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!

Gnudi are basically the filling of tortelloni. Gnudi means "nudes" so they are little naked tortelloni without their pasta clothes!

7 NOVEMBER
A trip to the forest, and those gnudi

Love the mental image of the gnudi without their pasta clothes!

I'm not even a fan of gnocchi, so will give the gnudi a miss...but I love Nigels description of Norway in today's chapter

I agree Dilly, this is such an evocative chapter. I love Christmas trees, but the idea of a tree being grown carefully for 70 years then chipped after only a few weeks on display is somehow very sad.

I can totally relate to this. Just seeing it there, looking pretty, makes me smile

Thanks for explaining. I love that. Nude tortelloni.

I think of it as a long and happy life for that tree. It has done its job of helping the ecosystem around it and again, it’s chippings will also help that ecosystem. 🎄

*its. I wish this thing would stop trying to ‘correct’ my spelling and grammar. [Fangry]

Trying again...

Settling in my NN (Nigel nest/nook) to catch up!

I've made the pickled quinces, photo to follow. For those who are interested, quinces spoil without warning. There were several that only had a small mark on the outside but were brown throughout, inside.

The left over spiced, sugared vinegar is delicious. I'll give it a go as a salad dressing, or possibly even a cordial.

Me too!!

Yes, the book is beautiful in its own right and looking at it on the table also makes me very happy.

My NN here has a Sainsburys amber and patchouli candle, some conkers and pine cones and a dish of some slightly fragrant fruit from a low bush in the garden.

Wannabe quince here 😉

I watch Nigel on the tv and live his kitchen and garden and sometimes wail, “Look at Nigel’s jars/bowls/mugs!”
DH says, “Go easy. You don’t have Nigel Time.”

‘Tis true. My Blummin old whippet has pulled 2 Denby dishes onto the quarry tile floor this week and smashed them after my Blummin teen left them in dog’s reach instead of, you know, actually using dishwasher.

That's beautiful Hannah! What fruit is that?

I love the pots and crocks, but storing them while not in use is the issue.

Our living room is very cosy - dark walls, warm colours, wool rug, comfy blankets, lots of candles. I love it as it’s very hyggelig, perfect for this time of year. My official Reading Station is on the sofa, with drink (cold or hot, alcohol or not!) at hand and one or more candles burning. Today I will dig out the bay oil as well for that lovely fragrance.

But I also read in bed in the morning before I get up (which feels very luxurious), or in the evening before I go to sleep.

Last night after making the braised red cabbage I had a little look through my Scandinavian Christmas book. ❤️ Also a quick read of the relevant page of the Kitchen Diaries.

Loving all the NigelNest/Nook pictures!

I absolutely adore all of Nigel's china, linen and cutlery @HannahDefoesTrenchcoattoo...makes me want to get rid of nearly everything and start again lol

I am on a mission to make our lounge look a bit more hyggelig! The walls are white and we don't currently have any curtains which doesn't help...

Pickle I’m not sure what the fruit is?

I've cut one open in case anyone knows?

Whatever they are, they look VN to me!

The inside looks like nespole (in Italian) which I think are medlars in English but the outside looks different! Where did you get them?

They don't look like our medlars

How exciting! A mysterious fruit.

It's coming up as quince, on Google lens. Is the scent reminiscent of honey? Flowery, fruity honey?

Just popped out in rain to get picture of the annoying bush they are from.
mots even more straggly this time of year so no sure it’s a help?