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 would love to make today's recipe but sadly nobody else in the house likes lamb! I imagine it's delicious though.

Ok, so bold is refusing to work. How disappointing!

One more try
*
20th November-ish. Stir up Sunday.

A shining star. A pudding aflame.*

@picklemewalnuts I guess it is stir up Sunday 🤣

It’s nice that this year this entry actually does fall on Stir Up Sunday!

Anyone here made both the light and the dark pudding? Which did you prefer?
I usually make Nigella’s which has prunes and Sherry in and is dark. Nigel refers to it.

I've never made a pudding, as no one here likes it, but reading about it makes me want to try! I've wondered about an alternative leaving out all the things we don't like, but that leaves eggs, breadcrumbs, sugar... hey ho!

I have never made a pudding either. I have probably only ever bought one on one occasion as well. I have kept looking at them in shops, but so far have resisted buying one as it’s only me that is likely to eat any. The mini puddings don’t really appeal to me. Situation is compounded as it needs to be vegan.

It’s nice that this year this entry actually does fall on Stir Up Sunday! I was thinking exactly the same. @Ihavedogs I think a mini pudding would be absolutely fine (and perfectly pudding shaped in its smallness which is all part of the charm of a pudding imo). Also no risk of feeling forced to eat it up for days on end - just a delicious festive bite on the day itself. My mum had one (almost certainly from M&S) during a Covid Christmas and loved it.

@LillianGish the small ones I have seen so far have not been very exciting flavours in comparison to the large ones. I saw a lovely large one yesterday with plums and orange, but sadly too large (and expensive) for one. I certainly don’t want to be eating it for days on end. We don’t have any pudding on Christmas Day, so I won’t be too bothered if I can’t find anything suitable. So many seem to have brandy or gin in them and I don’t care for either or those. Then it having to be vegan, really reduces options. I haven’t looked in M&S as yet.

I use Nigel’s light pudding recipe but only 1/4 of the quantity to make one smallish pudding and I tweak the ingredients to our preference - I use sherry instead of brandy and this year have added a bit of ginger wine to the fruit mix. I have used a supermarket dried fruit mix instead of buying the different dried fruit separately and have left out the dried figs. I will be doubling the glace cherries as we like them a lot. I don’t like dark puddings so wouldn’t want any of the shop bought ones.

It didn't! I nabbed a reduced FR chicken while shopping which needed roasting the same day. I'll try the aubergine tonight.

Has anybody found lamb belly? I usually buy shoulder so if I can't find any I will use that but I'd rather use the suggested cut

@Ihavedogs Lidl’s mini puddings are vegan, I have bought them as it’s only me and I already have a whole Christmas cake to eat

I couldn't find lamb belly in 2 supermarkets or at 2 butchers! Have gone with shoulder, cooking it this afternoon so will report back on how it works

I think I might have to choose a different day for stirring up as I have to go out. I made the poppy seed and citrus loaf instead.

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat I haven't made the dark one (although would love to), but the light one is fantastic. I seem to remember Nigel's quantities made three moderate-sized puddings. I still have one from last year, so shan't be making another today. Maybe I'll try the dark one next year.

I also want to write more so that my children will have something of me on paper when I’m gone.

When my grandmother died I "inherited" her collection of recipe books - all handwritten and in those exercise books you get jn schools. Just reading through them makes me feel like she is still near me.
A typed copy just wouldn't cut it.

Have you seen breast of lamb? I'm sure that's the same, @bigbadbarry @FancyFelix .

I have aubergine just arrived, so will do the aubergine/lentil thing this week.

I also have a large cauliflower, and a mooli. Suggestions welcome!
The Cauliflower I might do roast in harissa paste, to go with a dhal.

The mooli I have no idea. The last one I had, I fermented. I didn't like it that way, either! It's still at the back of the fridge waiting for me to finish it off.

i was in China during covid lockdowns @picklemewalnuts and the government rations included a lot of moulis. This recipe is lovely: www.wellandgood.com/daikon-pancake-recipe/amp/

(Thanks for suggestion. Can’t find breast either! Will wait for @FancyFelix tonreport back on shoulder)

Thanks Barry! I'd seen a similar one that was like a fritter/bhaji. I prefer yours, less fat and easier to do.

@thesurrealist i have both my grandmothers’ hand-written recipe books. I rarely use them but I love that I have them