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!

Yes
Lovely people, family run :)

I’ve just read today’s pages, curled up under my red blanket, cosy, while the rain lashes on the window.

Nigel’s lovely descriptive writing has me almost smelling those beautiful liqueurs! I love figs, and those soused and plumped ones look so tasty. I can’t take much alcohol so most of these creations aren’t ones I’d make, but I’d happily use up anyone’s leftover boozy fruit. The photography in this book is gorgeous - all jewel colours and deliciousness.

@NiqueNique Thank you for the suggestion - I'll look out for it

@123ZYX I've not got the first two Kitchen Diaries books but I imagine they follow the year from start to finish as well so any of the volumes would do nicely, I should think.

@TwoRockSalmonAndAHaporthOfChips I’m sure you could easily adapt the recipes to basically just steep the fruit in the alcohol and aromatics rather than making the quantities needed for drinks - that way you could have the fruit and not too much of the alcohol. I agree the photography is absolutely beautiful.

Me, too @Frostine . DP says I can live with Nigel as long as I bring back left overs... Nigel is my inappropriate celebrity crush.

That’s an excellent idea, thanks, @NiqueNique - I’ve actually got a bag of dried figs which don’t have a use right now so I will raid the drinks cupboard and see what I can come up with for steeping. Then share on the Poncetastic thread!

Good morning!

Im already in catch up mode, as I worked so late yesterday I didn’t get time to read the first chapter.
So that’s what I’ll do this morning. I have the day off and will be heading out to do my food shop so a perfect time to look over the recipes and get what I need.

I made the apricot brandy last year and definitely found it too strong with the star anise.... I note that I've crossed out the 4 star anise and written 2 in the book last year so I clearly thought the quantity needed halving!

It didn't go to waste though as I used the last of it to soak the fruit for the Christmas cake back in September and I think it'll work perfectly there. I used some to feed last year's Christmas cake too!

My favourite part is Nigel describing the plump alcohol soaked fruits being "pissed as newts." I did take his advice and used the soaked apricots on greek yoghurt with toasted flaked almonds last year and they were very nice.

Oooh yes the fruits in Greek yogurt do sound gorgeous. I usually have Greek yog for breakfast and can imagine drifting into my work day slightly sozzled though! Would have to re train myself to have as a pud instead.

Very happy to hear I’m not the only one at NVN level in some aspects. I’m aiming onward and upward! Perhaps just having VN thoughts balances it out a bit?

I have quinces, Sadie, so feel I can cut myself some slack!

It's all about upgrading. Those of us who don't have any candles can get a budget one. Those of us with candles can actually, you know, light them! And those of us on a middle brand can upgrade to a premium one

Yay Pickle!

What do you all use for making the drinks with fruit soaking in them? I'm imagining apricots getting wedged in the necks of bottles and not being able to pour anything out. But making it in a jar doesn't sound very nice.
Any suggestions?
I'd really like to make the apple brandy recipe but only have mini lunchbox cartons of apple juice in the house. Again that kind of spoils the illusion of glamour if I'm squeezing juice out of tiny cartons. I might need to wait till next time I've been shopping.

They had loads of quinces (pears and apples - are they all the same in English??) but I didn't get any as the guy said they are only good for jam and I didn't fancy the faff! Sorry Nigel.

@Rae36 I was thinking of making it in a jar and decanting to a bottle later.

@Rae36 I make mine in a Kilner jar and then decant into a glass bottle later. Seems to work ok and it’s nice seeing a row of kilner jars in the cupboard- I have damson gin on the go already

I did it this way too. Made it and kept it in a kilner jar for a few weeks to steep then decanted into a glass bottle and kept the apricots in the kilner jar and then kept that in the fridge (although they're so soaked in alcohol I'm not sure you'd need to.) They kept for absolutely ages though, I didn't use them all up until about 6 months later!

I make blackberry vodka every year in a 1l kilner jar, and then just decant it into bottles when it’s ready. I’d do the same for these too.

I'm going to make the pickled quinces when my juniper berries arrive.

I'm planning on a big jar for those, decanting into smaller jars for gifts.

My preserved lemons are letting me down though. I've clearly mismatched the kids, so can't turn them upside down occasionally as I usually do. Hmm. Steps will need to be taken.

Never mismatch your kids. It’s a recipe for disaster 😁

That explains an awful lot, Rocksalmon!
If I'd only realised sooner!

I thought about trying the hot apple drink, except it started me thinking about the mulled cider we had after Carol singing as a child. I lived very rurally, not even in a village. We would gather at a local farm, a mixture of children and adults, and set off in a convoy of cars to visit all the neighbouring farms and houses. I loved going up to the houses in the dark, especially at the smaller farms where the cow sheds would be right next to the house. I remember golden light spilling out from the barn across the yard, the sound of the cattle mooing and the steam from their breath. We ended up back at our starting point where there would be a fire burning in the grate, lots of nibbles and mulled cider to drink. The mulled cider tasted wonderful; I've never been able to make one as good! I keep trying though! So, Nigel has inspired me to have another try, I'm sure it will be lovely even if it doesn't match up to my childhood memories!

I have found my people... ❤️

Pukka tea in the next Ocado order and bay laurel essential oil winging its way to me... Recommendations for the best way to use the oil please. NS says a few drops in a saucer - is that really all I need to do?

Great memories.

I'm going to gussy up my tea selection. I'm on green tea with lemon, and peppermint at the moment. Will see what I can find.

You know, you can add whole spices to anything. Stick a cinnamon stick in your coffee packet to infuse the grounds, or even stand one in your mug. Just drink around it and reuse it a lot.

I might try adding some peppercorns to my existing tea.

I've sprinkled some on a bowl of dry fir cones.