Sponsored post | Basking Shark Scotland

The Hebrides are home to incredible wildlife and spectacles, and Basking Shark Scotland can guide you through all they have to offer

A vast archipelago of islands that lie off the west coast of Scotland, the Hebrides are located on the edge of the Atlantic. They’re a wild place but also one full of wildlife. Gaelic culture of the people and land merge into spectacular landscapes and habitats – from towering mountains to temperate Atlantic oakwood rainforest, wildflower machair meadows to white shell sand beaches and turquoise waters – it’s a place of four seasons in one day.

For 12 years, Basking Shark Scotland has been running ocean adventures with a difference. Small groups are guided by marine biologists with a passion for the ocean. Tours have a focus on snorkeling, wild swimming and wildlife watching, exploring amazing places, while conducting citizen science. It’s the kind of trip where we might be spotting whales in the morning and doing an impromptu beach clean while exploring ashore in the afternoon.

During spring, the adventurous week-long expedition to the southern islands of the Outer Hebrides visits some of the most spectacular islands on the west coast. Azure waters hold huge seal colonies, while puffins nest and eagles soar unencumbered by human habitation. Island hikes reveal layers of history covered by fields of pastel-coloured orchids. Dolphins, whales and sharks all visit the islands and there’s also a chance to visit the offshore World Heritage site of St Kilda.

Back on the mainland, the regular base for tours is from Oban’s little bay, just a couple of hours from Glasgow. Named Scottish town of year for 2024, the bustling harbour has award-winning seafood eateries, a whisky distillery that was founded in 1794 and sunsets that’ll stick in the memory long after the sun has disappeared. Tours discover the volcanic landscape and wildlife of the Isle of Mull. Whether it’s snorkeling into the cavern of Fingal’s Cave and discovering the basalt columns which tower above you, floating around at the spectacular Hebrides lagoon, or witnessing the Corryvreckan whirlpool – the third largest in the world, there’s something to ignite all levels of adventure.

Moving on to the Isle of Coll – a jewel of the Inner Hebrides – which sits bang in middle of the basking shark’s only marine-protected area worldwide. Multi-day tours enable you to snorkel around the abundant kelp forests, to hopefully catch sight of grey seals and puffins, and to potentially spot cetaceans. You may also be lucky enough to experience the basking shark, the second largest shark in the ocean, in this Hebridean hotspot. So, do you dare to dive in for the adventure of a lifetime?

For more information and inspiration, visit: baskingsharkscotland.co.uk or follow on Instagram at: @baskingsharkscotland

How To | Do Boxing Day Properly

There are many reasons why we think Boxing Day is the best day of Christmas.
Here are just a few…

Traditionally, Boxing Day was a day for heading out, and you might well feel drawn to the idea of escaping the house after spending Christmas Day cooped up. If you don’t fancy a traditional panto (oh yes you do!) or a football match, you could join thousands of others and have a wild swim, or simply a good long walk.

But the great thing about Boxing Day is that there’s no expectation. It must be one of the only days of the year when it also feels acceptable to spend six hours doing a jigsaw and eating Chocolate Brazils. If you have a child in your life (and even if you don’t), on Boxing Day nobody will look askance at you dedicating all the daylight hours to building a 4,000-piece Lego Hogwarts School. Or starting and actually finishing an entire game of Monopoly. Or holding a table tennis championship that lasts four hours and ends with sweeping smashed Denby off the kitchen floor.

The more pointless your activity, the better. It’s a day for pottering, messing, being silly and shirking responsibilities and we would like more of that in our lives.

This blog is taken from our feature ‘For the Love of Boxing Day’ from our December issue by
Iona Bower. You can read more about why she loves Boxing Day best of all on page 86.

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More things to do on Boxing Day…

Ways with leftovers…

Christmas Quiet | Festive Stories to Listen to

December nights are traditionally for story telling. Pour yourself a glass of something and settle down this Christmas Eve to listen to three short stories that we enjoyed when we ran a festive fiction competition back in December 2015.

And don't forget - we print a Bedtime story in every issue of The Simple Things.

A very Merry Christmas from The Simple Things team. X

Christmas Eve by Jennifer Gray

Merribelle’s Gift by Emma Richardson

Wassail by Helen Duncan

Music by Dominic Halpin. Stories read by Anna Hope. Anna Hope trained at RADA and acted for many years before completing an MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck College. Her first novel 'Wake', which tells the story of three women in London in 1920 dealing with the aftermath of the First World War, was published by Doubleday in January 2014. She's delighted to be reading the short stories for the Simple Things competition. This blog was first published in December 2015.

