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

I had to restrain myself from making chutney this year as no one except me eats it and there's only so much. I've still got half a dozen jars left from last year.

6 NOVEMBER
Making gnudi

@VikingNorthUtsire, I'm in Puglia. the fried bread is lovely, just not quite what you're expecting when you're bloody starving!
I'm reading a day behind, (DD flu/vomiting all day yesterday not the most relaxing moment for Nigel to get involved)
I'm going to do the sausages on Monday. They actually look like the sausages we get here.
Grumpy old woman alert:
I agree with him on bonfires. I like witchy things and seasons, weather and old rites. I don't like children chucking flour on people's cars and teenagers looking like Kiss groupies getting pissed in graveyards. Halloween was awful here- a car went into a bar a car coming back from a nightclub smashed through the petrol station we live behind, wrecking 2 parked cars and pulling the hedge down and there was a bit and run. Thankfully nobody badly injured, and the fault of drink rather than Halloween itself, but people do seem to have gone proper mad. Bonfire Night always terrified me as a child, even sparklers. Now fireworks seem ubiquitous, here every birthday party finishes with God knows how many. I worry about all the scared animals.I also find an overt celebration of someone's victory over someone else distasteful.

That said, I did go with DD to the NYE fireworks on the Thames three years ago and it was bloody amazing, so am also hypocrite

Anyway, Nigel would SO not approve of my bonfire inspired candle, it's one of Yankee's new ones for this winter and it's bloody lovely. It's a red, fruity one BUT with the woodsmoke. Holiday Hearth. Love it.

Despite being a vegetarian who doesn't drink I'm enjoying reading the book so far (I just skim over the bits about dead animals).
It's funny because special treats in our house are things like Dairy milk and Quavers. We live in the south if France and have access to beautiful fresh local produce all year round, but bog standard British rubbish is a rare luxury that I have to order online, it costs a fortune 😅. This year the DC have asked for Cadbury's cream eggs and Angel delight.

I can’t cook anything as I’ve accidentally had a recipe box delivered yesterday and did order one for today. So that’s two which means I have to cook all that first. And I felt bad in town yesterday as it meant I wasn’t buying local.

The plan was the other adults and nearly adult I live with would cook more but it is still me watching that the ingredients go out of date so still mental load.

Sorry not very cosy but I’ll cancel blumming boxes (only ordered so that other people could get a discount) and make apricot brandy.

I’m going to put fruit to soak for creole cake (gluten free) but will go freestyle with making a Nigel Christmas pudding gluten free I think.

@Geamhradh I have inlaws in Italy (Rome). We've never been to them for Christmas but they do eat late. Dinner tends to start at 9, and end somewhere around midnight with an expresso, just what you want before bed, lol.

Thanks for all the sterilising tips, I think I'll do the oven one.

Sausages are on the meal plan for next week. The pears look lovely but would definitely burn in my house due to child interference at the crucial moment.

LaChatte I am also a vegetarian and I am not drinking at the moment as I am recovering from pancreatitis, so you are not the only one.

I just really love Christmas. I am going to have a go at making gundi this afternoon with some help from 3 year olds so they may turn out a bit wonky.

@verymiddleaged

I made the apricot brandy last year and still have the apricots in my fridge. They seem to still be fine but maybe I should eat them and not make anymore.

I like making some of this stuff more than actually eating it. ( I did drink some of the brandy)

If the apricots are ok you could dip them in dark chocolate.

@LaChatte

Despite being a vegetarian who doesn't drink I'm enjoying reading the book so far (I just skim over the bits about dead animals). It's funny because special treats in our house are things like Dairy milk and Quavers. We live in the south if France and have access to beautiful fresh local produce all year round, but bog standard British rubbish is a rare luxury that I have to order online, it costs a fortune 😅. This year the DC have asked for Cadbury's cream eggs and Angel delight.

Same here. My BCS order, apart from "ingredients" hard to find here, and M&S posher goodies, was heavily Cadbury influenced. I've even been known to order things like Imperial Leather and Radox just because they smell of Home.

That's me btw with my Coronavirus topic name. Sssssssh.

