Hugh spends his first winter at River Cottage. The cider-marinated ham is ready, and Hugh goes in search of a fat goose to accompany it. To buy his goose, he sells homemade products at the local farmer's market. Hugh's marron glacé, brandy butter, and mince pies with actual lamb meat quickly sell at his farmer's market stall. Hugh feeds Christmas carol singers visiting the Hitches' mansion with a fish cake of smoked cod. Later, Hugh prepares a stuffed goose neck, a confit, and a roasted goose breast. Then, Hugh searches the woods for a yule log with Star, a local hedgewitch. Five members of the cider circle visit Hugh's cottage, and they feast on ham and stuffed goose neck. Hugh wins a year's supply of cider on a wager on a game a table skittles, a victory he attributes to the magical power of his yule log. Finally, as Hugh settles in to sleep, he leaves a mince pie by the fireside for you-know-who.