The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater. Read Along Thread 2022

[Dillidilly]

INTRODUCTION

Nigel begins his Chronicles proper on 1st November, but there is a lovely, quite lengthy introduction we can dip into during the second half of October.

Last year, posters were also kind enough to share where they had found cut price copies of CC, so hopefully anyone late to the party still has time to find a copy before we start the first chapter.

I had forgotten the lovely introduction. Together with the beautiful photograph at the very beginning of the book, flipping through it and seeing his headings reminded me of why I loved it so much last year!

What a lovely thread! Will definitely join you, so nice to have something in christmas lead up that isnt “admin” or work related!

My copy arrived this afternoon.

Welcome, welcome to all the new posters!
Thank you so much for joining the thread x

@MadgeMarple if you find a bargain, please let us know!

I watched the thread last year and thought I'd love to join in but I'm in hot climes presently so it's daft. This year I thought sod it!
So I have my copy and started the introduction today. Makes me so nostalgic for English country lanes and the landscapes of home. It's hard to keep "proper" Christmas here sometimes but fittingly the weather is unseasonably cold today! I'm sat under my new emerald green throw listening to the rain on the verandah roof and reminding myself only two more years till I'm back in Europe for good.
I'm excited to try some recipes and feel like I'm part of a traditional Christmas through this thread.

I got my copy too late last year. It's my the bed now for cosy bedtime reading. Thank you so much for the thread.

Although I've got the book I decided to get the audible version as well this year as I have loved the podcast exerpts in the past. Listened to the intro while weeding at the allotment yesterday. Nigel's voice is so relaxing and he has such a good way with words. Can't wait to start the main book.

For those who haven't read it yet the intro is quite long, worth taking time now to read it before day 1.

My quinces have arrived! They do smell good. They have a greyish bloom, some of them, should I wash them?

I'll look up some recipes and cook them when I have finished enjoying the scent!

I've never (to my knowledge) seen, smelled or eaten a quince but they do look interesting .
What are you planning to do with them?

I wish he'd have started on Hallowe'en , I bet Nigel makes toffee apples and roasted pumpkin soup .

I bought my copy last year and open random pages for a read , not just for Christmas

I've found a recipe for quince and cranberry jelly, and Nigel's one for pickled quince.
I'm going to make those, and keep one to add to an apple crumble as an experiment.

I'm not sure what I expected, but quinces are definitely not what I expected them to be. We're off to the market tomorrow so I might have a look for them out of curiosity.

I started reading the Advent book on the bus home from Meadowhall today, on my phone. I think it would be lovely in print so have added it to my, same as every year, Christmas list along with a novelty baking book I've been dithering over spending £15 on. I'd be happy with one each for Christmas and my birthday two weeks later.

It's free on Kindle Unlimited! I'll be curling up with the Kindle app on my phone... not quite the same experience as having the book but a bit more convenient.
I've just been enjoying the intro waiting for my kids at the swimming pool. Love his writing.

I've just read that if the quince have a 'downy bloom' of them then they are not ripe yet
www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/quince-glossary

Yes, I saw that. However I think it was more to do with being stored in a carrier... I cooked one today.

Oh gosh, I've just released I've not read a proper book since at least before my eldest arrived, and she's nearly 6!
I clearly spend too much time reading on my phone as I just tried to scroll the page up! 😳
I am very much enjoying the book, but please tell me I'm not the only one struggling a bit?

You have to be in the right frame of mind- to slow down and smell the coffee. It's quite the discipline if you have been running at speed for a while. Worth the effort though- good for you!

@Fishleft I find that I have to read mindfully, if that is the right expression? I hope you continue to enjoy the book x

So is everyone ready for tomorrow's start? I'm going to reread the intro this afternoon after a session in the garden with the leaf blower!

Hi everyone 🎄🎄🎄

I definitely agree on reading this book mindfully. I approach it almost like a spa session, or meditation. I find it so soothing, calming, and that feeling of peace of mind is so wonderful. After many years of busy-ness I now appreciate every moment of peace I can find! I hope everyone here who is busy, busy, busy all the time will find some precious moments of peace along the way.

As the clocks have changed I will read the full introduction tonight (starting from the beginning even though I have already read some) and properly immerse myself in it.

I’ve looked at my pillar advent candle and sadly it’s a little too messed up to use for that purpose 😞 so I will burn it as a centrepiece instead, but yay, that means I can (probably) legitimately allow myself an advent set of candles! 🎄

I’ve just finished the introduction! My first year reading it, and it was (almost) completely peaceful. Burning a lovely autumn candle and I put the fireplace on Netflix (don’t have a real one unfortunately!). So excited to start 🎄

So on the theme of seasonal rituals... I adopted a new one. Clock change weekends are now a deep clean and feast occasion. So we do the skirting boards, clean the sofa, that kind of stuff. Then have a fabulous 'Persian' meal. It's based on a Persian spring festival I read about, but rejigged to help me get the family on board with a deep clean!

We had roast lamb and baked rice with saffron (and date and quince), roast veg and a herby salad with pomegranate seeds.

What a lovely idea!

I have a couple of questions - what, if any, scented candles are people burning this time of year? A PP mentioned lighting their Autumn candle...

Also Nigel talks about switching up his hot drinks - out with lemon in with 'buckwheat tea smelling of toast and warm rice'. Which is a really nice way to mark the seasonal shift.

Had a search and it's £££. Pukka do a Winter Warmer With orange, rooibos, ginger, and star anise. Has anyone tried it? Or any recommendations for a particularly warming winter drink/tea? Non-alcoholic and not sweet.

Try this. Basically toast the buckwheat, add water then strain after a few minutes. I'd make it strong and keep it in the fridge to add to hot water.

www.babaganosh.org/buckwheat-tea/

Have you ever made Barley water? That would be nice, served hot with a cinnamon stick.

I read the introduction today with a candle while I had the house to myself. Wish it was a bit colder outside to really get into the winter feeling. Love all of Nigel’s books and really looking forward to sharing this one with everyone

My tea lights are, I think, apple and cinnamon.