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More fun for Christmas Eve…

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Solstice Tipple: Clementine Cocktails

Great for a midwinter get-together, this vibrant punch fuses the sugary appeal of fizzy orange with grown-up bitters and bourbon

For the ice ring:
Freeze 4 sliced clementines in a Bundt pan with water overnight

For the clementine cocktails:
960ml clementine juice
960ml soda water
240ml bourbon
Angostura bitters

Mix all ingredients in a small punch bowl or large mixing bowl and serve with a ladle. Add the ice ring just as guests arrive. Let guests make their own sugar-rimmed glasses by rubbing the glass edge with a half
clementine, then dipping it in a small dish of raw sugar. Garnish with a straw pushed through the centre of a round clementine slice. Use mandarins if you can’t find clementines.

Recipe and photography from The Forest Feast Gatherings by Erin Gleeson (Abrams)

This recipe was first published in January 2017. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More cocktail recipes:

More things to do with citrus fruit…

Fun | A Secret Christmas Day Off

Escape into your own company for a clandestine day off all to yourself

Seeing family and friends is one of the great joys of Christmas time, but the endless round of get-togethers can take its toll. Taking a day just for yourself between Christmas and New Year is an easy way to ensure you remain on top festive form, and it feels even more special when it’s a bit clandestine. 

Before you begin planning your Secret Christmas Day Off (SCDO), you’ll need to prepare the ground. If you share a home with others and are planning to spend your SCDO at home, it’s a good idea to buy the others some tickets to something they will enjoy (and preferably something you couldn’t be less interested in) so you can be sure they clear off for the day. Write something on the calendar that will fool anyone who happens to be standing in your kitchen, so when they ask you over for yet more festive drinks you can glance at it and declare “Oh, darn it! Looks like I’m doing my speed awareness course on that day. How very annoying!” (or similar). 

Now the ground is laid, the game is afoot. All that’s left is to decide what you will do with your SCDO. Chances are, you already have a list of all the things you would love to do if you ever had the chance but if not, here are ten ideas that might act as starting points.

1. Head to the coast. Blow away the Christmas cobwebs with a splash in the sea (or just a quick paddle if it feels a bit nippy and you’re not an experienced outdoor swimmer). Pack plenty of things to help you warm up after, and take a hot lunch or have chips on the beach. 

2. Read a spooky book. Christmas is traditionally a time for ghost stories and there are plenty of spooky novels that you can knock off in a day. Try a collection of MR James short stories or go trad and read Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. Draw the curtains, light the fire and enjoy being a little scared (in a good way). 

3. Have a cook up. If you didn’t have time for homemade mince pies or gingerbread before Christmas, now is your moment - and it avoids relegating the chestnuts and mincemeat to the top cupboard for another year. It’s also a brilliant way to see off any leftovers. Sprout kimchi, anyone? The freezer should be emptyish post Christmas so you’ll have plenty of space for stashing away homemade treats to make January a little fancier. 

4. Get a train to a town with an excellent cafe and some decent shops for mooching in. Bonus points if it has great charity shops too, which should be bulging with unwanted bargains at this time of year. The journey is as important as the destination here, so look for a picturesque route if possible and take a book and a flask of tea to while away the journey. 

5. Watch a box set while you cut up the Christmas cards for next year’s gift tags. You can choose whether you’re going to catch up on a series you missed out on this year or watch an old favourite… We are dusting off the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice already.

6. Visit a gallery and enjoy it at your own pace. Check what’s on and what’s open when as some will have different opening hours over Christmas, but most will be open from the 27th. You probably ought to have tea and cake in the cafe, too. That’s what we would do.

7. Have a duvet day. If ever there’s a time of year when you could really benefit from a day in bed, this is surely it. Start by getting up and showered (bear with us; this needs doing properly). Then, don nice, clean pyjamas (and maybe fresh sheets if you can muster the energy) and get back under the duvet for a day of rest. Listen to the radio or an audiobook, read, write some letters, phone a friend… do whatever you fancy to pass a few hours in a restful way. All meals should also be consumed in bed so get a tray and give your menu some thought. This is probably not the day for spaghetti Bolognese but it might well be the day for smoked salmon sarnies, posh cheese on toast and a box of chocolates. 

