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!

I’m not very good at writing for wellbeing, I feel too self conscious even though no one’s going to read them except me. So when I do journal it tends to be fairly factual (did this, went there, nice to see so and so, maybe the odd comment about relief that a DC has passed exams or similar). Gratitudes I only manage sporadically too. And definitely no decorative stuff, I’d hate that, mine are scruffy and functional. But even so, they are a comfort object to me. I like having the current one on my desk at work even though I rarely use it there. I take it up to bed at night even if I don’t write in it.

Life has gone a bit off the rails so I am very belatedly catching up with the thread - but reading it has restored a big smile to my face; you are all fabulous and this is a very comforting place.

@picklemewalnuts glad to hear you're home - hope you're feeling better.

@lbnblbnb I saw your comment about vegetarian sides - I read this earlier and although it's about Thanksgiving I thought some of it might appeal?

@NiqueNique, fangry is now my new favourite word for when it's not appropriate to swear 😀

@ShaunaTheSheep that cakeboard has taken me right back to my 70s Yorkshire childhood! I can taste the Christmas cake with a side of Wensleydale now...

Loving all the talk of lists. I use phone and notebook, but paper is my first love. It's so nice to look back on things and have memories spring to life - also, future historians and archivists thank you!

I found keeping it simple helps. It could just be that there was some sunshine this morning, or enjoyed evening dog walk. Passing an exam etc is gratitude. The whole idea is for what you write to be helpful and not a pressure point. I know some people who only write in theirs once a week as they felt pressured when writing daily.

There is no decorative stuff for me either.

One of the best parts for me is choosing a different colour journal every year 😃

10 NOVEMBER
A sweet preserve with a savoury past

I love mince pies, but only DH and self eat them in my family, due to a mix of allergies and preference. So I've never made mincemeat, and we try to ration ourselves with the mince pies after the infamous year DH challenged himself to eat a pie a day from Dec 1 to 25!!

What today's chapter has happily reminded me about is a recipe my Scottish mother used to make: Eyemouth Tart. With a filling a little similar to mincemeat, it's a bit like a large open mince pie, with the mixing of dried fruit, etc, done when you make it. It's absolutely delicious and I'd forgotten all about it. I've found a vegan recipe (egg allergy in our house) so I'm going to see if I can recreate!

I never liked mince pies until I started to make my own mincemeat - which I didn’t do until we lived abroad and Kara became hard to find. I don’t eat nuts so it is good to tailor it to my taste. (DH loves all mince pies, the larger and deeper the better. In fact he prefers shop-bought to mine because they are braver with their ratio of filling to pastry).
Happy to have today’s reminder. Suet added to my shopping list despite Nigel’s sniffiness about it.

Kara = jars

The wind is howling outside. Makes for all the Nigel feels.

This is part of the Christmas lead-up where I inevitably start to feel quite low. After a period of prolonged stress at work a few years ago, I became quite unwell. I still haven’t fully recovered and I become overwhelmed very easily; I have to be very careful not to put too much pressure on myself. So this weekend I’m going to make my lists of possible ideas of what I’d like to do over the Christmas period, but I’ll also allow myself to do absolutely none of it, if it turns out to be too much. Even something as simple as poncing up some jars can feel like a crushing weight on my chest. For the past several years I’ve tended to buy in my poncetastic-ness instead because it’s less stressful. But this year I’m trying not to spend.

I was glad to read that Nigel doesn’t always make his own mincemeat. It gives me permission not to have to do everything from scratch.

I like mince pies but not sure I can be bothered to even make my own pastry let alone the mincemeat! I think this will be addd to my mental list of stuff I would love to try when I’m retired and have much more time.

It’s actually a doddle, as Nigel says. We make a batch every year and it’s really no hardship. It smells wonderful and the house is filled with Christmas for a few hours, which I love. So if you’d like to try it, don’t be put off just because you think it’ll be a big hassle.

(You don’t even have to make mince pies with it - you could do Nigel’s mince meat sandwich with panettone, which sounds delicious! But then you could just do a Nigel and buy the mincemeat instead, tbf)

I think for so many people now even the thought of another thing on the ‘to do’ list on top of everything else just becomes a burden, which isn’t what Christmas should be about imo. From that perspective buying in mince pies is the wiser and better choice. All the enjoyment with none of the effort!

