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

May I join in please? This is such a lovely thread.

Of course @SarahAndQuack!

@ExcessiveIyDisorganised

I just can't bring myself to use Coke as a cooking ingredient, I imagine the ham turning out sweet which I would not like (I'm not keen on sweet/savoury combinations generally but especially with meat).

Me neither but somehow it works - I think it's because the ham is so salty anyway.

I am finally all caught up to today's entry & have bookmarked a couple of the sweet recipes to try - the marmalade pears with vanilla ice cream, and the dried fig & marsala tart. I like the idea of making my own mincemeat too, but I think spends would get a bit silly for my piddly budget atm.

I particularly enjoyed the entry about selecting the Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square. I had no idea a Christmas tree was so carefully planned! And it made me smile that even Nigel Slater has a Christmas list...it's such a normal thing to do & I don't think we think of celebrity types as 'normal' most of the time.

The photography's beautiful too. So uncluttered but full of impact.

Me and my inflamed gallbladder are lying in bed wondering if another water biscuit might do the trick so am very behind!

I did spend a while searching for lining paste on Amazon though, thinking, oooh I'll get a tube of that and wondering why I was being taken to a book page. D'oh.

I've always wanted to do a ham, but never have because I don't know what to ask for here. What, essentially, is one. Before it becomes one I mean? It's not pork. But it's not ham. What's the in-between bit? (For context I can get streaky bacon here, and pork. And pancetta. And belly pork. Which is not pancetta.

@Geamhradh a ham starts off as a piece of gammon (smoked or unsmoked).

Sorry, I should have explained it is pork

Is gammon just pork though?
If I got a joint of pork could I turn it into a ham?

Curse the lack of an edit button!

Gammon is a piece of the back leg of a pig. The cooking process turns it into a ham.

@Geamhradh

Is gammon just pork though? If I got a joint of pork could I turn it into a ham?

No, because a piece of gammon has already been brined and or smoked. Whereas a joint of pork is just the plain meat.

This is my slightly hazy grasp of the complexities...

I love the idea of making your own gammon. I ordered mine yesterday and my butcher says people don't buy smoked gammon any more. I now have a Christmas order for enough smoked gammon to feed 10 people.

The dried fig and marsala tart sounds lovely. Has anyone made it?

I've just been googling.
I think I'll give it a go! (The homemade ham) I shall feel all Laura Ingalls and Nigel would forgive me for my injudicious paxo and Yankee candle fetish.

As a veggie, I'm skipping today 🙈

Just found this thread.
I’m in France but will try to get a hardback copy.
My mil always cooked ham on Christmas Eve and dh and his family ate it for Christmas breakfast with tomato chutney.
We have carried on the tradition and adult ds too.

Welcome @Capferret!

Thank you

Turkey balls were really nice! I'd double the amount of sauce next time though

Hello fellow Christmas Chroniclers. I never managed to buy the book, but am listening on Audible. And I managed to bag this beauty for £2 in a charity shop today

Can I join in please? My book arrived and I caught up yesterday, trying to get myself feeling festive!

I am v behind with reading, cooking and general Christmas faffing. Just wondering, those of you who bought laurel bay oil, how does it smell?

I got what I thought was a bargain but it smells very deep and spicy, not what I was expecting. It's not unpleasant, but maybe not a million miles away from those red candles that Nigel is so rude about. Just wondering if it was a false economy!

I’ve got Laurel Bay and that’s exactly what I’d say too, deep and spicy. I really like it.

I think it’s a more pure aroma than many candle/plug in/diffuser fragrances (unless you spend a fair bit on good qualitŷ) which I guess is what nigel was referring to.

Thanks @HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule. The seller gets very good reviews so I'm hoping I haven't bought rubbish. I guess I was imagining something clean and Nordic-forest smelling! I do like the smell of the oil I have, but think it's one to use sparingly.

Come on in @Savemesome!

Oh yes you certainly don’t need a lot! I expect my little bottle will last at least 3 years or maybe even more as when December rolls round I’ll switch to the Frankincense and myrrh essential oil mix, and then the week of Christmas I’ll switch again to Mandarin, cinnamon and clove.

I did finally do a little bit of poncing yesterday. Apricot brandy à la Nigel (although I had to adapt it as I forgot to buy the sweet wine again 🙄 so I substituted a lesser quantity of cream sherry), and also cranberry gin.

We made up the mix for our mince meat today and will leave it to sit overnight and cook it tomorrow. Can’t wait for the house to smell beautifully Christmassy!😊