The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater: Read Along Thread 2

[Dillidilly]

Here's our new thread!

I'm having such problems with the site, please could someone post a link to the old thread for me?

I have had a sneak peek for 15 January and the recipe looks really interesting.

I do love a bit of marmalade especially like the look of the orange and pomegranate one.

Can't believe I have to wait 5 days till the next instalment

I've really loved this book. Has anyone got any suggestions for a spring/summer version???

Thank you sueelleker & ExtremelyDetermined for the instant pot idea for yoghurt

@StormyCornishSeas not exactly but Nigel's new book, A Cook's Book is written with plenty of chat in between the recipes, I bought it with some Christmas money and hope to keep it on the kitchen table to dip in and out of in the same way.

Still reading along and enjoying this thread. I had lost my reading and mojo and have found this slow reading a great way to get back into it. Have been following the War and Peace readathon thread and really enjoying reading that too since 1st January, after loving this one so much. These threads really are amazing. Thank you to all!
Yesterday I was inspired by Nigel's recipe for leek and potato soup with mackerel. I had already made a pot of root vegetable soup, so thought I would add some peppered smoked mackerel that was already in fridge. OMG it is a life changing combination!! Honestly! I had it for lunch again today and probably will have it tomorrow too. Highly recommend!

Hello all.
Hope you are all well. I'm still here though back in Plague Central (school) where we've gone from 1 case between Sept-Dec to at least 8 in every class so it's all a bit chaotic and un-Nigelly.
Decs only came down on Saturday and Sunday and I'm still in denial so my Christmas tablecloth (wipe clean but from Museum Collection and from an old winter print ) is still on.

Rotten weather and sinus headache so soup on the cards I think for me today.

I have Nigel's new book but haven't really started it yet, but Kitchen Diaries I and II follow the same format as CC so I'm going to continue dipping in and out of both of them this year to get my Nigel zen fix. (I picked both up for about £3 each from World of Books and they are huuuuge.

Thanks for the book suggestions 😊

I've had a positive PCR today and feel quite rough, so I'm going to be a bit slow with posting about the last few days.
Apologies x

Hope you feel better soon Dillidilly

Hope you feel better @Dillidilly. Wanted to pop on and say thank you to you and the Chroniclers for such a lovely thread - I'm well overdue a name change but I'll be back next year!

Thank you @ChessieFL and @GoGoGretaDoll!

I was starting to have some worrying issues but I've been feeling better since I had IV antiviral meds on Thursday (I'm CEV, and very thankful that I'm eligible for this new treatment). But still positive on day 5, very tired and still coughing, so no back to work for me yet, I don't think!

I need to read the 17 and 18 January this afternoon. I did enjoy the Marmalade day

@Dillidilly I hope you are keeping well.
Thanks again for a lovely thread.
Yes, a spring summer version would be nice if you could find something. 😊

I also have Nigel's new book, but can hardly bear to say goodbye to this one. I've loved reading along with you all. Candlemas on Wednesday (or le Chandeleur as they call it here in France where it seems to be an excuse to eat lots of pancakes!) I still have some lights twinkling here and will definitely keep them up until then. It's the only way to get through dreary January.

@Dillidilly hope you are feeling better now.

I have just finished the last few chapters. It has been a hectic month but I woke to a beautiful frosty sunny day today and no rush to go out so. I have snuggled up with a cuppa (PG Tips, probably not Nigel's choice), a cat, a blanket and the book on a sunny sofa and read to the end (starting with the marmalade chapter).

I hate marmalade but DH makes it every year and did his last weekend. Yes to the layer of stickiness everywhere!

I have had the book since it was published, so this was my 3rd or 4th winter with it but this is the first time I have actually finished it, it's been a lovely journey and now it feels right to put it back on the shelf and look forward to Spring. Thanks to you all for sharing on the threads.

2 FEBRUARY
Candlemas, Japan and the best present of all

Well, these are the last few pages of The Christmas Chronicles.
I failed to make any of the recipes, but my daughter and I did make fresh wreaths on Nigel's wreath day, and we were also inspired by his recipes to make a panatonne bread and butter pudding in the few days after Christmas.
I have loved taking a quiet few moments to read each day's entry (sometimes with a sadly down market candle), and have savoured his prose and photography.

Thank you to everyone who has joined in the Read Along x

This last Japanese entry is beautiful.

I have read along since Christmas when I got my copy, and am looking forward to reading it in full starting October 2022!

Thank you @Dillidilly for organising the thread and everyone else for the company. This was my first Nigel’s book, it was nice, I tries several recipes, some were lovely, others ok. In terms of food I’m sticking with Ottolenghi as most favourite but in terms of writing, Nigel smashed it.

@sueelleker

This last Japanese entry is beautiful.

Yes, and I thought the recipe for the ice sounded so delicate and delicious

I haven't read the whole book but I've dipped into ranas it would take up too much space dom episodes .
Love the one where he describes how the air tastes when there's sifted icing sugar in the kitchen.
How he comes in from the garden freezing and starts to cook (my fingers wouldn't be able to handle any kitchen equipment in the cold)
I've made some soups , resisted a Soup Maker . I like to slow cook my soups after roasting the vegetables and I don't think 20-25 minutes would be enough TBH .

I did disagree with his theory about not putting mixed nuts onto the top of a cake , looks like you've just emptied the remains of the nutbowl. They all have different tastes and textures . I love the bitterness of walnuts and the fattiness of brazils . Almonds , macadamias are smooth . Pecans are bolder

So mixed nuts here Nigel

Hi 😊late to the party but I've been listening to the Christmas chronicles on audible. Such a lovely listen when on my dog walks. Nigel has such a lovely voice. I'm currently watching Amazon waiting for the actual book to drop in price now.