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

Good to see you Tangled!

I'm pleased to see I'm getting artichokes in my veg box, so can turn back to the soup recipe. That will be yum.

Later today I'll make the candied peel. Then I'll swing past Lidl for the marzipan...

December 1
Mistletoe, malt loaf and a salad of cobnuts
I can't believe it's actually December. Wreath on the door, Advent calendars up - and I must say I rather like the look of the fig and blue cheese salad (not sure I can lay my hand on cobnuts or if I even know what they look like, but might substitute walnuts instead).

I need to speed up a bit- my calendars aren't up yet. Won't take long though- the box is out! I'm going to jar up my truffles and add them to my display!

I had a bit of a catch up on Audible yesterday. Those last few chapters about the Christmas markets and shop windows are truly magical.

There is masses of mistletoe in this area, mostly up very high but there is a ball of it in a small tree just up the road from me, just high enough that you can't reach it but close enough to be able to see it well.

Hello everyone! Thank you@LillianGishfor taking the helm x Are you happy to continue as I'm still feeling a bit maxed out?

I'm largely fine, just waiting for a stupid CT angiogram. But now I've got covid 🙄 Getting antiviral meds today so hopefully will perk up.

good to see you Dilly
hope you feel better from the Blummin covid soon

I'm going to jar up my truffles and add them to my display! This made me smile - where else but this thread could you read that sentence? Waves to @Dillidilly - happy to continue with the daily titles though may need to pass the baton back to @picklemewalnuts when I go back to the UK on December 20 as not sure I will have room to pack Nigel.

Cobnuts are basically hazelnuts, but fresh. I think.

Hello Dilly, glad you are back!

Here's the start of my advent corner, inspired by @TangledWebofMincemeatDeception I think!

Here we are, @LillianGish ! My NVN jar of truffles!

Hello Dilly! I am very disappointed with my advent calendar - all the pictures are snowmen. 😤Should have read the description more carefully ! Accidentally bought some medlars today, ugly little beggars, aren't they?

Ooh, exciting! Medlars!

I haven't caught up reading, or thread-wise, since I last posted. But we went to a 6th form open evening tonight for dd1 and some of her friends (lucky me, accompanying 5 teens 🙄 ). Anyway, they had refreshments in the most lovely library I've ever been in, with a HUGE Christmas tree. It was beautifully decorated and stood under a large stained glass window. I didn't think to take a photo though & now I regret it a little bit.

And, they had stollen bites on the nibbles table (also very nicely presented). I wonder if they would freeze well, rather than one large stollen loaf in slices maybe 🤔 Dd1 is as keen to experiment as I am, so we'll be ordering fresh yeast tomorrow!

Medlars are ringing a bell from an Atomic Shrimp vid (YouTube) - more of a Neville than a Nigel but some crossover I think!

I really enjoyed the chapter today, managed to be QN about it too reading by candlelight with some whiskey that tripped and fell into a glass whilst feeding the cake. Off to raid the advent calendar for chocolate liqueurs now. Even DH muttered something about putting an order in at the butchers so must be December at last!

I've got the flour and yeast out, and made the candied peel. I need to get the marzipan and butter tomorrow. Then it can begin! It's really cold here, so I might rise the bread overnight in the fridge instead of trying to do it in an hour in the kitchen. Though I could do it on the Instant Pot, I suppose.

Mouth is watering...

@picklemewalnuts was the candied peel easy enough to do? I do like a kitchen experimenting day 🤔

Very. Blanch the peel. Cover with fresh water and boil again. Weigh the water and add equal amount of sugar.
Simmer the peels until almost translucent. The syrup thickens until only a marmalade is left. Dry the peels on a rack in the fan oven (no heat) or dehydrator, or just leave them out awhile. Dust with caster sugar to make them less sticky.
Dip a few in dark chocolate. Give a few of each in a little gift cone.

they look lovely @picklemewalnuts 😃

That candied peel looks lovely. NS says you can get it in Italian delis. I'm in Italy but can't find it anywhere. 😂

He says it's candied citron, whole fruits that you cut the peel off after they're candied. If I ever see one on holiday, I'll buy it just to know!

Buying my butter today. I've declared it to the husband. He turned pale!

Are food prices rising fast across Europe, too? Butter feels like a Christmas indulgence this year. Perhaps more than anything else.

2 December
To Nuremberg and the Christkindlemarket
I love Nigel's descriptions of his trips to Germany. We lived in Germany when my children were small so a lot of what happens in our house is linked to traditions we adopted there. Celebrating St Nicholas on December 6 for instance, lights and decorations up from December 1, but not the tree (lots of Germans don't put theirs up until Christmas Eve), Christmas songs (learned at school). We used to say it was like having Christmas in a Christmas card - Christmas like it used to be (or like we all imagine it to be) - very often with a sprinkling of snow. It probably also helped that a city like Berlin has forest and lakes as well as shops and markets so you you have the best of both worlds - twinkling lights and frozen lakes and woodland walks. Heaven.

Your candied peel looks stunning @picklemewalnuts.

Are food prices rising fast across Europe, too?
Yes, and with 3 teenagers in the house boy, are we feeling it!
That German Christmas sounds magical @LillianGish

I have got behind, but have some time today to catch up. Looking forward to the VN atmosphere. No decorations up yet, getting them out of the shed is on my list for today.

Exciting day, LB!

The food prices thing is interesting. I wouldn't mind paying more for more sustainable choices. At the moment though we're worst of both worlds.

Cheap food that costs a lot

Came back from Aldi feeling like I was carrying gold bullion- two blocks of butter and half a dozen eggs, the last on the shelf!

Nigel's going to need a new book for restricted availability!!

We're having ham egg and chips tonight, but feel like I need to go carefully on the eggs