8. Get a Good Job done. You know those jobs that somehow never make it to the top of the list, even though you would actually really enjoy doing them? Dedicate a day to one of those. It might be bottoming your wardrobe and refolding and organising everything in it. Perhaps you’d like to make all your photos into photo books so you can always access your happy memories. Maybe you’d like to reorganise all your wools, threads and craft materials into nice, neat storage. Whatever it is, the task should be enjoyable (we aren’t talking defrosting the freezer, here). 

9. Take your senses on a day out. We all feel a bit sluggish at this time of year. Spend a day reawakening your five senses in whatever way you enjoy. Start with an aromatherapy massage, perhaps. Try out a sound bath if there’s one near you, or listen to a classical concert. Make lunch a tasting menu somewhere or go to a local vineyard for a wine tour and tasting.  

10. Have a trip down memory lane. Rediscovering your past might feel a little self-indulgent but done alone, it can be just lovely to step back in time, rekindle memories and notice how far you’ve come without feeling you’re ‘dragging anyone around’ or not having enough time to stop and stare yourself. Take a walk past your childhood home, or maybe the home where your grandparents used to live and notice how the trees have grown and the building has changed over time. Wander around your old university town or somewhere else you lived only fleetingly and see what’s new. Or simply look up an old haunt and go for lunch in a cafe you once frequented regularly, have a swim in the pool where you once had lessons or watch a film somewhere you had a first date. A day spent reconnecting with your past can feel like a few hours spent in the company of your old self. A strangely comforting thought. 

You can find more inspiration for things you could do this month in our regular ‘Could-do List’ at the front of every issue.

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More from our December issue…

More fun things for the festive season…

Wellbeing | A Breath of Fresh Air

Why stepping outside and filling your lungs in winter will always improve your day

There’s no getting away from it. If you reside in the UK, you’re probably not living your best outdoor lifestyle in December. But is that, in fact what makes a blast of winter air so special? When you step outside in summer you may not even bother to shut the door behind you; the garden becomes an extension of the house. You don’t need to change your clothes or add layers. You simply mosey on out and join everyone else, going about their day.

But in winter, stepping outside can be like stepping into Narnia. Moving from a stuffy, centrally heated house full of artificial light into the dark and the fresh, cool air feels like a little adventure, whether you’re off on a hike or just poking your nose outside. And there’s nothing like that first lungful of cold air to calm frazzled nerves, soothe overindulged stomachs and clear your mind. No matter how long you have, a breath of fresh air might be the festive re-set you need this season. Here are a few excuses to help you find it. 

Excuse: A good walk

Whether it’s a nice chat with a parent or sibling, or perhaps a catch-up with an adult child you don’t see so much of these days, a good long walk is an excellent reason to get out of the house when you feel you’re starting to ‘ferment’. Once the excesses of Christmas Day and Boxing Day are over you can declare that you ‘simply must get a bit of exercise’ and commandeer someone to keep you company. 

Enjoy the first slap of cold air on your cheeks as you rediscover the world outside (somehow even two days spent indoors at Christmas always feels like you’ve been locked up for months). Pick somewhere that will allow you to appreciate nature a bit, whether that’s a national park or the gardens of a stately home, or a wilder woodland setting, and you’ll have plenty of conversation starters. However, you often find that the mere act of walking side by side, without the pressure of full eye contact, allows people to open up and you’ll end up chatting about all sorts of things and possibly discovering a new side to someone you thought you knew everything about. And how often do we get the chance to do that? 

Secret benefit: Reconnecting with the important people in your life. 

Excuse: Tidying the garden

If wandering far from home isn’t an option, find a good long job that absolutely must be done in the garden and escape into the fresh air. At this time of year, any dry day is a good enough excuse to abscond to the garden for a few hours. Wrap up warm, with double gloves, and get cutting back, sweeping up and scrubbing out old plant pots ready for spring. Pop a podcast on in your ear phones, or just enjoy hearing the occasional garden bird trilling. 

Secret benefit: Your future self will thank you in February.

Excuse: Child or dog care

Whether you own a child or a dog yourself or not does not matter here. No parent or pet owner will object if you offer to take a scatty lab or over-Christmassed kid out to burn off some energy in the park. You need not admit that you’d much rather spend an hour in the company of someone smaller and/or furrier than yourself than have to make any more adult small talk about the cost of living or when it is acceptable to take the tree down. Take a ball with you, a good book in case the dog/child leaves you to your own devices once there, and maybe a flask of something hot to enjoy with your fresh air and dose of daylight.

Secret benefit: A nice cup of tea and a sit down - en plein air. 

Excuse: Putting the bins out

The thing about Christmas is that if you’re not washing up, you’re probably taking the bins out. Both are excellent ways of finding a little peace and quiet for yourself. But taking out the bins has the added bonus of a few moments of fresh air, too. 

