Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Annual Read along 2023

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, it's nearly that time!

For anyone who has not already had the pleasure, the annual Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles read along is a real time annual MN tradition.

The book begins on 1st November, however there are a couple of chapters of preamble. That's why I thought I would start thread one now, so that we have time to prepare and fully appreciate Nigel in All His Splendour come 1st November.

Some of us already have the book. For anyone who doesn't, it's a challenge to see of you can pick up a bargain. WH Smith has come up trumps in the past, as has ebay. A rare and precious charity shop find is the holy grail and adds a certain special-ness that simply extends that warm, fizzy Nigel feeling (and some well earned smugness)

I shall make a post each day and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the days recipes, sentiments and indeed Dear Old Nige himself.

Note: Reading by candle light can be particularly enjoyable. Cire Trudon may be one of Nige's candle of choice, but it's somewhat pricey. We don't discriminate against other less expensive brands - even if they are NVN (Not Very Nigel)

Pull up a chair and a cosy blanket and join in.

There have been some beautiful photos posted today!

I've got Spanish chicken in the slow cooker and I can hear rain lashing my window whilst listening to Nige. Food shopping has just been, and I got the Waitrose Christmas food to order mag which I'm going to flick through. It's so good to feel safe indoors isn't it? Such a privilege when you think of what other parts of the world are going through.

I'm slumming it tonight, candle wise. Using up an old beeswax candle in a jar. I made them last year and they turned out quite messy, but they were only supposed to be for power cuts. I'll post a pic later. It's really Not At All Nigel!

@Newgirls I usually make a wreath every year, but last year my Dad's mate beat me to it and left one outside my door. All made from Allotment Pickings.

Eat your heart out, Cire Trudon. Here we have Rainbow's recycled curry paste jar beeswax candle. With careless authentic wax drips!

Loving the photos. What a nurturing thread.

Made the hot apple drink tonight - it was very well received!

I love all your photos of candles and recipes and reading nooks. @Nothingbuttheglory your walk looks stunning! I went for rather an atmospheric wander in Père Lachaise cemetery then came home and lit lots of candles to welcome in the change in the hour. Embracing the darkness and feeling cosy by reading this thread.

Love this @LillianGish Are you a Paris resident? How marvellous to have these places on your doorstep.

I’m over in a couple of weeks to meet a friend, do some eating, art and opera before going back to the daily routine.

I am @Bimblesalong - Père Lachaise is literally round the corner and a fantastic place to observe the passing of the seasons (in the absence of proper woodland walks of the type Nothingbuttheglory has clearly been on). Your forthcoming trip sounds fab and will also give you lots of Trudon sniffing opportunities (my own favourite spot is in La Samaritaine where you can idle away a few moments admiring the Art Deco refurbishment while lifting the glass domes to compare all the scents without feeling any pressure to make a purchase).

Ah the lovely Samaritaine…

I only get over to Paris a couple of times a year now. Used to visit at least 4x pre pandemic - my friends moved to another country and one is back intermittently for work, so we catch up then. There’s so much to do, and so many places to idle and do nothing. I visit my friends in their new country too - which is such a pleasure.

Working some lingering into my plans!

Hello all! I would love to join along this year. I was a lurker last year but only managed a week or two before I got pneumonia, and that combined with being 8 months pregnant had me too exhausted to do much more over Christmas than what was strictly necessary! Hoping to get involved this year with lots of Nigel-ing and some recipe following. Cooking in the winter is my absolute favourite; as much as I love summer, you can't beat the cosiness of classic winter fare!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I bought the book last year and was all set to join in when we had a series of family disasters, so I didn't read along but I did lurk on the thread and found it incredibly comforting.

I'm in California and it's a sunny 21 degrees outside right now, but I will be going out to buy a wintry candle to try and get me in the mood. I will also be back in England for Christmas so will hopefully get a bit of crisp winter in at the end of the year.

