The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater: Read Along Thread

[Dillidilly]

Here we go people!

I thought we could start reading the Introduction from October 15th at a gentle pace to allow people to join the thread. Then all set for Chapter 1 on November 1st.

The Christmas Chronicles is currently just over £20 on Amazon. Maybe people could share all the options for those who are just joining us, who still want to get a copy.

I'm hoping this thread will be a lovely, gentle, uplifting transition into the Christmas period where we can share our thoughts, recipe attempts and inspiration from Nigel x

You won't regret it Viking.
A cook book needs to be stroked and dribbled on.
I opened Delia's Cakes the other day and laughed at the thought of DD in years to come when I'm pushing up the daisies opening it at the gingerbread page and spotting all the years' vintages of cake mixture splodge.

I'm marking my place on the thread but currently I can't find my copy. Last year was supposed to be my first read through but life got in the way and it didn't happen. And now I can't find the book! (Have a horrible feeling it went to the charity shop when I did a huge declutter in the summer). I'll have another look for it today.

I love lighting candles in the evening. I do have mantlepiece but no real fire, it's purely decorative so I find dotting candles around it the next best thing. I have a mix of long candlesticks, pillar candles and always a scented candle jar on the go. Next step is to find some festive candle holders to swap over in December.

Lighting the candles, turning down the main lights and snuggling under a blanket on the sofa is definitely my happy place.

My DH was out last night so I snuggled up on the sofa under a fleecy blanket and read the introduction. I even opened my Aldi Christmas mini Stollen and had a couple of pieces with my coffee. I might have to ration it a bit though otherwise if I eat some every time I read a daily chapter I’ll be the size of Santa before Christmas is even here.

I've just cooked up a batch of apples with butter, sugar and cinnamon for crunbles/pies. My house smells very christmassy:)
I've also made a batch of Choc orange brownies.
I'm going to try to do more one pot cooking this winter.

I visited my local WH Smith's today and got 4 copies - 3 for gifts and 1 for me! Am going to enjoy this in the lead up to Christmas! Thank you! Had ds with me who is a student so got 10% off - £8.10 each! Bargain!

Ordered! I'll be in France this year, so ingredient hunting will be exciting. Can't do anything that I'd need to prep in good time, but looking forward to seeing some pictures

hat a lovely idea . I bought the book last year and started it but didn't get too far. I really enjoyed the writing though. Lovely descriptions of winter.

I'll hold off reading any of it until the 1st. Then I'll read the introduction and Chapter 1 together. I like to get Hallowe'en over before I start doing Christmassy things although I have the odd sneaky peek on this thread. Once the 1st rolls around, I'll be in full Christmas mode.

@Geamhradh oh what a shame! I love Copenhagen (of course) and I hope you get to visit there soon.

I’ll post a bit about my childhood Christmases soon, and also share some pages from my Scandinavian Christmas book.🎄🎄🎄

Those who make jams/marmalades, do you reckon I could use a normal big pan with a good, thick bottom? I’m absolutely terrible for picking up a new interest and then feeling like I have to have all the perfect gear for it which always ends up so expensive...I’d love to buy myself a maslin pan but atm I’d love it more if I didn’t have to.

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule ; If you're not making huge quantities, a large saucepan is fine-that's what I do. Just make sure it's got room for the jam when it's boiling up.

Thank you @sueelleker 🌷

I can’t remember if I’ve said on this thread already, but I ordered some Laurel Bay essential oil and DH and I are both really pleased with it as an autumn fragrance. Exactly as Nigel said, it isn’t sickly but just gives a wonderfully grounding, calming aroma. I’ve got a couple properly Christmassy fragrance oils (Mandarin, cinnamon and clove/Frankincense and Myrrh - Sorry Nigel but these are subtle and pleasing and not chemical/overbearing) but those won’t come out until December so the bay is really nice for now and through November.

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule

Those who make jams/marmalades, do you reckon I could use a normal big pan with a good, thick bottom? I’m absolutely terrible for picking up a new interest and then feeling like I have to have all the perfect gear for it which always ends up so expensive...I’d love to buy myself a maslin pan but atm I’d love it more if I didn’t have to.

I have a medium/large stainless steel pot that works fine for it. I didn't buy it for jam, but it's perfect. If you haven't attempted to make jam in it already, then go for it!

I'm having a go at cranberry sauce this year, I'm a bit scared of hot popping cranberries hitting me, since most recipes hint at this . Anybody got a decent cranberry sauce recipe?

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule that was me assuming you already had the pot, oops

@Refrosty Thanks I’ve got a big pan with a nice thick bottom so I’m going to give it a go. Any reassurances help me a lot so thank you! I overthink things and get stupidly anxious so it helps to hear that it’s not such a big deal (DH is such a good counterbalance, thank goodness - as he said today, people have been making jams since long before you could get yourself all discombobulated googling the ideal equipment you ‘must have’).

And to return the reassurances, I’ve made cranberry sauce many times and the popping isn’t so bad at all.

I use Delia’s recipe as a starter and often end up winging it with lots of extras. Last year’s was really good but I can’t remember what I put into it so that’s no help!

I've made this; it's a jelly rather than a sauce, but very good. I cheated by using ready bought clementine juice from M&S instead of the actual fruits.www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cranberry-clementine-jelly

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule

And to return the reassurances, I’ve made cranberry sauce many times and the popping isn’t so bad at all.

I use Delia’s recipe as a starter and often end up winging it with lots of extras. Last year’s was really good but I can’t remember what I put into it so that’s no help!

Ha! I eventually end up like that. I'm a bit like that with my jams tbh, I've tried all sorts and when I get the correct method, I have to scratch my head and wonder how I got there . Jam is pretty easy once you get going. I am with your DH, my grandma made jam with the same ease as boiling eggs, in any old pot.

I'll look for Delia's recipe, and thank you @sueelleker for the link, jelly is also a consideration. My book arrived today, I really haven't peeked to see if it has a cranberry sauce recipe, but I've enough frozen cranberries to try a few recipes before the big day (my SIL is trusting me with the cranberry sauce in a foreign country, so no pressure! )

I've just ordered my copy as it's free on Kindle unlimited. I'm desperately in need of some Christmas cheer and Nigel Slater writes beautifully. I find his recipes soothing and comforting in equal measure.

We made this years ago and it turned out well www.health.org.uk/news-and-comment/news/1.5-million-potential-years-of-life-lost-to-covid-19

nooo noo not that, this www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cranberry-marmalade-sauce

Ive made my own cranberry sauce for years.
The heat is down so they pop gently and in an orderly fashion not out of the pan like popcorn

Happy to know the cranberries won't attack! I'll still act like a chicken and hang back, with the pot lid up as a shield

@herecomesthsun thank you for another recipe! I hadn't realised that cranberries and clementines were a popular combination. Can't wait to try! 🙂

I managed to get the last copy in WH Smith this afternoon! A beautiful book - looking forward to joining in. I enjoyed the introduction. His writing is very soothing.

I went in my local WHSmith last week and there was one copy for £26! ...suffice to say I'm still on the hunt for a copy. Might bite the bullet with Amazon.