Tie up the bin liner and replace it so that no one comes looking for you asking where the new bin liners are, then trudge through the back door with the air of someone ‘just getting the job done’. Make a slightly larger deal than necessary about rearranging the bins for maximum space efficiency and by the time you’ve sorted it all out, all eyes will be off you. Slope around the corner of the house where you’ll be unseen and then, with only the moon for company, look up at the sky and take in a few deep breaths and enjoy five meditative moments alone with your thoughts. If anyone questions your absence when you go back indoors, claim you thought you saw a rat and went to investigate. That should ensure no one else offers to take the bin out and the job remains yours.

Secret benefit: A bit of peace and quiet. Plus, you’ll be treated like a heroine for doing the dirty jobs.

Excuse: Just airing the house

If the weather foils your plans, as a last resort, find a quiet room, throw open the window, stick your head out and take a few deep lungfuls of winter air. Mentally, block out the rest of the world and all the goings on inside the busy house, close your eyes and imagine yourself out in the great blue yonder… That’s better, isn’t it?

Secret benefit: A mini self-care package (and a fresher feeling room). 

If you’re interested in fresh air winter walks you might enjoy our feature ‘A Wander to Behold’ from our December issue, which is on sale now.

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More ways to breathe deeper in winter…

More from our December issue…

Playlist | A bit bookish

DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock

Introducing our January playlist…

To accompany our YARN issue, we’ve compiled a playlist of bookish pleasures. You can take a listen here.

Looking for something to read as you listen? We’ve compiled a selection of recommended reads in our latest issue, on sale in shops and supermarkets from 24 December. Or order yourself a copy through Pics and Ink.

Competition | Win a Microwave and Rice Bundle

For nutritious, tasty rice that’s ready in minutes, look no further than Veetee – And we have a microwave and rice bundle up for grabs

A new year often brings about new ideas, adventures and aspirations, and if those plans include new meal inspiration, then Veetee rice may be just the right starting point. Whether you’re embracing Veganuary, trying to make your meals that little bit healthier, or you just want to liven up your regular dishes, Veetee rice guarantees fluffy rice every time without compromising on taste.

Veetee’s 10-stage steam filtering ensures only the finest quality grains make it to your plate, so you get reliably fluffy, fragrant rice at the touch of a button. Available in mouth-watering flavours like classic Basmati, Thai Jasmine, and the very moreish Sticky Rice, Veetee microwave rice pots and trays take the hassle out of healthy eating, meaning you can enjoy satisfying, fuss-free meals in minutes.

If this has woken up your taste buds and ignited some meal inspiration, then our competition may be right up your street. We’ve teamed up with Veetee to give one lucky reader of The Simple Things the chance to win a brand-new microwave filled with delicious Veetee rice products, worth over £200. Two runners-up will also receive Veetee rice packages, worth £25 each. So, regardless of what meal you’re serving up, you can always have flavourful, nutritious rice on hand.

For more information, visit: veetee.com and for inspiration, follow on Instagram at: @veetee_official.

How to enter 

For your chance to win a microwave and Veetee bundle, worth over £200, click the entry button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 24 February 2025.

Q: How many stages are there in Veetee’s steam filtering cooking system?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 24 February 2025. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules. 

Wellbeing | Coping with Hard Times

Christmas can feel tough when you’re missing someone special. Here are a few simple ways to make life a little easier

Treat yourself
Perhaps it’s a bright scarf, a soft blanket or a hot water bottle, anything that makes you feel comforted and joyful.

Ask yourself what you need
Reach out to those who care about you. Ask for help, some company or a hug.

Be mindful of social media
Scrolling through pictures of ‘perfect’ Christmases isn’t helpful if you’re not feeling your best.

Pass on kindness
Do something for someone else who might be finding it hard, too.

Allow yourself to be sad
Try not to use busyness as a way to avoid the feelings.

The advice above is taken from our feature ‘Comfort and Joy’ by Rebecca Frank in our December issue and is all about how to care for yourself on difficult Christmases.

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More from our December issue…

More wellbeing inspiration…

Tipple | Snowball with Vanilla or Gingerbread

Not for throwing, a snowball is the classic Christmas tipple, made extra festive with added gingerbread.

Serves 1

50ml Advocaat

10ml vanilla or gingerbread syrup

Squeeze of half a lime

Lemonade

Cocktail cherries, to garnish

1 In a cocktail shaker, add the Advocaat, syrup of choice and lime juice, shake to combine (if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a jam jar).

