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

Yes, it makes me want to start again with everything in my kitchen lol!

I read today's chapter. I was very envious of his trip to Norway, although filming for hours in sleet didn't sound much fun.

I wonder if I've seen this TV episode before? As I was reading, it started to sound familiar.

Also, I had forgotten that the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is an annual gift from Norway. What a lovely gesture! When there's so much conflict in the world, it's nice to be reminded of the solidarity and friendship that can exist between countries. I'm so happy that the tradition is still going today.

The apricot brandy is made and DD is so keen to make the gingerbread men that she has voluntarily washed up!

I love this picture so much: the delicate curls of the pea shoots, the organic colour and shape of the pottery with its crazed glaze, the rough lace and slightly crumpled cloth ❤

@OnTheHillNotOverIt

His cupboards, crockery and utensils get me all dissatisfied with my cluttered slightly battered IKEA kitchen.

His latest book "A Cook's Book" has some gorgeous photos of his kitchen.

@sueelleker that’s on my list for a January purchase.

@Taytocrisps

Just finished the stuffing chapter. The turkey stuffing sounds nice but I'm not sure where I'd get turkey mince. I could ask my butcher - he's a craft butcher but mainly sells chicken, pork, lamb and beef. I'm just not sure he'd have turkey other than at Christmas itself. And I'd prefer to try it out in advance of the big day, in case I don't like it. I definitely wouldn't get lardo anywhere so I'd have to replace that with something else. I may have raised my eyebrows when I read, "It's not difficult to track down".

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule your book (and the buns) look lovely. I'm assuming you grew up in Sweden? Do you live in the UK now? What's a Swedish Christmas like and how does it compare with Christmas where you live now?

I have all the ingredients for the apricot brandy but (annoyingly) they'd no large Kilner jars. I tried three different shops. They had loads a few weeks ago. I guess everyone is preserving or making Christmas goodies. I'll try one more shop tomorrow and failing that, I can order some online. For those of you who have made it already, what size jar did you use?

Ocado, M & S and Sansbury's do turkey mince on a quick google (we have some in the freezer that we got on a special offer)

I made the pears and have made a discovery some may like. I didn't want to make granita, DD tried drinking the orange juice mixed with hot water and declared it delicious and like sweet Xmas orange in a mug. (basically posh hot squash )

I have prepped the gnudi. I wasn't holding out much hope earlier as I made them at lunchtime and the mixture was far too wet to shape so I ended up dolloping teaspoons of it into semolina. However, I just checked and after a few hours in the fridge they've firmed up and I've been able to roll them into balls and coat with more semolina. I shall let you know how they turn out as they're for dinner tomorrow so will have had about 30 hours in the fridge by the time I cook them.

Ooooh I want to eat gnudi with both those sauces and go to Norway!

Thanks for thinking of me @herecomesthsun. I'm in Ireland so we don't have Ocado or Sainsburys, but I'll check out M&S.

"Failure to curb your impatience will result in your precious balls dissolving in the water. And no one wants that."

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/28/nigel-slater-gnudi-broccoli-minced-lamb-butternut-recipes

I'd love to go to Norway!!!

Norway is lovely, I lived there for a year as a teenager. We used to pick the wild blueberries that grew in abundance up on the hills and they were in a different league altogether to the distinctly underwhelming things you tend to get in the shops here.

I remember watching Nigel picking the tree in Norway some years ago.

I need to sit down and actually make some lists of what to buy/do/make and when!

I went to Norway on holiday many years ago. We caught a train from Oslo to Bergen, then back into Sweden and all the way up to Narvik in the Arctic circle. I'd love to go again.

8 NOVEMBER
A seat at the pantomime

Had a bit of catching up to do today. I remember making the aubergine recipe last year - it was delicious, but I would recommend not counting the calories as I did, as the quantity of double cream is substantial.

@Taytocrisps I'm in southern england and turkey mince is very normal. If it's not in NI, maybe substitute it with another mince? I use it instead of pork or beef mince anyway! I'm sure it will just be different and it doesn't mean it's bad

@MarisPiper92 that dish is right up my street and has gone on the menu for this week. I never count calories so that doesn’t worry me!

I've never really eaten aubergines unless they are part of something, like moussaka. What are they like in a dish like this recipe @MarisPiper92?

(Another gorgeous picture)

Oh I love aubergine, so unctuous (one of Nigel’s favourite words) and with such depth of flavour. I eat it a lot when I’m low carbing and often make it the base of a meal rather than an afterthought. Really looking forward to this recipe, in fact I think I’ll make it tonight, if I can get to th shops to get some aubergine!

I love the sound of the creamy lentils @HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule

The grilled aubergine had a really nice smokiness, it was a good contrast to the creamy lentils. Nigel squeezes lemon juice on the aubergine before grilling, but I'd be tempted to add it at the end. You definitely need the lemon somewhere, as all the other elements are very savoury and heavy.

Mmmm, that sounds delicious!

I’m going to make the aubergine for dinner later. I only have brown lentils and not puy, but should be ok. I’m really not much of a cook, but I’m really trying to make the most of this book by cooking as many of the seasonal recipes as I can x

The aubergine recipe sounds delicious. Sadly DH doesn't like aubergine or mushrooms so I probably won't be making it .

I do love panto, I definitely need to look into tickets. We always used to go in January when I was a child and it really cheered up the new year.