Hey all 🎄🎄🎄

@Geamhradh have you ordered the book yet? 😄😄

I love a book and really have to work hard to resist buying them all. I went out the other day and decided on a whim to go into one of the charity shops (I sometimes get a sense that there’s something there for me...) and found - thank you to the universe! - a Japanese tea set for my DH’s birthday which I’d just been thinking about and stressing over the day before, and also a copy of Nigella Christmas for me (I saw your comment on the Poncing thread but don’t think I replied - yes I’ll be wanting all the things...including a bundt pan! Although I’m probably going to get the tin shaped like a wreath. But it’ll have to wait til next year I think. I was looking at those on eBay just the other day. I’m glad you decided to treat yourself to the pine forest tin, btw, and I’m sorry about your mum 💐)

Anyway, since I’ve already been lucky enough to get a new (to me) Christmas book this year I’ll probably have to wait til next year to get another one. Advent is definitely top of my list.

I’m going to make the stuffing balls and the sausage dish sometime in the next couple of weeks. I will skip the gnudi as I’m not that keen on ricotta (I adore most cheeses but that’s one I don’t really like).

@Geamhradh I was disappointed to read about your Christmas Eve in Italy. I had assumed there would be an Italian nonna cooking up a gargantuan feast.

Thanks for the oven sterilising instructions for the jars @Strawberryfield12

I'm doing a big kitchen press clear out today and when that's finished, I'll make the apricot brandy. Then watch 'Strictly' by the fire. I don't think Nigel would be a Strictly fan .

Tomorrow we're making gingerbread men (or possibly angels) - we've lots of different cookie cutters.

It's wet and windy here so a perfect weekend for staying indoors and making Christmas treats.

Excellent idea @sueelleker
The apricots are fine, having enough brandy still to preserve them and being chilled.
I probably shouldn't eat too many before driving.

@ExcessiveIyDisorganised I’m going to make chilli jam this year. I will give one very small jar to each of the in-laws (my family are far away) and we will probably be left with a vat-full to eat ourselves. I don’t expect I’ll need to make any next Christmas!😄

Oh late to the thread but may I join?

Loving the book, I bought it for a couple of friends too so we're having a lovely winter WhatsApp read along.

I've made the apricot brandy (like everyone else) and my DF made the sausages, she said the mush needed seasoning. I'm actually away this weekend so missing my chapter but thanks for the nod about getting it on kindle unlimited.

Jacket spuds, sausages and homemade apple crumble here today for our late guy fawkes night
I loathe pears (texture like wet sand) so didn't attempt the hot pear dessert
Off to read today's entry now...

@GoGoGretaDoll Welcome🎄

Afraid I'm jumping ahead today to make the Christmas cake. I feel if I do it when suggested it doesn't leave much time for feeding it. Used my GCSE maths for first time in yonks as the recipe suggests a round tin and I only have a selection of square tins

I sort of agree about fireworks. I absolutely love them, they're one of my favourite things but I do know they distress many people's pets. Personally I think they should ban fireworks for use at home and only allow them at proper displays so pet owners know when they'll be happening rather than Bob next door randomly letting some off at 10pm. I do wonder how many injuries A&E sees each year from home fireworks.

Anyway, the gnudi sound great and simple to do so I'll definitely try them out. I have semolina but would need to pop to a shop for the other ingredients.

Lovely thread 😊 I bought the book and have been listening to the podcast today, feeling very Christmassy already.

I'm determined to do as much in advance as I can this year.

Does anyone know if the gnudi are freezable??

@Hunnybadger1

Did anyone make Nigel’s sausage recipe? I did and they were delicious with the leek and bean base

I am going to make that this week as it sounded so good!! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

We are making a recipe from the butter biscuits chapter in advent tomorrow. Orange flavoured Christmas tree biscuits with orange icing.

I was going to make the pear but then I read the thread. Thanks for saving us from the disaster. There are too much children interferences here for me to consider cooking something so fickle.

For the stuffing, has anyone made it? Do you use lardo or a substitute?

DH is semi vegetarian so the gnudi sounds like something I should try. I agree with Nigel that my heart sinks when I see a recipe that takes too days. I will have a think whether I am going to make this.

I have the mincemeat cheesecake from the kitchen diaries 2 in the oven at the moment. The mincemeat is from the Christmas chronicles and I was it two weeks ago. Looking forward to it very much.

I will need to look up a gingerbread cookie recipe too. I have always meant to bake gingerbread men with the children.

Good evening chroniclers . Well I haven’t tackled gnudi but I have made the leek and sausage recipe for dinner tonight. Was lovely, nice and buttery.

Having said I'd do the sausages next week I dug about in the freezer and made a spontaneous version tonight. Do not keen on beans so I used puy lentils instead. Very different from what I usually make, but I'm glad I tried it.