o
SMOKEDSALMONTRIMMINGS
Lessexpensivethanslices,but
justasgood.Mixwithcrème
fraîcheandservewithtoast.
INSTANTSPARKLINGCOCKTAIL
Buyinexpensivefizzandadd
a splashofliqueurfromone
ofthosebottleslurkingatthe
backofyourdrinkscupboard.POUSSINSIf you’renotfeeding
a crowd,insteadofcooking
a largeturkey,serveonepoussin
perpersonfora cost-effective
yetcelebratoryfeast.
LOBSTERTAILSYoucanbuythem
frozenandthey’reexcellentvalue.
Servewithpastaorstuffedinto
rollsforanaffordableluxurytreat.FRAGRANCEFollowNigella’s
leadandmakeyourhomesmell
likeChristmaswithoutlighting
fancyscentedcandles.Justpop
cinnamonsticks,cloves,orange
peelandrosemarysprigsinto
a panofsimmeringwaterand
inhalethefestivespirit.NEXT
MONTH
Thegreat
festivefridge
de-clutter
andhowto
doitright- HAVEA PYJAMADAY
Buya newpairofjimjamsorbed
socks,snuggledownandenjoy
a do-nothingday.Browse
pigletinbed.comforclassiclinen
sleepwearorbuysoft,warmalpaca
socksfromperilla.co.uk.
10.BUYBRITISH
Supportthenation’scheesemakers,
fishermenandotherfoodproducers
(seeourmailorderoptionson
p104).Andshoponyourlocalhigh
streetwheneverpossibletoshow
theindependentsyoulovethem.14.LETTHEREBELIGHTS
Therecanneverbetoomany
Christmastwinklers,asthey’re
infinitelycheering.Checkyoursare
allinworkingorder,orbuywell
aheadoftimeastheytendtorun
outearly.Trycoxandcox.co.ukfor
stunningilluminations.15.GETYOURBEAUTYSLEEP
Restisvitalforyourmentaland
physicalhealth,somakesureyou
getenough.If you’regenerallyup
until2amonChristmasEvewriting
placecardsinbeautifulcalligraphy,
forgetit.Haveanearlynight.16.SAVEONGIFTWRAP
Ditchwastefulwrappingpaperand
usenewspaper,linenteatowels,
brownpaperbagsorfabrictotesfor
giftsinstead.Tiewithribbonor
stringandtuckinflowersorpine
sprigsfora stunninglookthat’s
kindtotheenvironment.17.TAKETIMEOUT
Ringfence 10 minutestoyourselfon
ChristmasDay.It mightseembrief
butwillhelpyoustaycalm.(See
belowforsomegreatcalmingapps).13.GOECO-FRIENDLYMorethanseven
millionChristmastreesendupinlandfillevery
year,sobuyoneina potfromyourlocalnursery.
Orconsiderrentinga tree(yes,really) visit
rentalclaus.com,loveachristmastree.co.uk,
rentalchristmastree.comorlondonchristmas
treerental.comtoseeiftheyoperateinyourarea.18.SWITCHOFF
Turnoffyourphoneand/
orsocialmediafora few
days.Youwon’tregretit.11.BALANCEOUT
THEBINGEING
Overindulgenceispartof
thefunbutdon’tditch
healthyhabitscompletely.
Drinkasmuchwateras
youdoalcohol.Eatlive
yogurt,kimchiorother
fermentedfoodsto
supportyourguthealth.
Gorgeonvegaswellas
chocolate.Movearound.
You’llfeelbetterforit.12.SHOWCOMMUNITYSPIRIT
Actsofkindnessmadea real
differenceduringlockdown,so
continuethemoverChristmas.
Cooka mealorshopforsomeone
whoneedshelp.Donatetoa food
bank(trusselltrust.org)orwomen’s
refuge(donate.refuge.org.uk).Or
volunteer:tryfoodcycle.org.uk
ordo-it.org.DOWNLOADTHESEAPPSIN
ADVANCEFORMOMENTSOF
CALMONCHRISTMASDAYOHEADSPACEGuidedworkouts,
coursesandsoundstorelaxyou.
OAURAHelpscalmanxietyand
improveyourfocus.
OMYLIFEMEDITATIONSuggests
personalisedmeditationstohelp
youfindpeaceinanysituation.19.EMBRACETHEBUILDUP
Turnupthecarolsandcome
togetherwithlovedonesinthe
run-uptothebigday.Bakecookies
tohangonthetree,makesimple
decorationsorcooka dishfor
ChristmasDayandfreezeit.It
willgetyouinthefestivespirit.20.FINDTHEJOY
Christmaspantomimesarea
much-lovedtraditionthatwon’tbe
possiblethisyear,soorganisean
alternativeouting.Visita National
Trustproperty,arrangea frosty
walkina beautifulgardenorstroll
throughanartgallery.Andplanto
dosomethingin 2021 you’vealways
wantedtodo:youdeserveit.deliciousmagazine.co.uk 99
health matters.
ILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
HOW TO DO LUXE FOR LESS