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

I don’t put suet in mincemeat and it doesn’t seem to suffer from the lack.

Mary Berry's mincemeat with butter is excellent, I made it last year.

Thanks both!

It can be left out of the mincemeat without any issue.

Thanks. Another question now that I've caught up. He says his Christmas cake "will keep for 3 or 4 weeks". Surely that's not long enough??

It probably means after being brought out of the tin, decorated and cut into. The cake will keep much longer than that anyway but might not be at its best.

Is anyone up? I’ve come to my happy place for a bit of a hand hold.

I’ve taken down my Advent candles tonight, packed away the nisser and unwound the lights from the staircase. Reasons behind it probably aren’t good enough really and maybe I shouldn’t have done it. But I did, and for now, at least, I’m going to stick with it.

I’m sad, though.

Ah well. Things will hopefully look a bit brighter in the morning. Thank you all for indulging my pity party. And for making this such a lovely thread.

I've made MB's mincemeat this year. First time making mincemeat. I feel like I should be turning/mixing it or feeding it booze.
How long did you keep it before using?

Oh am sorry @TangledWebofMincemeatDeception that you've had to do this and are feeling sad. Hope you find your bright spot again in the light of day. Hugs

Thank you @GingerScallop, I appreciate it!

Tangled, hope you’re ok.

Tangled Sorry to hear things are difficult 💐

I don’t remember but it won’t have been very long! It will be fine sitting in its jar. If it doesn’t smelll boozy enough when you want to use it, a drop of amaretto is nice

Hope things feel better this morning

@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception sorry to hear this, I hope things improve soon.

Ginger I made mincemeat slices using last year’s mincemeat. It was fine. I’d imagine a recipe with enough brandy and sugar will keep ok in clean jar?

the main difference is butter vs suet. Maybe someone else might have some scientific thoughts?

this year I’ve done Delia but doubled the apple so I’ll probably use it up in things like crumble in the new year.

Ah, Tangled! You won't be putting us back in the box, will you? Please say no! I've had too much chocolate bark to spend any time in a confined space!

It's weigh day today. Let's hope I restrained myself just about enough.

The thing about advent, Tangled, it will come whether we mark it or not. The season is still happening, Christmas is still coming, light is on its way! I always found that comforting when I was ten days behind on the advent candle!!

“PREPARING AHEAD - Make the mincemeat up to six months ahead and store in a cool place. It’s not necessary to freeze mincemeat as it stores so well.”

www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/christmas/special-mincemeat

Hooray! An answer from Mary @GingerScallop

If anyone would like another way to follow advent, have a look on Facebook!

Made me smile!

Thank you. Just a bit scared this being my first time.

And I hope it will taste yum I added my own "twist" as they say on TV cooking shows. The measure for fruit were the same weight wise but lemon peel was a bit more, then added cherries, cranberries, a mix of golden n green raisins, and some dried plum. Looking forward to using it. Will start making mincemeat pies in December

30 November
Christmas windows and a soft, sweet cake
I love Nigel's description of the windows in the London stores. My grandfather was the manager of a department store in the north of England who had worked his way up through window dressing and display management, winning national awards in the 1940s and 50s. Some of my earliest memories are going to his shop when Santa Claus came to town and I've always loved a glorious Christmas window - big or small. I took a stroll along Boulevard Haussmann last night which is a winter wonderland of sparkling lights and spectacular displays in Galeries Lafayette and Printemps (always better to go mid-week or the crowds are unbearable). There are gorgeous windows everywhere in Paris - last year even I noticed the pest control shop near Les Halles - complete with various stuffed specimens of trapped rodents caught by the company in the late 1800s around the market - had added twinkly lights and tinsel along with Santa hats on all the rats.
@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception - hope things look better in the light of day.

Ooh sounds delish. You’re making me hungry 😋

that was for Ginger

Thank you all. 💐Feel a bit silly this morning.

@picklemewalnuts you are right - the light will come. That’s a comforting thought. To help me hold on to that thought, the Advent candles will come back out. 🕯🕯🕯🕯

I’m ok. Don’t want to get into reasons as it’s complex (and this thread is such a happy thread). But I very much appreciated being able to talk about it here last night.

I’ve got partridges ready for tonight’s dinner.

So glad you are back (and with your candle)@TangledWebofMincemeatDeception