2 Pour into your glass, top up with lemonade and garnish with a cherry.

This is just one of the old school tipples and nibbles from our December issue feature, ‘Merry and Bites’. It also includes recipes for a Mulled Punch, Espresso Martini, Sidecar and a Cherry Brandy Fizz, alongside plenty of kitsch nibbles to get any party started. The recipes and photography are by Catherine Frawley.

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More festive tipples…

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Christmas | Making wreaths

Photography by Olivia Carter

Christmas wreaths come in all shapes and sizes these days. We love a big, green traditional wreath of holly and ivy, but if you fancy something a little different, we have a few ideas…

Simply take a wreath base (foam or metal, depending on what you’re using. You can even use chicken wire or a piece of foam swimming pool noodle, with the ends secured to each other. Collect your materials together, heat up the glue gun and start sticking your materials all over the surface of your wreath. More is definitely more here! If you need a little inspiration have a read of our list below.

• Baubles

• Origami flowers

• Gingerbread biscuits in festive shapes (watch out for foxes though!)

• Pinecones

• Dried orange slices

• Jigsaw Puzzle pieces

• Nuts in their shells

• Crocheted snowflakes

• Brussels sprouts

• Candy canes and other sweets

The picture above is from our feature ‘Farm to Front Door’ from our December issue in which we meet Olivia Carter who grows flowers and runs wreath workshops from her family farm in Devon.

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And if you’d like a little more inspiration you can see some of the wreaths made by The Simple Things’ team below…

Wreaths from The Simple Things’ Team

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More from our December issue…

Make | Tin Can Panettone

Panettone baked in tin cans makes them just the right size for a gift – if there are any left!

Makes 8

325g mixed dried fruit
1 orange, zested and juiced
500g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
½ tsp salt
100g caster sugar
14g easy bake yeast
200ml milk, plus 2 tbsp for brushing
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lemon, zested
200g very soft butter, plus 1 tsp, melted, and extra, melted, to grease 8 x empty 400g cans, washed and dried, paper labels removed

1 Place the dried mixed fruit and the orange zest in a bowl, then stir in 1 tablespoon of the juice. Leave to steep while you make the dough.

2 Sift the flour, salt, sugar and yeast into a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Warm the milk gently in a small pan, then pour into a jug and beat in the eggs, vanilla extract and lemon zest with a fork.

3 Gradually mix the milky mixture into the dry ingredients using a wooden spoon or the dough hook attachment of your mixer and beat gently, or on a low speed, for 10 mins to form a smooth and silky dough.

4 Next, beat in the butter, a small knob at a time, making sure it has been absorbed into the dough before adding the next piece. Tip in the orange-soaked fruit and work it into the dough. Cover and leave somewhere warm for about 1 hr, or until it has doubled in size.

5 Meanwhile, prepare the tin cans by brushing the inside with a little melted butter and lining the sides and base with baking paper, being sure to leave some paper sticking out the tin.

6 When your dough is ready, knock the excess air out of it with your wooden spoon or the dough hook attachment for about 1 min.

7 Tip out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and cut into eight 8 evenly-sized pieces. It will be very soft so don’t bother trying to knead it. Drop a piece of dough into each of the cans, cover with a clean tea towel and leave somewhere warm for another hour or so, so that the dough can rise some more. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/ Gas 5.

8 When ready, put the cans onto a baking sheet and bake in the centre of the oven for 25-30 mins, or until golden brown. Remove, leave to cool for a few minutes, then carefully slide them out of the cans. Remove the baking paper and brush the top of each panettone with a little melted butter, then leave to cool on a wire rack. Wrap them in cellophane or brown paper and label.

Cook’s note: These will last 3-4 days if stored somewhere cool.

These Tin Can Panettones are one of the ideas for a Christmas Hamper from our December issue. There are also instructions to make Orange Curd, Winter Berry Granola, DIY Mulled Wine, Furoshimi Wrapping and Chocolate, Orange and Walnut Bark. The recipes are by Louise Gorrod and the photograpny by Emma Croman.

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More festive makes…

More from our blog…

Make | Scented Pinecones

Photography by Jen Chillingsworth

Pinecones can double as natural air fresheners, to which you can add your choice of seasonal scent. They’re excellent decorations, too.

You will need: Pinecones; foil; large sealable bag; essential oils (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange and pine work well).

1 Soak the pinecones in cold water, drain, and place on a foil-lined baking tray. Pop in an oven preheated to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4 and bake for 30–60 mins. Check regularly to make sure they don’t burn. Leave to cool.

