Christmas Day on Joy

Christmas Day programme about Joy.

Jane Garvey is joined by the Rev. Kate Bottley, who brings the Christian perspective of joy at Christmas, and talks about her personal passion for ice water swimming.

Natalie Maddix is the founder and Creative Director of the House Gospel Choir. She describes the joy of communal singing and shares some of the choir's uplifting music.

The breast surgeon and breast cancer survivor, Liz O'Riordan, tells us the story behind her 'Jar of Joy'. The crime writer Sophie Hannah explains her theory of finding joy - even in the most adverse of circumstances.

Tonia Buxton is a chef and consultant at the Real Greek Restaurants. She gives details of her family's ‘dirty’ Christmas sandwiches and her family recipes for Greek Liver stuffing.

Woman's Hour listener Joy Barnard tells her story of being adopted at Christmas in 1961, and Lynette and Daisy reveal what brings them personal joy.

Presented by Jane Garvey Producer: Louise Corley

RECIPES

Greek Christmas Liver Stuffing

Ingredients 50g/2oz butter 1 onion finely chopped livers from your turkey finely chopped ( I like to add another pack of 200g ) ½ cup/ 75g/3oz long grain white rice rinsed ½ tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground cloves ½ cup/ 75g/3oz of sultanas. ½ cup/ 75g/3oz of pine kernels 1 ½ cups/275ml/ 10fl oz water sea salt & coarsely ground black pepper

Method In a frying pan add the butter & fry the onion until softened. Add the liver & continue to fry till browned. Then add the spices, seasoning, pine kernels & sultanas & rice. Stir in the water & bring to the boil. Cover with a lid & simmer for 10/12 minutes. You can either stuff the bird or put it in a shallow casserole dish, cover with foil & warm before serving.

Melomakarona Greek Christmas biscuits

This wonderful recipe is one I have taken (with permission ) from my friend Asimakis Chaniotis who is the most exciting young Greek Chef who has a Michelin star as well as many other accolades. He has refined this traditional recipe that is handed down from generation to generation. https://www.asimakischaniotis.co.uka

Ingredients

For the syrup 500 g water 800 g granulated sugar 150 g honey 3 stick(s) cinnamon 3 cloves 1 orange, cut in half 1st mixture

400 g orange juice 400 g seed oil 180 g olive oil 50 g icing sugar 1/2 teaspoon(s) cloves 2-3 teaspoon(s) cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon(s) nutmeg 1 teaspoon(s) baking soda orange zest, of 2 oranges

2nd mixture 1 kg all-purpose flour 200 g semolina, fine

Method For the syrup : Boil all the ingredients apart from the honey until the sugar melts and let it to be cold for 3-4 hours

Preheat the oven 190 In one big bowl mix with a hand whisk all the ingredients from the 1st mixture In a separate bowl mix the ingredients from the 2nd mixture

Combine the 1st bowl to the 2nd and mix by hand gently

Bake them for 20-25’ Soak the hot cookies to the cold syrup Let them drain on a wire rack

Drizzle with honey (optional ) and walnuts