I look at it as self-soothing and a form of slow living, so it’s worth it for me. DH and I always make it together which means it isn’t stressful for me. We make a lovely afternoon of it and I always feel happy and hyggelig.

I don’t even really like mince pies (hated dried fruit as a child and for most of my adult life, although I can tolerate it now and sometimes even enjoy it) but it’s such an enjoyable activity.

I would love to bake some things out of the Advent book - still hoping I might see it on offer before Christmas! Does anyone who has it have any recipes they’re looking to try? Would love a little peek at what others are planning to bake.

🎄🎄🎄

Today’s helping spurred me on last year to make mincemeat which is really easy to do. The smells were just delicious. I still have some left, so sadly no need to make any this year.

Think I will have a go at mincemeat this year (though a bit sad to think that if I use packet suet, I might as well buy the ready-made stuff...)

Love your Christmas Carol tradition @allthelittleangelsriseupriseup

I've always disliked panto but we're going to see A Christmas Carol at Stirling Castle this year...went a couple of times pre-pandemic and it's so beautiful seeing the castle lit up at night, as well as being a gorgeous production.

I have finally caught up! It's just lovely and relaxing, although the super-organised part of me couldn't cope with leaving it until now to book Panto tickets! I booked mine in February because if I don't do it early then I won't get the seats I like on a weekend in December

I'm pretty sure I have 2 big jars of homemade mincemeat in the cupboard from last year so I might use that to make some mince pies for the freezer this weekend 🎄

@VivaJen I am with you on needing to book things early. I have not booked much this year, but previously I booked things from March onward, with most things being booked by the end of August.

Have had an extremely busy week so need to catch up. Am going to sit on the sofa with a blanket in a moment, might light my candle too.

@noodlezoodle thank you for that link, very thoughtful of you.

I have made mincemeat - gorgeous smells and very satisfying, but definitely agree about only if you have the time. I too am recovering from anxiety/depression due to burn out, so have to be careful about putting too much expectation on myself. Trying to keep focused on the important things and giving myself permission to ruthlessly delete anything that becomes too much.

Agree about booking events early - I made a note in my diary for myself for the beginning of September and got tickets for the Messiah by candlelight at Norwich Cathedral. I love panto but my mum is in charge of booking that and she is being a bit vague so not sure if that will happen.

Off to catch up!

@allthelittleangelsriseupriseup I love A Christmas Carol and am going to use your tradition of reading it 20th December onwards. Great idea.

@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception - does your local library have a copy of the Advent book?Lots of libraries have cookbooks in hard copy or ebook - I often borrow them first and if there are a lot of recipes I want to make, I buy my own copy.

11 NOVEMBER
Martinmas, a ham dinner and a citrus cake

Am I alone in being surprised that Nigel cooks his cauliflower for so long (20-25 mins)?

I wonder if you could make the cake without the poppy seeds? I can't bear the things-it's like sand in your sandwiches at the beach!

You are not alone. I like it soft for a cauliflower cheese (or I used to do a Jamie Oliver recipe where you cooked it to mush then used it to fill cannelloni) but as a vegetable on a plate I like a little crunch

Notebooks - my weakness. I have far too many waiting to be used. The idea of a Christmas notebook does appeal to me. At the moment I have Christmas planning on my phone, in my diary, in a folder etc etc. so am going to rationalise it this weekend into a fresh notebook, with the intention of using it each year.

The aubergine and lentils will be made this weekend.

I have tried to find the details in the thread, apologies if it is obvious, but what is the Advent cookbook?

I always roast cauliflower now, much tastier than steaming.

@lbnblbnb i think it’s this one

smile.amazon.co.uk/Advent-Festive-German-Celebrate-Christmas/dp/1787137260/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=34LB5QN8IH6DA&keywords=advent+cookbook&qid=1668159786&sprefix=advent+cookbook%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1

@ChessieFL thank you, have ordered it from the library.

Nigel admits of his spices (specifically mace) “heaven only knows how old my glass jar in the larder is”

As someone who recently threw out a spice packet dated bbe 2016, I am clearly VN in this department.

Orange and poppy seed cake sounds like a perfect weekend treat. I’m going hunting for seeds.