Taking time to live well
December
Finding the fairytale Gathering and giving, midwinter cheer & everyday magic
How the brunch stole Christmas! GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD FOOD: A RELAXED FESTIVE BRUNCH BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF THE BEST BITS OF THE SEASON IN A SIMPLE, SOCIABLE SPREAD Photography & styling: KYM GRIMSHAW Words & recipes: LOTTIE STOREY
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GATHERING
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hile plans for Christmas dinner are often made far in advance, the 12(ish) days of Christmas offer more opportunities to gather people together for good food. Step forward the festive brunch: it’s generous, relaxed and a handy way to bridge any hungry gaps as usual rhythms and routines get put on hold. Use it to begin Christmas day as you mean to go on – especially if going elsewhere for dinner – or continue the festivities on Boxing Day, before
you start on the leftovers. All the classics are here – think bacon and eggs, pastries, a glass of something sparkling – but with a seasonal twist, with the likes of cinnamon, cloves and cranberries woven throughout. There’s also French toast made from panettone and yogurt pots with added mincemeat (all brilliant for regular breakfasts and snacks, too.) While Christmas dinner may be the main event, a brunch with some of your favourite people is always a worthwhile way to spend a few hours. And you can even stay in your pyjamas. » 7
MY CITY*
INNSBRUCK LEA HAJNER WELCOMES US TO A CITY AMONG THE ALPS WHERE URBAN LIFE BLENDS WITH THE LOCALS’ DEEP LOVE FOR THE MOUNTAINS
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MY CITY
There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. This month, we asked travel writer LEA HAJNER (@esctown; allabouttirol.com) to take us on a tour of Innsbruck. You may feel inspired to visit one day, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some armchair travel.
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How long have you lived in the city?
I was born in Vienna but in 2012, my tech job offered a three-month work away opportunity, igniting a passion for travel. I settled on Innsbruck where three months turned into 12 years, and it’s been home ever since. Tell us what makes your city unique
Innsbruck blends urban vibrancy with natural beauty. It’s compact, yet diverse, offering culture, nightlife and breathtaking mountain experiences. Its unique setting, surrounded by majestic mountains, means a lifestyle that any other city would find hard to match.
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What does it feel in winter?
The arrival of the first snowflakes transform the landscape into a magical wonderland. The snowy mountain tops are amazingly pretty and the lights and festive markets make the short days feel much longer. What time of day do you most enjoy?
In winter, I cherish the sunlight. These are the days for indulging in saunas, fireside cosiness, or night time skiing sessions once the snow blankets the landscape.
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: LEA HAJNER; VOLKERPREUSSER/ALAMY
What is Christmas in Innsbruck like?
Christmas here is steeped in charming traditions. On 5 December, the mischievous Krampus visits naughty children, while on the 6th, Saint Nikolaus rewards the well-behaved. The 8th brings bustling Christmas markets, many of which fill the streets of the Old Town, line the Inn River or are just up the mountain at Hungerburg, which you can reach by funicular or bus from the city centre. Here you can sip hot Glühwein while looking down on the city and across to the surrounding mountains; it’s a magical experience. What's the nature like?
Innsbruck lies in a valley between the rivers Inn and Sill and is surrounded by mountainous. The city itself is relatively flat, but the surrounding mountains soar to heights of 2,000 metres or more. Lower elevations are covered in forests and meadows, while higher up the landscape is steep and rocky. During summer, you can explore on hiking paths while in winter, the slopes become playgrounds for ski mountaineers. Where's your favourite outdoor space?
In winter, my favourite outdoor spaces are those where I can go ski touring or tobogganing – adventures that »
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Opposite page: 1 Lights fantastic: Innsbruck sees in the New Year with a light-show. 2 A grand festive fir in the centre. This page: 3 Wake up in the mountains after a snowshoe hike to Boscheben hut. 4 Beautiful architecture is always framed by the inspiring mountain backdrop. 5 You really should try all the chips in Innsbruck in order to decide on the best… 6 … and finish with sweet kiachl and cranberries. All the major food groups ticked off!
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PAUSE Take a moment with some well-chosen words from poet Brian Bilston
Needles I wrote a poem in the shape of a Christmas tree but then forgot to water it and only a few days later there were words over all the
carpet
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ADDITIONAL IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
OUTING
FINDING THE FAIRYTALE FOR FREE(ISH) FESTIVE OUTINGS DON’T NEED TO BE PRICEY TO BE MEMORABLE. WITH A LITTLE IMPROVISATION, YOU CAN CONJURE ENCHANTMENT IN EVEN THE MOST UNEXPECTED PLACES Words: JOLY BRAIME Illustrations: EMY LOU HOLMES
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GOOD THINGS TO EAT
Sugar and spice… … AND ALL THINGS NICE. SWEET TREATS INFUSED WITH GINGER ARE AS FUN TO MAKE AS THEY ARE DELICIOUS TO EAT AND DRINK Recipes & photography: CATHERINE FRAWLEY
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WRAP IT UP
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Things to want and wish for
Pick up some pretty paper – printed in Cambridge this gift wrap can be recycled and is made from sustainable sources.
