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?

Thanks for the welcomes

DD (12) is in a junior strings orchestra, and we have her Christmas concert next Sunday, plus her school are doing a production of A Christmas Carol the week after. So excited that they are able to go ahead this year!

I played a Spotify list of Christmas classical music while I stirred my puds yesterday, most festive.

Morning! Love reading all your gentle, festive news.

I managed some leaf raking yesterday, and got the last of the bulbs in. I often don't manage, and they just rot sadly in the bag until I throw them away, so very pleased.

Also, I put last years leaf mulch on the beds. I'm feeling smug, which is a nice change from my usual feeling of everything being slightly out of control.

I really enjoyed the Christmas market chapter. I've only ever been to the one in Hyde Park, which was dreadful. The closest I've come, apart from that, is the excellent MN thread last year, giving instructions on how to recreate an authentic Christmas market in your back garden

I went to Winchester Christmas market on Saturday. Probably a bit too much knitting and stained glass for Nigel but I love it and go every year. It's next to the cathedral, perfect setting.

@GoGoGretaDoll - will have to look out for soft festive lights and the smell of Nigel-type dinners and see if I can identify you1

I had to leave for work at 6.50am this morning. The timing was a killer but it was a spectacular wintery morning. That gorgeous deep purpley-blue sky just before sunrise with bare trees silhouetted and the tiniest amount of frosty sparkle on the ground. There was one other person at the bustop who started moaning about the cold immediately so I did my best chirpy response of "yes, it's beautiful isn't it?" to her utter bemusement.

I'm currently a day behind Nigel, so have just read all about the Cologne Christmas Markets, which sound just magical; it takes me back to the time we were in Munich (still got the gorgeous Gluhwein cups ready for mulled action), and the year I was working in Frankfurt for a few months over the winter. How I could devour some Käsespätzle now! Or just a Bratwurst (three times as long as the bun it comes in) with Sauerkraut and mustard...

No hope this year for us, except for the ones in London. But London was HEAVING on Saturday; I've never seen the place like it. You couldn't move in Covent Garden and the queues for every single restaurant were an hour long. We were there for a very civilised chandelier-lit chamber concert, fortunately with much more calm and breathing space than the street outside!

Pleased with myself from yesterday afternoon; after my sundown sofa indulgence I managed to get loads of housework done, a very garlicky chicken roasted and the whole family together to stir the christmas pud bowl (basically Nigella recipe - will do Nigel's next year I think). We all made a wish and DC2 (5yo) is very upset that she has to keep hers secret.

Steaming the pud today. Should I do one big one or two smaller ones?

Ooh, PS I managed to score a lovely looking Pannetone from our local Italian coffee-shop / deli this morning. Reassuringly - but not ruinously - expensive at £15. I'm tempted to get a £3 Aldi one as well, to see if I've been fleeced - at least I'll know for next time.

There is no English writing on it anywhere, so for all I know it could have been made with live frogs, but it's beautifully wrapped in burgundy and tied with gold ribbon and looks the part! The maker's address is a small village just north of Venice, between Vicenza and Treviso. Promising.

@footchewer

I'm currently a day behind Nigel, so have just read all about the Cologne Christmas Markets, which sound just magical; it takes me back to the time we were in Munich (still got the gorgeous Gluhwein cups ready for mulled action), and the year I was working in Frankfurt for a few months over the winter. How I could devour some Käsespätzle now! Or just a Bratwurst (three times as long as the bun it comes in) with Sauerkraut and mustard...

No hope this year for us, except for the ones in London. But London was HEAVING on Saturday; I've never seen the place like it. You couldn't move in Covent Garden and the queues for every single restaurant were an hour long. We were there for a very civilised chandelier-lit chamber concert, fortunately with much more calm and breathing space than the street outside!

Pleased with myself from yesterday afternoon; after my sundown sofa indulgence I managed to get loads of housework done, a very garlicky chicken roasted and the whole family together to stir the christmas pud bowl (basically Nigella recipe - will do Nigel's next year I think). We all made a wish and DC2 (5yo) is very upset that she has to keep hers secret.

