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.

I love reading about the trees. I'd love a real one but I'm going to hold out until we've redecorated downstairs, whenever we get around to doing that. But I'm intent on bringing in random branches and bits of foliage this year as a compromise.

8 November

A seat at the pantomime

There are lads in tights, girls in breeches, elderly men with pancake make-up, and bare chested boys in baggy pants. There are dwarfs and giants, fairies and wizards, a puss in boots and babies in a wood. There are death threats and dreams, genies in lamps, a witch, a princess, and pumpkins that turn into stagecoaches. Pantomime is a gorgeous cacophony of comedy, music, cross gendering and high jinks.

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I’ve gone to panto for years with the kids but now mine are older it feels less appealing. Does Nigel go even without kids? That might be my push to go anyway!

I am the original Mrs Christmas but the idea of going to the panto without kids does not appeal!

I do like a show so might need to look for something festive but not too bing crosby?!

I go to panto with DD (17). DS hates it and DH isn't interested. I used to think I would rather stick pins in my eyes, but it has grown on me, whether I will continue to go or not once DD stops wanting to I don't know. Another thing the two of us do every year is go to a concert in London, it is a Christmas singalong, the venue changes but we follow it around, it's an orchestra, choir, host and lead vocalist, same format and people every year and we love it, so festive.

DD goes to panto with school every year. I'm not keen on panto, so we do a play instead. This year is Cinderella at the Northern Stage. I remember going there as a kid to see The Wind in the Willows, and it was magical. We go as close to Christmas as possible.

I'm starting to get quite excited as I've just realised we will be getting the tree out in a couple of weeks (DD likes it up straight after her birthday) I've also been popping nuts and things on my food orders each week, but am now ramping up with panettone, Neideregger marzipan and of course the obligatory twiglets (even though they aren't the same as they used to be) I love seeing my pantry fill up with goodies.

Speaking of nuts, I've forgotten to visit the local cob nut trees this year. There are some at the local farm where we keep our beehives. I was going to make some jars of honey and nuts for Christmas. Might have to resort to shop bought ones. Drat!

I’m really not into panto (predictive text tried to change that to ‘pants’ ). We took the children a couple of times when they were little but it never became a thing.

I much prefer the Nutcracker. Speaking of which, DH and I watched a very charming Russian production on YouTube just the other night. We will watch it again when my DDs are here.

@YuletideSolace I adore The Nutcracker and just love ballet in general. The Royal Opera house are doing cinema screenings and there's one near me on 12 December. I'd love to go, but it's a long sit for me (170 mins including interval) and it would be a late night which I'm not good with. I shall look up that Russian production on YouTube. At least then, I can watch from the comfort of my own home.

@RainbowZebraWarrior It’s the one by the Mariinsky Theatre, in HD.

Yes - sometimes being properly comfortable with everything you might need at hand is better than a true ‘night out’.

We found this one a delight.

Todays aubergine and lentil recipe appeals to me as a non meat eater, but would I balk at adding the double cream and opt for a parsimonious spoonful? One to consider making anyway.
Im not going to book any panto tickets though. I liked taking the kids when they were little but mostly to see their enjoyment to be honest.

(The ballet is on EuroArtsChannel)

I won’t be making tonight’s dish, although I do like it a lot.

DH has requested pasta bolognese, which we will have with the grilled aubergine on the side.

It’s utterly grim here today, after a few days of really lovely weather so I can’t really complain too much.

On Sunday we took a late afternoon walk to the high point of our local park and watched the sunset. Brought sandwiches, tea and cake (I think someone else on the thread made a banana loaf on the same day!). It was lovely and made me very happy indeed.

@narniabusiness don’t be parsimonious! Lean into the cream. [Fgrin]

@YuletideSolace 😋I will

Sigh my grin got messed up.

Having said to lean in to the richness of the cream, DH and do actually make it a rule that we keep November’s eating more simple and less rich - otherwise we don’t tend to enjoy Christmas feasting as much. We had roast belly pork last night and it was just too much - neither of us could a lot of it. So that’s our cue to pull right back. We’re both middle aged now and clearly can’t handle as much indulgence as we used to! Plus we each have conditions that mean we do need to be careful for our health’s sake.

But the lentil dish does benefit from the cream.

The London show sounds great! Would you feel ok to tell us what it is incase there are tickets?

We’re going to see A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic, it’s Christopher Eccleston this year.
DD is studying the book for her English GCSE so will hopefully be beneficial, seeing it brought to life.

The Christmas singalong is here. There is sometimes one in Manchester as well
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2023/event/christmas-carol-singalong

Last week in half-term we went to Snowshill Manor in Gloucestershire (National Trust) in distinctly autumnal weather. For £2 I bought a paper bag full of quince harvested from the garden. Nigel has a recipe later on in CC for pickled quince, which I made at the weekend using up three of them. Have stashed one jar in the pantry, but opened the other today to enjoy with blue cheese for lunch as Nigel suggests... was delicious - and on Ryvita, which made it feel it a bit Scandi.

Ohh @SuseB I'm hungry now.

I can't find them here. Am going to buy some membrillo. Must put that on my list!

Just slightly behind and can't wait to read the chapter about the trees. I think it's my favourite bit of the book.

Not a fan of panto at all 😳NVN then!

Trailing a little behind - sausage, leek and cannelini for supper tonight.
We love panto at The Palladium, or a christmas concert or show. i would rather have tickets to see something than actual presents (we'll have a few small stocking fillers) so this year we've got tickets to "Peter Pan that goes wrong" and "A Christmas Carol" with the awesome Christopher Ecclestone.

We're also singing with a choir in Trafalgar Square after the tree goes up! 🎶

Some great show ideas thank you!!