Hi all!
I did join last year, but unfortunately life got in the way to the extent that I was purchasing and decorating the tree on Christmas eve (plastic, from Argos - very NVN).
We've both now retired and I have a beautiful bespoke new kitchen, so I am determined to do more this year, and earlier.
Have had to accept that I am disabled, my new kitchen has been fitted to enable me to cook sitting down and it's made life so much easier.
Have to agree with the previous posters about fairy lights that do not twinkle, but flash - surely there must be a market for them!
Have dug out my copy of CC, and am up to date, ready for November 1st!

@LillianGish my great grandmother lived just around the corner from the Père Lachaise cemetery. She died when I was my early twenties, but I have very memories of staying with her in her fourth floor apartment, where she was climbing the stairs in her late nineties.

I'm in in in! My copy has sat unloved since I asked for it Christmas 2021 and this year it is going to walk me through the chilly season. Exciting!

My goodness, I thought I was doing well with my St Eval Inspiritus but the candle game on this thread is strong. Feel like there might be another couple of purchases in my near future.

Rather jealous of @LillianGish wandering around a winter Paris, I've never been in the colder months but have immediately transported myself there, where I am at least a foot taller (to be able to wrap up in a camel coat), a million times more chic and billion times more brooding. What fun!

@allthelittleangelsriseupriseup so great you've had your kitchen re-done around your needs, I wish you many happy hours Nigelling.

<big waves to all newcomers>

Can I join? I lurked last year but life rather got in the way. I love how Nigel writes and gave serious life envy. I have set aside some time tonight to read the introduction with my Santa Maria candle to try and become more Nigel

Ooh did you? I was hoping to make that as an alternative to mulled wine, and enjoy whilst walking around the Christmas lights at Dunham Massey at the beginning of December. Was it easy enough to make? I saw the ingredients list but haven't read any instructions yet. Can't wait to start reading! 😊

Also looked at the Trudon candles on the liberty website and then got overexcited by the aldi dupes comments. So I went there on my way to work and have one of each. £3.99 each - I'm happy to burn them 24/7 while indulging in the CC's

The apple drink is really good, and very easy to make. I'm looking forward to making it come November! We also mix it up here and there according to mood and it always turns out very tasty.

Just so everyone knows, all the recipes/ingredients for November are listed in the partner thread so that you don't need to dip into the chapters to see what's coming up. It allows you to do your shopping lists if something appeals.

I'll add December's recipes this week.

I'm only a few pages in, and I've already started googling patio miniature fruit trees so that I can have quinces, medlars and damsons in my small garden. I'm not going to get them this year, but might make some sort of plan for future planting.

I love this time of year for making future plans @DaisyWaldron In fact I like planning more than anything else. Like Nigel going through his seed catalogue in the depths of winter. There's something so relaxing, comforting, yet life affirming about it.

I'm currently planning Christmas recipes and also looking at making a non alcoholic version of Nigels Castle Cocktail. I'm also impatiently waiting for my Dad to bring me the last of the Jalapeño from the Allotment. I have jars awaiting!

Nigels Castle Cocktail recipe if anyone wants it.

Just found this in the charity shop - unused! Giving it a quick go now and then I'll be stashing it away until Christmas!

Great, thank you! I am a complete newbie to Nigel and his CC, but just from the introductory pages, I can see I'm going to love adding reading them to my annual traditions! 🌲❤

Very easy to make. Realised as I was getting ready to make it for my guests that I only had powdered cinnamon and all spice 🤦‍♀️ so just made a muslin pouch and put that in. Debated with myself for ages whether he meant the entire unpeeled clementine but it did seem to be right. The cooked apples are lovely and really add to the drink and liquid is easy, just simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.

I don't like mulled wine/hot cider but I really liked this!

Feeling very stressed today. Going for a walk now and a mooch round the charity shops; hoping some autumn air and a seasonal treasure or two might improve my mood a little.