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!

Palace I haven’t cooked anything out of Advent yet as it was a present from DD last year.
I fancy a dried pear loaf which sounds a bit like barabrith and the recipe says to leave a week after baking before eating.

Just popping in to say "hello" to everyone, then I'll go back and read all the thread so far.

I'm very much looking forward to reading along with you all this year. I made it about 1/3 of the way through last year but everything got too much & something had to give so it was my MN habit (a bit). We did try some of the recipes though - there's a soup one with cauliflower quite early on; that inspired dd1 to try making various soups! Last week's was cauli & brocolli cheese 😋

Someone asked about candle recommendations when I was skim-reading...I rate the Yorkshire Candle Company. I still have a little of each of their Frankincense & Myrrh, and Christmas Kitchen left for towards the end of November before buying new ones at Sheffield Christmas market. They're local-ish to me, and very reasonably priced. They do a tomato one that smells just like fresh tomatoes do.

Anyway, I am off to read properly, after my long winded "hello"!

I've got several Christmas/fir scented candles that I bought in the sales last year. Some were from a National Trust shop. I'm looking forward to burning them now! Just got a sostren grüne one to finish first.

I think I may have to rein myself in a bit here - got myself over excited and am already halfway through November with a long list of things to make…

How lovely to see this thread, I’ve been looking forward to it.

I always enjoy seeing other book recommendations. I have just bought Advent by Anja Dunk.

I shall enjoy the autumn then winter with you all.

Ooh, the readalong had been mentioned on another thread so I've been looking out for this thread! Have bought a copy and looking forward to it!

I’ve bought myself an “advent mindful moments” candle kit from Etsy - it comes with 24 mini bees wax candles (but thin ones, not a tea light shape) and a little candle holder. Planning to combine that and Nigel in the December evenings.

Oooh, I was going to post about the Advent Candles In A Jar that I discovered yesterday!

I saw those too, but think I’d find it quite stressful to work out how long to burn it for, and end up having it lit all day on Christmas Eve after panicking and blowing it out too soon earlier in the month.

@QueenOfWeeds the ones I saw were teeny, 24 numbered candles in a jar, with a little candle holder on the lid!

Advent Candles In A Jar! 😍

"So what do we do now? Do we all cook the thing on the day he tells us to?"

I do with the savoury dishes and the drinks

I love a read along. Just bought my copy, new hardback £17.99 from Abe books.
Only problem is it says delivery 29th October to 12th November
Hopefully it'll be the earlier rather than later date. I'd have bought next day delivery from Amazon if I'd known they'd be that tardy prior to purchase!

Ooooooh it's that time already is it? My bedroom is still dark as my boy is sleeping so I can't quite locate my copy on the shelves... can't remember seeing it since last year... but it must be there surely...

@lucysmam I can vouch for the Yorkshire candle company. Their candles are so lovely and properly fragrant. We bought some at a craft fair in Pateley Bridge (lavender fragrance I think) and keep meaning to buy some more.

Hi!

I'm going to try and join in with this - hope that's ok? I got a copy of the CC from AbeBooks in the summer for about £7 and have managed to resist it so far.

Also thanks for the Yorkshire candles recommendation, do you think they will add more Christmas scents shortly?

NCautumn does that mean you read ahead so you can shop? I tend to have most things in, but certainly couldn't rely on it for any random recipe...

I made lots of the recipe and drinks suggestions last year. I do tend to have almost everything in at any one time, but I did used to just look at the specific recipes in the next chapter or two so that I could plan any necessary purchases. I wouldn’t read ahead, though, because I wanted to read along with everyone else.

What a glorious thread, please may i join?

My copy is on order and I am really looking forward to some lovely winter evenings curled up on our (new!) sofa with a book and a baileys hot chocolate.

Last Christmas I had a non sleeping 4 month old so the evenings and nights were long and exhausting but now she is a toddler we have now settled into a nice pattern of her going to bed at 7pm and the evenings are my own again. Long may it continue!

My personal favourite christmas scent which will be making an appearance fro. Dec 1st is a Mattys candle called 'Christingle'. I bought it from a friend who started selling them to make a bit of extra money last year not expecting much and was very pleasantly surprised for £15.

Gosh, there is something that I didn’t think I needed 😂

I know, right! Neither did I until yesterday lol!!

Wait, I think I've got my double negatives confused @Ihavedogs 🤔

I probably won’t have time to do all the cooking, but I’ll do what I can.
It’s a very overcast day here today, so it’s the perfect day to start reading the intro.

That’s my plans sorted for this evening!

Ordered and arriving tomorrow- looking forward to reading along with you all!

"NCautumn does that mean you read ahead so you can shop? I tend to have most things in, but certainly couldn't rely on it for any random recipe..."

I don't read ahead. But I flick through the recipes and choose any I like making sure I've got ingredients for certain ones and I pop to the shop for anything I haven't got if I suddenly feel like it. I live near many supermarkets