2 Place the cooled pinecones in a large sealable bag and add a few drops of essential oils. Seal the bag, then shake and leave for several days. The more drops of oil, the stronger the scent.

3 Remove the cones from the bag and display in a bowl or make a garland by stringing them together on twine.

Maker’s note: Never pick any pinecones from a tree but check under conifers for those that have dropped. When foraging for natural materials, remember that you may require permission from the local authority or landowner. Many essential oils, including cinnamon and pine, are not safe to use around pets.

This is one of the ideas from our feature ‘Scents of the Season’ in the December issue, which is all about natural ways to enjoy the aromas of winter. The feature is taken from Green Christmas by
Jen Chillingsworth (Quadrille).

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More of nature’s gifts…

More from our blog…

Recipe | Christmas Kraut

It’s worth taking time in late November or early December to make this good-for-your-gut sauerkraut with a festive twist

MAKES APPROX 1kg

1 red cabbage, quartered then finely shredded
1 thumb fresh ginger, grated
Zest and juice of 1 orange or 2 clementines
150g fresh or dried cranberries
2 tsp mixed spice
2g sea salt for every 100g
12 fresh bay leaves

1 Put the cabbage and ginger in a large bowl, then grate in the zest of your orange or clementines. Halve the fruit and squeeze in the juice. Next, add the cranberries and spices.

2 Weigh the mixture and add 2g sea salt per 100g veg/fruit mix. Fold the salt through to distribute. Then, scrunch together to help soften the cabbage and massage the salt in.

3 Spoon the juicy cabbage mix into a 1kg jar, or a mixture of smaller jars, adding it little by little and packing down each layer as you go. It’s important to exclude as much air as possible. Pour any leftover brine in the bowl over the cabbage.

4 Use the bay leaves (overlapping them) to fully cover the compacted cabbage. Add a pinch of salt to the leafy cap and fill the jar right to the top with water. Screw an airtight lid onand place it on a plate (to catch any juices that bubble over during fermentation). Transfer it to a dry spot, at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.

5 Let the kraut ferment for two weeks at room temperature, then eat straightaway, or store at room temperature in a dark, cool place for up to 1 year (check occasionally and top up with an added pinch of salt and water to come right to the top of the jar, if needed).

Cook’s note: Refrigerate once open. This kraut will happily keep for weeks in the fridge.

This recipe for Christmas Kraut is from our December Home Economics feature, which also includes recipes for an upside-down turkey with all the trimmings, Boxing Day pasties, winter Waldorf salad, turkey, lemon and thyme risotto, turkey skin crackling and parsnip skin crisps. The recipes are by Rachel de Thample and the photography is by Ali Allen.

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More fermented things for the festivities…

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Sponsored Post | Support your child to be a healthy mover

Today is World Children’s Day, and the Youth Sport Trust are on a mission to raise awareness for an important cause

Parents and carers to young children undoubtedly want the best for them, but there’s a growing crisis that many of us may not even be aware of. In the UK, fewer than one in five children is getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity. This lack of movement isn’t just a minor concern - it’s setting up a generation of children for a future potentially filled with preventable health problems.

It’s thought 20% of children in England are overweight or obese by age five and if we don’t act now, our children face increased risks of brain development, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues, with a rising demand for child mental health services.

This is why The Youth Sport Trust is launching a powerful new film today that exposes the realities of childhood inactivity and challenges parents to act. This isn’t just about awareness - it’s about driving real and positive change, and it might be easier than you think Watch the film here…

How You Can Make a Difference:

Watch and share the film: The more people who see it, the greater the impact we can have in spreading this critical message.

Get moving! Download the Healthy Movers at Home resources for easy, mobile-friendly ideas to help your little ones move, play, and grow every day.

Encourage your Early Years provider to explore our Healthy Movers programme and bring daily activity to life.  

Youth Sport Trust provides practical, free resources and templates designed to help you easily incorporate physical activity into your child’s day, whether through fun things to do at home or by influencing early years settings to prioritise movement.

The time to act is now. Together, we can build a more positive and active future for our children.

Support your child to be a Healthy Mover today.

 Visit the Youth Sport Trust website to learn more and join us in creating a healthier, happier future for the next generation. 

