๐๐งSeason 5 Episode 1 โจDo You Hear What I Hear?โจ
The UKโs #1 favourite Christmas podcast is back for a fifth season of cosiness and calm, hosted by bestselling British author Beth Kempton. Here in Episode โDo You Hear What I Hear?โ we begin the new season of the Calm Christmas Podcast in Scotland, with the beautiful words of baker Flora Shedden, owner of Aran Bakery, which perfectly capture what us 'Keepers of Christmas' sense and love about this time of year - the contrast between the cold outdoors and the cosy inside, the warmth we try to bring to our homes, to our communities, the details we notice when we pause long enough to look and listen to what is happening in nature and so on.We will share a hot cuppa and conversations about ease, joy, endings and new beginnings, and much more including:ยทย ย ย ย ย Gentle planningยทย ย ย ย ย All about Advent Calendarsยทย ย ย ย ย A little bit of poetryยทย ย ย ย ย A lot of love for birdsยทย ย ย ย ย A round up of podcast listenersโ favourite Christmas music recommendationsยทย ย ย ย ย Our old favourites โ Nature, Wellbeing and Traditions Cornersยทย ย ย ย ย A viral Christmas poem written for youยทย ย ย ย ย A warming soup recipe courtesy of Flora Sheddenยทย ย ย ย ย Get ahead tipsยทย ย ย ย ย Some lovely goodies for youWith inspiration from @florashedden @aranbakery Jane Struthers, Christopher Winn, Bing Crosby, The Harry Simeone Chorale, Guinness World Records, @alixklingenberg @fogchaser @angelaferrarofanning @jenchillingsworth @rspca_officialEnjoy!Beth XxLINKS TO LOVELY THINGSยทย Head toย @bethkempton on Instagramย for the chance to win our first festive book giveaway of the season, with prizes for you and a friend!ยทย The Alternative Advent Calendar (free, daily from Dec 1) on Instagram @bethkemptonยทย Register for the Winter Writing Sanctuary at dowhatyouloveforlife.com for free (runs Dec 29-Jan 4)ย https://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/product/winter-writing-sanctuary-2025/ยทย The Greatest Christmas Music Selection Ever at calmchristmas.substack.comย BOOKS, WEBSITES ETC MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEยท Winter in the Highlands by Flora Sheddenยท Winter Story by Jill Barklem (with gratitude to the person on Substack Notes who reminded me that the cosy version of my life is very much like a Brambly Hedge mouse)ยท The Book of Christmas by Jane Struthersยทย The Book of Christmas by Christopher Winnยทย Quietly Wild by Alix Klingenbergยทย Advent Calendar record on Guinness World Recordsยทย The Holiday (film)ยทย The Snowman (film)ยท Do You Hear What I Hear? (music) โ Harry Simeone Chorale version | Bing Crosby versionยทย A Simple Carol by Matt Evans @FogChaser (music)ยทย Merlin ID app by Cornell Lab for iPhone | for Androidยทย RSCPA advice for feeding wild birds https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/birds/feedingย Ingredients for Flora Sheddenโs Roasted Squash and Apple Soup recipe (from Winter in the Highlands by Flora Shedden, published by Quadrille)Note: For the method you can listen to the podcast or find it in Floraโs book Winter in the Highlands (Quadrille) p.16Serves 4-6 butternut squash (about 900g / 2lb), peeled and deseeded, then cut into 1 cm (1/2 inch) slices2 eating (dessert) apples (about 250g/9oz), cored and cut into 1 cm (1/2 inch) slices1 large onion (about 250g/9ox), cut into wedges4 garlic cloves, peeled bu left whole45g (1 ยฝ oz) fresh root ginger, peeled and roughly chopped45g (1 ยฝ fl oz/3 tablespoons) apple cider vinegar10g (1/2 oz) sage leaves1kg (2lb 4 oz) chicken (or vegetable) stockOlive oil, for cookingSea salt and freshly ground black pepperYoghurt, to serveFor the crispy breadcrumb topping50g (2oz/1 cup) fresh breadcrumbs50g (2oz/generous ยฝ cup) pumpkin seeds10g (1/2 oz) sage leaves, the smaller the better, but if large tear in halfOlive oil, for fryingย This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit calmchristmas.substack.com
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