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

@OnTheHillNotOverIt thank you! I think I might give this a go since I doubt I will ever get my hands on suet other than the infamous Atora 🤣

I have been pondering the purchase of that expensive candle just to chalk it off to experience, but I honestly think I will only smell the money burning. And then I will keep thinking that I could have added a little more and bought the big indulgence candle from the White company.

@Strawberryfield12

Loved today's chapter, very nostalgic... I was growning up in Baltics with long, cold winters. Near our house there was a pond that froze over every year for several months. Every day after school all the children from the area would be there with their skates. Boys on one end playing ice hockey, girls on the other doing figures and all sorts. Our PE in winter was skiing in the woods near the school, teachers had laid 1 and 2 km tracks for us. The woods were former grounds of estate belonging to German Baron centuries ago. He had created number of little ponds with islands there. He was deeply in love with his wife and placed on each island a stone with a letter from her name. Sometimes we strayed from the skiing tracks and went looking for those stones under the snow leaving teacher perplexed what took us so long to do the length of the track :)

My dad was into wild fishing and in winter he would go to frozen lakes, drill a hole in the ice to fish. I liked to go with him. When I got bored of fishing I would swap the boots for skates and do rounds on the lake. Towards the end of January the thickness of the ice often would reach around 1 metre. Equally, there would always be stories about some people too enthusiastic about the fishing that they would end up putting themselves in danger going on ice in March when the temperatures started to raise slowly.

I loved reading this, thank you.

Thank you for sharing, @Strawberryfield12 xxx

Thank you all for your kind words… just to keep it in balance, the long and cold winters can feel really daunting as well. And admittedly, now that most of time my winters are above zero I tend to idealise those memories.

Your childhood memories sound delightful @Strawberryfield12. Thank you for sharing. Thank you also for the tip about substituting suet for butter and grated apple. I was thinking I’d add a bit of a solid to it too with fine ground almond flour.

The braised brisket Nigel mentions is very similar to what I do with stewing steak although I add far more peeled shallots. Cook very slow and low for about 3 hours. Comes out extremely tender and very tasty.

I’m loving this on-line book club thingy-me-bob 😬🎄👏

Decided it was time to finally delurk. Thanks so much @Dillidilly for setting this thread up. I bought the book last year and loved it but didn’t read along on the date and never finished it. Really enjoying reading along and hearing everyone’s views. @Strawberryfield12 that description was beautiful.

I made the second mincemeat recipe last year and it was gorgeous. I’m veggie so usually make it with butter instead of suet but having no fat it wasn’t lacking. I make mincemeat every year and was definitely up there. I also served it with cheese boards like a chutney which was lovely. The apricot and tomato chutney further along in the book wasn’t great though.

If anyone wants to use up last years mincemeat to justify making more this mary berry recipe makes a beautiful very easy moist fruit loaf. Mincemeat is also lovely with apples in crumble or stuffed in apples and baked.

I know we’re not supposed to skip ahead but I’ve been having a version of the spelt and barley porridge every day and it’s yum. Have it cooked on my days off and an overnight oats version to bring to work.

Oh and if anyone wants a candle that isn’t cheap but not close to Nigel prices. This is so beautiful and is Christmas in a candle to me. Smells so strongly even when you walk by it you get a beautiful whiff.

Thanks everyone for the lovely thread.

Today I had the left over beans with leek as DS didn't eat his portion. Didn't have any sausages so I added garlic, mushrooms and chicken with a handful of grated cheese. Lots of parsley, salt and pepper and, oh man it was amazing! Much nicer than with the sausages and it definitely benefitted from the garlic etc.

I made the roast cabbage with cheese sauce yesterday and it was delicious! I tweaked it slightly as I didn't have any bread to fry. Instead I poured the sauce over the cabbage when it was finished roasting and then browned it quickly in a hot oven.

16 NOVEMBER
Pork and panforte

Another good use for leftover mincemeat is to substitute it for the cinnamon and sugar in a cinnamon bun recipe.

@Dillidilly my book had the Pork & Panforte listed for the 17th. I wonder if different editions have slightly varied dates.

OAN I must share my morning of rarities with you all (not connected to CC by NL);

1. Up and dressed before 8:00 (very rare unless appointments)
2. Out walking dogs with OH (very rare due to morning stiffness & pain)
3. Saw an otter 🦦 in the river. Swimming about, frolicking & diving under the water, making a little noise not unlike a dog snort, carrying a branch. I was in utter awe and it was a joyous moment. OH convinced it was a beaver 🦫.

Well done TheRealHousewife. What a lovely bonus to your early start, whether otter or beaver. I was at the gym at 7:30 so am feeling very virtuous and smug.

It is damp and misty here today. I want some frost to go along with reading Nigel!

@Claudethecat I feel very privileged to have seen such a beautiful animal in it’s natural habitat. How inspiring to read you were up, ready, out the door and in the gym by 7:30. That’ll have revved up your metabolism for the day.

@Dillidilly

16 NOVEMBER Pork and panforte

I have just realised I don't have a November 16 in my edition! It jumps from 15th (Brisket) to 17th Pork and Panforte.

Mine is a first edition.

No 16th in mine either

Maybe Nigel had a hangover that day?

Possible p as a newt, like his brandied apricots @Claudethecat* 😬

I made one of Nigel's other recipes yesterday this banana and chocolate loaf cake and oh my goodness it was great (if I can say so myself.) DD1 declared it the nicest cake ever so I thought I'd share the recipe.

No 16th in mine either. And I doubt it's a first edition as I brought it like middle of October

Ohhh that sounds right up my street. Sadly although DH loves banana loaf he doesn’t like chocolate in cake and I’m not supposed to eat loads of cake. But I might still make one next week...

Yesterday I made the orange and poppy seed cake, albeit adapted slightly because I don’t have a rectangular tin and I used chopped candied peel because we already had some. We’ve not had a slice yet but I hope it turned out well!

Mine definitely is a first edition as I've had it for 2 years+
I'll check later the dates.
He does miss some days out though. Sadly

I just made that Mary Berry mincemeat cake recipe @RoRosie It looks and smells lovely.

That was quick @TheHound86. Hope you enjoy it. Lovely buttered with a cup of tea.

16th in mine too, no idea which edition.