Steaming the pud today. Should I do one big one or two smaller ones?

Next time, she could try my dd's method of wishing out loud for what she doesn't want. Eg, this year it was "I wish that won't get a REAL HORSE for Christmas". She thinks she is very cunning.

I think it's a risky strategy, at best.

@MilesJuppIsMyBitch fantastic!

@TheRealHousewife and @lucysmam thank you, it turned out really well - even though I had to go off-piste a little because the parsnip was completely cooked down and smushy so I decided to whizz up the gravy to incorporate all the veg barring a few carrots and some shallot. Quickly steamed some sprouts with garlic to add some colour to the plate. It tasted beautiful but the photo I took isn’t very inspiring...

I’m settling down now to catch up, didn’t get a chance to read the fairies and Flammkuchen chapter yesterday.

Will come back and read the comments when I’m throughly in the Christmas market mood!

I'm thoroughly enjoying it, but I've had to jump ahead as we're hardly at home in December and we have bookings for some of those.

Oh my goodness @HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule that looks so so tasty and you've served it with my most favourite vegetable, Brussel sprouts. If I was Paul Hollywood id shake your hand 😁👍👌

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule snap ... this was me last night but forgot to attach to my post :) Great minds ...

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule that brisket does look lovely - how long did it cook for in the end?

I have picked up panettone from Tesco today. Nice enough, for me more like nice breakfast sweet bread than Christmas treat. I haven’t tried other makes, so can’t compare. I am planning to be near Fortnums on Wednesday, the dilemma is whether to shell out £40 and give it a go their triple chocolate one or not…

I am 2 days behind on Nigel, the life should get less hectic after tomorrow so I can properly enjoy the book.

It is just a sweet bread, really. If you’re not all that impressed with the one you tried I wouldn’t shell out £40 on another one - it won’t be that different, it’ll just be chocolatey...

@footchewer it took 4.5 hours for 1kg.

Thanks, good to know.

There was one other person at the bustop who started moaning about the cold immediately so I did my best chirpy response of "yes, it's beautiful isn't it?" to her utter bemusement.

I love this! It was a frosty morning here too and DD1 and I were talking about the cold air stinging our noses when we took a big inhale. I said to her it makes me feel alive and she just stared at me....she is only 4 though .

I made the cauliflower soup tonight. I didn't have leeks so ended up using spring onions instead but I can report that it was delicious. Definitely one I will make again.

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule that looks delicious! Hope you had a really cold day to match with the perfect winter food.
@MilesJuppIsMyBitch your daughter is a genius
@footchewer I got panettone from the local Italian cafe last year which was great, let me know how the Aldi comparison goes

[quote TheRealHousewife]@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule snap ... this was me last night but forgot to attach to my post :) Great minds ...[/quote]
What's the book under Advent?
Do I need it?

@TheRealHousewife just read your compliment...thank you!

Love your EB mug and candleholder!😍😍

@FireworkParrotyour soup looks very tasty 😋

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule You’re very welcome & TY too 🙏😊

@Geamhradh the book is Christmas with Good Housekeeping. Full of excellent recipes 👍

I’ve really enjoyed tonight’s reading around The 3 Wise Men/3 Kings. I didn’t know their names before tonight. I’m out of vogue as my Christmas trimming are generally red/gold rather than Nigel's silver, gold & white theme. I’d love to own a tear of frankincense. I’ve heard of ‘pocket meat’ (Bob Mortimer) but never pocket frankincense. Then again Nigel, is coolly posh 😬

I've fallen a bit behind but I'll catch up over the next few days. Just popping in to say that I collected my Advent book earlier.

I want to go to Cologne

It was nice not it to be good oriented today. But that might be because I'm a bit off my food right now so don't fancy reading about it

Anyone else got We Three Kings going around in a loop in their head