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

Which last minute recipe did you use Lillian ?
just the thought is making me hungry

I just used my usual recipe which is the classic Delia (sorry Nigel). Did half quantity for a smaller tin, but wish I’d done a bigger one.

My swaddled baby Jesus!

Beautiful swaddling! Confession time" today I made Christmas puddings. Completely forgot about them and one boiled dry and melted the bowl. So cross with myself. NVN!

Oh bad luck @Swissnotswiss - your NVN at the end made me laugh out loud though (interrupting DH’s World Cup concentration). I’d like to think even Nigel could lose track of time occasionally (perhaps while agonising over the correct shade of bowl in which to serve a new variety of olive).

Oh I can imagine that, Lillian!

I'll be making stollen regularly. It's blooming lovely! It could be even better... next time I'm going to save the filling for layers in the middle rather than mixing it throughout the dough. The cranberries and peel near the edge got a bit scorched and hard. I want to keep them in the middle.

It's a fabulous dough. I may make it for Christmas breakfast- perhaps a cinnamon, chocolate orange variation.

.

Sorry to bring my NVN pudding woes to the thread but I need your help! After burning one pudding, I had another one left but it is not cooked! It has (after 5 hours!) still get an uncooked spot in the middle. At that point I switched it off and went to bed. Should I
a) boil it again today?
b) chuck it out as it's obviously cursed?
c) something else?
Thank you!

Forgot the pic.

Full disclosure, I'm not experienced.

However that would grow mould if you stored it (I know you aren't going to!), so I'd suggest cooking it again. They did used to take hours, before pressure cookers.

That said, you'll be boiling it again in three weeks presumably, so you could just allow ages for the last boil then.

A quick bit of research suggests you can leave it in a slow cooker all day, which will make things easier!

i just saw that my bookmark is halfway through the CC. I’ll be sad when it ends. Did I read here that he has something similar to read throughout the year? Kitchen Diaries?

I’ll miss Nigel 😭

I’ve added visiting a Christmas market in Northern Europe to my bucket list.

5 December
Krampusnacht, and a cake that smells of sugar and spice
DS aged three was once scared half to death by two people dressed as Krampus in a Berlin Christmas market. DD - a couple of years older - understood it was two men in masks, DS was quite literally terrified. DH and I hadn't fully understood that this was thing on December 5 (should have consulted Nigel and steered clear!)

Just found the photo!

I think I would have been terrified too Lillian!

@Swissnotswiss I’d cook it again today. You will probably need to cook it for the full time again, though, to ensure it cooks all the way through. If you have a slow cooker that’s a good option, I think.

@picklemewalnuts Ohhh I’m glad to have a recommendation for the stollen! I’m looking to bake one but I’m not sure where to fit it in...this weekend will be mince pies I think (we’re putting up the tree), then the 13th will be saffron buns for St Lucia’s day. Maybe the weekend of the 17th as we’ll have company then (which helps as otherwise it’s a lot of feasting for 2 people to get through!)

@WokeIntoChristmas There are 3 volumes of Nigel’s Kitchen Diaries. I’ve got the 3rd one and I’ll start that properly once CC finishes.

I've sliced mine in three, wrapped the chunks in foil and put it in the freezer. Do it the same day as your other bakes. It's not demanding/intense/attention seeking!

And try and keep your fruit more to the middle than the edge, some how!

Oh that’s a good idea. I hope I’ve got the freezer space. Haven’t cleared out as much as I had planned to. I wanted to buy a couple of cushions I found in the charity shop but I’m not sure I can make room to freeze them!

Sorry, just one more Q. Would it be best to start with Kitchen Diaries I or does it not matter? Was thinking if loved the first, I could enjoy the others later.

I don’t think it matters - I’ve got Vol 3 as that’s the one I found in the charity shop! I’ll buy the others later. If I was choosing which to buy I think I’d start with the 1st one. AFAIK they’re not chronological, but I can’t be sure as I only have the 1 book.

*one book, that should say. Got mixed up using all the numerals...

Oh wait I’m so confused.....just realised there’s absolutely no mention of ‘3’ on or in the book! So maybe I’ve got the original one! I’ll have to look it up when I have a chance. About to run out the door so I can’t investigate now.

I’d say if you have a choice it makes sense to start with the first one! 😊🎄

Why are you contemplating freezing cushions?? I feel I've missed something important! Thanks for advice re: pudding - it is back on the hob (wouldn't fit in the slow cooker). What with the burnt pan, melted pudding basin, hours of gas and all the ingredients this is turning into one expensive pudding. Hope it's worth it!