How to | Make Easy Eco Switch Ups

Photography by Sophie April Photography

Moving to a zero waste lifestyle is as easy as taking one small step

We all want to do a bit more to look after our planet but it can feel a little overwhelming. Perhaps you don’t know where to begin or maybe you’ve already made some eco changes and want to do a bit more. Possibly you’re an eco queen already, looking for the next switch to really make a difference. Wherever you are on your eco journey, there’s a switch that’s achievable for you. Why not pick one of the ideas below this month? Your local zero waste store should have a good stock of buys to help.

First step switches

You might think everyone must be on top of the basic eco measures we should all be taking now but it’s easy to overlook the obvious. If you don’t have one yet, how about a really good water bottle and reusable coffee cup so you never again have to throw one in the bin?

We like: Circular and Co. 12oz Reusable Coffee Cup, £15.95

Switches to level up your eco game

Swapping wipes and kitchen towel for reusable cloths is an instant way to reduce your landfill. While you’re in the kitchen drawer, how about switching from cling film to reusable beeswax wipes? 

We like: Queen Bee Wraps Beeswax wrap variety pack, £15

Ready for the next stage switches

One area that’s often forgotten when considering eco changes at home is the bathroom. Next time you finish your shampoo or shower gel, instead of replacing it, consider a refillable bottle, which you can take back to the store and refill rather than buying a new one. You could even think about solid shampoo bars (like soap) rather than liquid shampoo, so you don’t need a bottle at all! 

We like: Lush Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar, £9

Next level eco switches

If you reckon you’ve covered most of the basics, try looking at areas of your life you might have overlooked. How about lunches out? Getting together a zero-waste lunch kit to keep in your bag means you’ll never have to put a plastic sandwich packet or fork in the bin. A sandwich bag, set of reusable cutlery and food flask means that even if you don’t make your lunch at home, you can get a cafe to serve your lunch straight into your reusable packaging. 

We like: Keep Leaf Reusable Sandwich Wrap, £7.95

Eco Queen switch-ups

Ready to really make a change for the better? How about going packaging free for your entire weekly shop? Zero waste stores are popping up everywhere now, offering food without the plastic. This takes a fair bit of organisation and a little investment at first, but then you’ll be able to shop straight into your own reusable packaging and never find your bin full up after unpacking the weekly shop again. 

We like: Wild & Stone Reusable Mesh bags, £10.95 for 5

If you’re keen to know more about zero waste stores, don’t miss our ‘My Living’ feature on them in our November issue, where we meet two owners of zero waste shopes, including the lovely
Zero Waste Pantry in Wrington, Somerset, pictured above.

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More eco wins…

More from our November issue…

Recipe | Bedtime Cake

Add a nostalgic bedtime drink to a traditional party cake and you have this Carrot and Horlicks Tres Leches Cake. Best enjoyed at bedtime

Serves 6-8

270g plain flour
2 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
1 tsp fine salt
4 eggs, separated
240g caster sugar
240ml vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
240g carrots, peeled and finely grated

For the milk soak:
300ml whole milk
6 tbsp malted milk hot drink powder, such as Horlicks
340ml evaporated milk
397ml can of condensed milk

To decorate:
400ml double cream
2 tbsp whole milk 1 tbsp malted milk hot drink powder, such as Horlicks
40g icing sugar, sifted
Rainbow sprinkles (optional)

1 Preheat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/ Gas 5. Meanwhile, grease and line a 24cm x 33cm baking tin.

2 Combine the flour, baking powder, spices and salt in a bowl and set aside. Beat the egg yolks and sugar in a separate bowl until thick and pale.

3 Add the oil and vanilla to the egg yolk mix and beat, then fold in the carrot, followed by the flour mixture making sure it’s really well combined – it will be thick.

4 In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks. Use a large metal spoon to fold a quarter of the whites at a time gently into the cake batter. Once well combined, pour the batter into the tin and bake for 40-45 mins.

5 Meanwhile, prepare the milk soak by gently heating the milk in a pan over a low heat until just steaming, then whisk in the malted milk powder. Remove from the heat and whisk in the evaporated milk and condensed milk. Pour into a jug and set aside.

6 Once baked, leave the cake to cool for 10 mins, then turn it out and remove the lining paper before returning it to the tin. Poke holes all over the surface, then pour enough of the milk mixture over the top to cover it. Let it sink in, then add more. Repeat until it’s all gone. Chill overnight.

7 At least 2 hrs before serving, whip the cream, milk, malted milk powder and icing sugar together. Spread over the cake in a thick layer and chill for 2 hrs to set. Decorate with sprinkles then cut into squares ready to serve.

Cook’s note: Try adjusting the spices – nutmeg and cardamom work well.