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Homeware, books and treats from some of our favourite small businesses and makers, featured through the year Edited by LOUISE GORROD Book reviews by EITHNE FARRY
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1 Hoop earrings > £32 Not only good to look at – all proceeds from Not Just a Shop go back into supporting University of the Arts London students and graduates with their businesses. ‘ear ‘ear to that! notjustashop.arts.ac.uk
2 Gift wrap > £25 for 10 assorted sheets or £2.75 per sheet. cambridgeimprint.co.uk 3 Dress > £149 For dressing up and dancing in (kitchen discos included). katebarton.co.uk 4 Chocolates > £14.95 Paris-inspired handmade chocolates? Don’t mind if we do! thehambledon.com 5 Cocktail glasses > £15.50 each or £54 for four Festive fizz ready. folkinteriors.co.uk 6 Baubles > £28 for 12 Bold and beautiful baubles made from recycled glass. nkuku.com 14
WISHLIST
Christmas is a time to embrace a rainbow of jewel colours full of festive joy – and finding upcycled decorations gives you yet another reason to be cheerful. Recycled sari wreath > £30; Recycled sari bauble > £4.50 each; Felt rainbow heart > £4; Woodland characters > £20 for 6, all shop.nationaltrust.org.uk
SNOW PLACE LIKE HOME FESTIVE BAKING, HOMEMADE DECORATIONS AND SLEDGING – TIMELESS WINTER TRADITIONS LIVE ON IN THIS FINNISH WOODEN HOUSE FULL OF THE WARMTH OF A FAMILY CHRISTMAS Photography: KRISTA KELTANEN/LIVING INSIDE Words: JONNA KIVILAHTI
HOME TOUR
The family begins getting out the festive decorations from the start of November. “We like Christmas a lot and we do start early,” explains Janica
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Welcome to my veg patch Take a stroll with me in my garden and see it change through the seasons. I’ll share what I’m planting, harvesting and cooking, including my successes… and my failures. We’ll gather the goodies in a muddy bucket and head to the kitchen to make a joyful meal (we’ll even use the slug-nibbled ones). These are simple, seasonal recipes I make after a day in the garden. I hope they give you some new ways to celebrate nature’s bounty.
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GOOD THINGS TO EAT
Veg Patch Pantry
GROWING YOUR OWN, GETTING OUTSIDE AND COOKING UP KITCHEN-TABLE DISHES, KATHY SLACK SHARES HOW TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOURS FROM HER GARDEN PLOT Photography: KIRSTIE YOUNG
Bring on the winter veg
At this time of year, root veg are the stars of my dining table. All too often overlooked for winter harvests that flaunt their potential more precociously (I’m looking at you red cabbage, and you too, sprouts), root veg provide wonderful options for hearty pies as well as refreshing crunch amid all the stodge. Of course, it would be lovely to dig all these root veg fresh out of the kitchen garden. Alas, this year I have only parsnips and beetroots. The carrot harvest was gobbled up in the summer and the celeriac turned out to be more greenery than root – all mouth and no trousers, you may say. Still, roots are cheap and tasty, so a veg box order to top up supplies is no hardship. Whether you are serving up a whole turkey or going veggie for Christmas, I think it’s good to have a library of root veg recipes that stand out, taste festive and have people digging in for seconds. Most of the recipes which follow can work either as veg-filled centrepieces, as quiet suppers during Betwixtmas, or as useful side dishes to accompany leftover meat (ham and turkey go especially well). » 41
PASSIONS
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CENTRICS
The swing dancers
Words: JULIAN OWEN Photography: JONATHAN CHERRY
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FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE Bringing nature indoors: it’s what every home needs
Winter berries
WORDS: JO TINSLEY. PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
Berries, haws and hips bring a generous splash of colour to frosty walks, whether scarlet rosehips, crimson haws or clusters of pink spindle berries, as puffy as popcorn. Slip a pair of secateurs into your pocket so you can bring home a few stems, then strip off any leaves and pair with evergreen shrubs such as bay, viburnum or rosemary.
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FRONT COVER: LARA PAULUSSEN, PRINT: IMAGE: LIMELIGHT WALLPAPER IN SUNDOWN (MISSPRINT.CO.UK)
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