The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater. Read Along Thread 2022 PART 2

[LillianGish]

A continuation of the brilliant thread started by @Dillidilly who I hope is still lurking somewhere and reading along

Beautifully simple, Lillian! And a modern, classy take on the red frill!

I do think it's a shame cake toppers are seen as disposable these days. I still bring out the birthday ones we've had since the dc were small- a train and some bears! Mind, I often don't 'top' at all these days.

Sorry I'm late- DM is here and it's all a bit manic!

The festive spread is starting to accumulate- ham and cake on the sideboard of deliciousness!

The little figures were pinched off a garland in honour of Nigel's nostalgia!

I'm having a go at a wreath tomorrow, and more stollen type food for breakfast on Christmas Day.

I'd happily stay home cooking and making all day, but mum needs occupying like a toddler!

I feel your pain. I currently have my DParents and DInlaws, all of whom claim they want to help and do not need occupying and all of whom lie. I just had my head in the cupboard under the sink (trad Christmas leak) and MIL was waving her phone at me trying to show me photos of hotel handbasins. We took them all the the theatre this afternoon. I really need to peel some potatoes, ice a cake and cook a ham, not to mention the last bits of wrapping up. Might pretend to go to bed then sneak back downstairs to get on in peace

That made me laugh, BBB! Mine tried to show me a lovely video of a dog on her phone.... while I was driving in the dark, fog and rain on a motorway. Apparently it was ok as I was driving slowly because of the conditions.

Solidarity, @picklemewalnuts

So I've just read yesterday's. I'm pondering the raw egg trifle. I can't decide whether I want to try it, or not.

Has he told us how to make the sugared rose petals he sprinkles liberally about? I might have a try next summer, for the Christmas gift basket! There are various things I'm going to make earlier this year.

Just had a massive catch up read - from the 11th December, I think.

Got the wood burner going, candles, wreaths up. Not completely Nigel but pretty good.

Wishing you all a happy Christmas as I am unlikely to catch up tomorrow.

My family has unexpectedly made a request for trifle tomorrow. I tried to make my own Swiss roll which was a dismal (and very eggy tasting) failure so off to the corner shop to buy mass produced swiss roll, tinned custard and frozen raspberries.

NVN at all but will hopefully taste nice. Hundreds and thousands will be the decoration rather than rose petals!

@picklemewalnuts i expect it’s done with egg white and sugar. Or maybe some kind of syrup?

I’ve actually got rose petals! But DH likes his trifle the way his nan made it, so I’ll keep it NVN. I’ve got orange jelly and tinned mandarin, as well as strawberry jelly and frozen strawberries (from our summer pick-your-own day out) so DH will get to pick. Or maybe we’ll have both! I’m not going to do a big trifle, instead I’ll do small individual portions in dessert glasses, so making both versions is easily doable. I don’t have hundreds and thousands but I do have pretty little tiny white stars which will do nicely, I think.

However I won’t be doing anything until we feel much better so probably not for at least another few days.

@lbnblbnb a very Happy Christmas to you, too! 🎄

(And to everyone else, just in case we don’t catch up tomorrow)

Oh tangled, sorry you are poorly!

I'm sure the mini trifles will go down well, when the time comes.

And I feel trifle probably should be NVN. Otherwise it's tiramisu or something decidedly more sophisticated!

*24th December. Christmas Eve.

Evergreens and a new fish pie*

24th December. Christmas Eve.

Evergreens and a new fish pie

Look what Father Christmas brought me!

Oh Chessie! Fab!

Father Christmas has brought me quite a lot of hand/body/skin type stuff. I'm not complaining!

Merry Christmas one and all - just taking a quiet moment after some Christmas lunch prep and reflecting that while Nigel is great in the run up, he doesn’t fully reflect the true chaos and compromise of an inter-generational Christmas 🤣 So enjoying the peaceful retreat a few moments reading this thread affords me. Now off to stir the teenagers so some unwrapping can commence 🥂🎄🎁

I hope everyone has a peaceful and happy day.

Have a lovely day everyone 😊

Happy Christmas everyone! Wishing each of you a wonderful day. 🎄🎄🎄

DH hits the jackpot for the second year running.

Very Nigel!

Belatedly:

Christmas Day,

Ringing bells and a roasted goose.

As it happens, I coincidentally carved my turkey Nigel style today. It does work well. It has to be done at the table though- there'd be a riot if they didn't get the whole turkey effect!

We've had a lovely day. The food worked well, the mother behaved well, and it was relaxed and mellow!

Like Nigel, I appreciated the bells this morning. It wasn't an impressive peal, just the single bell rung at the start of our service.

My dad was a bell ringer. I was occasionally allowed in the tower with him, and got to hold and pull while someone held onto me for fear of me being carried up and away by the bell rope!

26 December. Boxing Day

A pig in blanket, a crisp salad