Taken from Good Time Cooking: Show stopping Menus For Easy Entertaining  by
Rosie Mackean (Pavilion Books). Photography: Sam Harris

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More from our November issue…

Sponsored Post | Meet the founders of Famileo

We meet Famileo founders, Armel de Lesquen and Tanguy de Gélis, and see how keeping in touch with loved ones just got easier

Welcome, Armel and Tanguy. Tell us a little bit about Famileo

Armel: Famileo is a subscription service that, once a month, formats your family’s photos and messages into a newsletter or ‘gazette’ as we like to call it. A digital copy is available to everyone, and a printed copy is posted to the grandparents, monthly.

Wow, that sounds incredible. How did you come up with the idea?

Tanguy: Famileo was born out of personal experience. I’m from a big family and as we began to share more and more family updates and goings on through social messaging apps, I bought my grandmother an iPad so that she could stay in the loop. However, she struggled getting to grips with it and told me she missed all the letters, postcards and photos that she used to receive. It got me thinking, how could we better bridge the communication gap between generations? How could we help families stay close, by sharing news in a way that respects each generation’s preferred methods of communication?

Who doesn’t love receiving post! How has that first seed of an idea grown?

Tanguy: Well, we’ve gone from being a couple of French dreamers to running an international company with over 1.5 million users and 50 employees! But whilst the app, the gazette and our roles have evolved, the mission is still the same; to enable families to stay close, despite distance.

What keeps you both so passionate about Famileo?

Armel: For us, strong family ties are one of the foundations of emotional wellbeing! And in an increasingly fast-paced, digital world, it’s easy to feel left behind. We’re committed to making sure that everyone in the family feels valued and included in the lives of their loved ones. For the older generations, this means regularly receiving news in a way that’s accessible and meaningful to them. And for the younger generations, it’s about creating a secure space online where they can easily and safely share precious photos and news, as and when they can.

How do you stay relevant? 

Tanguy: We focus on what truly matters. While many companies are continuously trying to innovate with flashy new technology, we’re truly listening to our customers’ needs and respecting their preferred methods of communication. Many older people are not tech-savvy and many more simply prefer the tangible, nostalgic charm of print.

So, what’s next on the cards?

Tanguy: The future is incredibly exciting! More and more families throughout the UK and Ireland are subscribing to Famileo and we’re continuing to expand internationally. We’re constantly working on new features to enhance the customer experience, while always staying true to our mission of creating simple, meaningful connections that span generations. We won’t stop until every grandparent feels the joy of holding a newspaper filled with photos and messages from the people that they love the most!

For more information and inspiration, visit famileo.com or follow @famileo_uk.

Reader offer

A Famileo subscription is just £5.99 per month for the whole family, postage included. The Simple Things readers can enjoy 50% off the first 3 months, on subscriptions taken out before 31 December 2024. Simply enter code TST24 at checkout.

Playlist | Winter wonders

DJ: Frances Ambler
Illustration: Shutterstock

Our soundtrack to December. Take a listen here.
Or have a look at previous Christmas playlists here, here and here.

Recipe | Walnut and Rosemary Dauphinoise

This decadent dauphinoise is given a depth of flavour by parboiling the potatoes in stock and then the texture and taste of walnuts on top.  Serve it alongside the Christmas turkey and other sides from our Home Economics feature in our December issue, as a side to any meat dish, or on its own, on the sofa under a blanket any time you like.

Serves 6 

1.5kg floury potatoes (like King Edward or Maris Piper), peeled and cut in 1cm slices  

750ml veg or chicken stock, warmed 

4 garlic cloves, chopped 

4 sprigs of rosemary, chopped 

2 tbsp butter 

400ml cream 

75g walnuts, crushed 

1 Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6. Place the potatoes in a large pot (save the peels for potato skin crisps – a great pre dinner snack or good for Boxing Day). Cover with the warm stock and boil until just tender. 

2 Place the garlic and rosemary in a large baking tray in the oven with the butter. 

3 When the potatoes are tender, gently spoon them into the dish with the butter, which should now be melted. Scatter the garlicky herbs over with a good pinch of pepper and a little salt, if needed, as you layer in the potatoes. Pour in the cream so it just covers the top of the spuds, if needed top up with the stock from cooking the potatoes.  

4 Scatter the walnuts on top. Slide into oven for around 30 mins to cook through, thicken and brown the top. 

 Find the rest of our recipes for Christmas Dinner (and clever ideas for using up the leftovers, too) in our December issue. The recipes are by Rachel de Thample and the photographs are by
Ali Allen.

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