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

All the ham talk is making me feel hungry but sadly I've cut right back on eating meat to once a week or so and I'm not eating pork at all. Christmas is going to be tough on me this year as I always make a ham usually! I always boiled a smoked ham in ginger beer then use brown sugar and English mustard to glaze, my SIL does Nigella's coke recipe which also always tasted great so I think it's just down to individual preference.

Hi @Dillidilly & Everyone

I hope you don’t mind me joining you all. I’m very happy to read along and compare notes. I got out all my Festive Cookbooks at the beginning of October as I really enjoying looking through them all and picking out some special recipes.

I agree that NS Christmas Chronicles is a most beautiful and tactile book full of luscious recipes, foodie photographs and beguiling stories. Simply a beautiful book.

This thread has made me ridiculously happy 😊 I’m pleased I’ve found my tribe 🙋‍♀️

Always room for one more @TheRealHousewife!

13 NOVEMBER
Maple syrup and fig terrine

I've always quite fancied having a go at this one. Anyone else?

@SarahAndQuack I tried the fig tart a couple of years ago. Flavours were great, but I messed up the caramel and it ended up quite crunchy. Still, if you're better at caramel than me I think it would be good!

Thank you @Dillidilly 😊 I’m quickly trying to catch up. I’ve read intro unto pg16 and have read November 13th. I’m cooking the Cauliflower & Leek Soup today. I’m really looking forward to it!

Absolutely great thread, best of the year imho 👍👏😊

@MarisPiper92 I’m considering doing a version of the Fig maple syrup ice cream in the coming weeks. My ice cream maker is a Kitchen Aid churner so it makes a double cream based ice cream.

That sounds great, can't go wrong with double cream - let us know how it goes! My ice cream machine is at my dad's house (why?), so I'd have to do it by hand. I made a really nice gooseberry ice cream by hand in summer, but it's undoubtedly more hit-and-miss.

Oooh, I want to try the cauliflower and leek soup with toasted cheese! 😋

Made the orange and poppy seed loaf cake

No idea what it's supposed to look like but here's mine

Oh how lovely! I’m going to make that cake too but I’ve decided to make it in the bundt tin so I’ve no idea if it’ll actually work...

The orange and lemon rind caught so I'd put them on afterwards with the syrup if I did it again

That looks great @Opal8! How did it taste?

It's still warm so I'll cut a slice later and let you know:)

The cauliflower soup is delicious, I've made it before, though not yet this year.

Have caught up with week’s worth of reading, been quite a week! My current employer put me on a big project week ago, while I was interviewing for a new job… anyway…. I accepted a job offer on Friday!
Just waiting to receive paperwork to hand in my notice, by Christmas I will be in a new job.

I have made lots of cooking plans for tomorrow: ham, gnudi, probably something else. Like the sound of cauliflower and leek soup!

In our house it’s became a tradition that I buy Good Housekeeping Christmas and make their Christmas cake recipe. This year it’s earl grey and gin, baked it during half term, dough tasted amazing. 😄

This morning getting ready to go to allotment instead of my usual dried fruits and nuts for snack I fished out some boozy apricots and figs.I have to say they kept me warm and merry for a while!

The orange and poppy seed cake looks delicious. We have made toddler friendly chocolate cupcakes with lots of icing in. Not very Nigel but they are delicious.

You can't beat a chocolate cupcake!

I have made gnudi, in the fridge for tomorrow

I made the cauliflower soup for lunches last week - very delicious and creamy despite not having cream in it. I couldn’t get hold of the membrillo paste in time for the baked ham, so ended up just doing a maple syrup glaze instead which was fine.

Phew … that’s the thread caught up with. Some very nice plates of food being posted.

I saw mentioned Tree Biscuits/Angels. Each year I make Angel 👼 biscuits for the tree in memory of our beloved late family ❤️ . Will be making some in the coming weeks.

I totally agree with Nigel when he says greeting guests into your home by saying ‘Come in’ are 2 of the loviest words you’ll ever hear or say. I think we have all missed saying or hearing that phrase over the last 2 years.

Now I need to try to catch up with the book.

I'm definitely putting the cauliflower and leek soup on the meal plan, it sounds great so it's good to hear others have enjoyed it when they've made it. I have dinner sorted for tomorrow and Monday so I'll try it mid week and let you know!

Keen to hear how the cake was @Opal8!

14 NOVEMBER
Candlelight and roast cabbage

Congratulations on the new job @Strawberryfield12!

We will try roast cabbage at some point, as we keep getting it in the veg box

Thought I'd join Nigel today with a bit of early morning candlelight don't tell him its a cheapo Sainsburys tealight. We don't use candles much because of climbing cats, but there is something special about them.