. DECK THE HALLS Faux or real, foliage really comes alive when combined with festive lights. Pre-lit artificial wreaths and garlands are readily available, but try to use fresh branches and stems of all the seasonal favourites to benefit from their natural fragrance – the warmth from candles and even fairy lights…

An alternative to the fennel and orange salad (opposite), as this splendid winter dish may be a little too characterful for some. Make it a few days ahead and keep it in a jar in the fridge, where its flavours will develop to beautiful effect. For 4 people INGREDIENTS 4 medium fresh beetroots Juice of 1 orange A splash of red wine 1 dsp of freshly grated horseradish (or 2-3 dsp horseradish relish) 1 dsp caraway seeds METHOD • Preheat the oven to 200˚C/400˚F/gas mark 6. • Put the beetroots, unpeeled, into the oven and cook until soft (around 45 minutes to an hour). • Remove from the oven and leave to cool, then peel and slice as thinly as possible (on a mandolin, if you have one). • Pour…

Nigel Slater, author and food writer Can you share a special Christmas memory from childhood? When I was eight years old I climbed the ladder to the attic to get the Christmas decorations. When I opened the boxes, the mice had made the skeins of tinsel into glittering nests, and had eaten the chocolate Christmas decorations, leaving all the coloured foil wrappers behind. It was really rather beautiful. What is your favourite tradition in your household ? Decorating the tree. It takes an entire day. I start by getting out all the boxes of decorations down from the attic, then opening a bottle of champagne, putting carols on and slowly loading the tree with antique hand-painted glass decorations I have collected from Christmas markets in Vienna, Stockholm, Nuremberg and Cologne.…

The many gatherings, reunions and parties at this time of year can make the diary rather busy. When time allows, set aside an evening to enjoy a quieter night in with immediate family or cherished friends for an intimate supper and quality time together. Set the scene with a crackling fire, the soft glow of candles and gentle twinkle of fairy lights. Add festive decorations to the table or a beautiful tablecloth, such as this elegantly seasonal mistletoe design, to create a magical scene. Serve up some deliciously indulgent food and let the wine and laughter flow on a cold winter’s night. Luxury Christmas Tablecloth, Mistletoe White, from £59.99, Celina Digby…