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.

Imagine dusting 276 Edward de Waals every day though... you’d think he might have someone to do that for him, but maybe he just rewards himself with an alcohol-soaked fig when he’s finished 😂 Thanks to @SqueakyDinosaur for posting that link - a John Pawson kitchen (it’s quite funny that the ultimate in minimalism isn’t quite enough - he then needs another kitchen) and a Dan Pearson garden go some way to explaining his candle extravagance - these are obviously just small change for Nigel. I love his house, but reading about it is a reminder of the almost monkish life he leads- and certainly there are no children to clutter things up.

I love the idea of two kitchens, and totally understand why he has one for work and one for home - it means he can distance himself from work when he needs to. Also the article mentions that he cleans as a way to take a breather from writing so I think he probably does the dusting himself (at least sometimes). I imagine him doing so in a very relaxed manner, almost meditative.

Thanks for the words of wisdom about the marmalade pears as I was thinking of making them, but perhaps I’ll give it a miss.
Today’s recipe seems like a cauliflower cheese but with cabbage instead. For once I don’t have any cabbage in the fridge (It arrives in the veg box and seems to build up on me). If I made it I’m not sure it would be greeted with much enthusiasm by my family, but personally I think anything covered in cheese is yummy (ditto anything deep fried and sprinkled in salt). This preference on my part explains why I’m just reading rather than cooking at the moment, for although I’ve lost the 6 pounds I thought would return me to my former svelte self, alas there appears to be a little way to go yet.

His life does seem very monastic. I wonder what a stint on Strictly would do for him? Him and Nigella, that's who I'd really like to see

Has anybody tried today's recipe? We are very fond of roast cabbage in this house and have it fairly often, and I can see grating some parmesan on it would be nice (we usually do it with oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt) but I do not fancy a cheese sauce. Has anybody found it delicious?

PS I would love to see Nige and Nigella on Strictly!

Will catch up on the past few days this evening, but in the meantime I'm off to London for work tomorrow but have taken the afternoon off. I quite fancy having a gander at Harrods and maybe Fortnum and Mason, but does anyone have any recommendations on any other places for a spot of window shopping?

Liberty. 100% of the time. Or Harvey Nichols and then a wander down Sloane Street.

I was just pondering today the coincidence of my two favourite food writers being called Nige. I was very prejudiced against Nigella at first as I didn't think I needed to be told "How To Eat" by a beautiful posh person, but then my sister introduced me to Domestic Goddess and I was hooked. And like Nigel, she can truly write and draws you in to her world even if it isn't quite your own. Also, she has been through so much with dignity and persistence.

And they both write about real food and aren't at all cheffy. Yes to the two of them on Strictly!

Oh no - as far as I'm concerned Nigel and Nigella are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to life philosophy as well as Christmas, and that's where they each belong! Bringing them together would likely shatter the delicate balance of the universe!

(I'm a fan of each of them too)

@bigbadbarry I've not done that recipe yet. I'm going to though as it definitely appeals! Only have a small wedge of cabbage left this week so will have to wait 'til next week (although I do have brussels sprouts in the freezer which would probably work just as well). Hmmm maybe tomorrow.

I'd love a mooch around Liberty at this time of year.

Don't give them a miss, just reduce the amount of apple juice.

I have to confess, I was using a kid's carton of cheap apple juice and a jar of Golden Shred from the corner shop (added the zest of an orange to give it a bit of oomph) and omitted the marsala. But I think even with higher quality ingredients 200ml of juice is too much.

I'd try about 75ml and add more if needed half way through. It was delicious and easy, even with Golden Shred! And after I'd boiled the sauce down and then left it to cool overnight, it did turn into a syrupy sauce. Not photogenic but definitely worth a try.

Thanks @StarryAnise They look delicious. You just need to pop them on some Nigel style rustic earthenware. I will be using the Golden shred style marmalade too as that is what we have here.

Liberty for sure! I feel Nigel would approve of the wood beams inside and the fabrics.

I went to Liberty a few weeks ago, the Christmas shop was open, very nice indeed

Despite my current MN name I couldn't bring myself to spend a fortune in there

The sausage leek and bean casserole was a resounding success and leftovers made the base for a great soup too!
I loved the link to peep into Nigel's home but it feels quite spartan - and cold! No wonder he needs a writing jumper (and I imagine him warming his hands Dickensian Scrooge style over a candle wearing fingerless gloves!) I would need plenty of tummy warming spicy foods this time of year living in a place like that! Would also be sorely tempted to "adjust" his wall art pots! 😉

I used to like Bond Street, then thru the Burlington Arcade to Fortnums @AIBConsiderate, along Piccadilly, up Regent Street then to Liberty via Carnaby Street (usually has lovely lights).

LillianGish this is the route I’m hoping to take in December after going to see A Christmas Carol.
Fortnum’s is open till 10pm, hopefully the hordes will have gone by then 🤞🏻

Ah @narniabusiness I share your pain! I’ve lost more than the half stone I’d set myself to lose before Christmas and returned my cholesterol to normal by eschewing butter and using what I call “sad spread”. I enjoy my food and a switch to overnight oats has been a revelation (also for my diabetic ds2 who finally has really level blood glucose all morning). I’m off to Paris for a few days and hope it won’t all go back on!

I glimpse pears! I’ve had the few I poached along with the figs in braces for puddings this week and they were delicious.

I would love to have dewaals to dust. Have you read any of his lovely writing? I previously visited one of the homes in Paris that friends of his forebears owned. My word what a treasure house! There was also a visit to another rich collector’s home that we booked months in advance - a collector of netsuke, which also felt very deal (hare with the amber eyes). Very Nigel adjacent.

This might pique your interest as being VN, it belongs to the guy who runs the princelet drift account on insta. I recognised the interiors as it’s used as a location for photoshoots and by coincidence one of the knitting pattern books I bought uses the same location.
i put a thread in about it a few weeks ago - such a beautifully staged house and VVN

https://uniquepropertycompany.co.uk/property-results/uncategorized/huguenot-house-princelet-street-spitalfields-e1/

Thanks for the link to Nigel's house. It is beautifully restrained. Also too bare for me, although I do admire it. He has exquisite (and expensive) tastes.

@Bimblesalong Please could you share your overnight oats recipe? I tried one and I don't think it worked for me...

I'm not the original poster but I do overnight oats as follows:

40g oats
50g Greek yoghurt
70g / ml milk
5g chia seeds

My fave topping is a handful of frozen raspberries (they thaw in the fridge overnight) with a little sprinkle of white chocolate chips. Give it a stir in the morning and it's so delicious!

(Some sultanas and half a tsp of cinnamon is lovely too).

That sounds like a lovely trip you have planned @BaconAndAvocado. Is the de Waal house you visited in Paris thé Musée Nissan de Camondo @Bimblesalong? It’s one of my favourites. Heading back on the Eurostar as I type this - looking forward to lighting Carmelite when I get in 🕯️

@LillianGish yes, the house was the Musée Nissim. I then went to holocaust memorial museum. My word I needed cool teaspoons for my eyes after those visits!

Pandasock pretty much has my oats recipe!
they need to be the giant oats as those seem to be more complex and filling. I use Scott’s, or the organic duchy ones. I have a little lidded jar they go in and cover the depth of oats with milk (oat milk for me as I can’t do too much dairy). Soak overnight. Then I add a spoon of Greek yoghurt, sometimes a little honey or maple syrup. Either cinnamon or vanilla, with a handful of raspberries and stir. Top off with some almonds.

I can’t do chia!

I made a few other food changes due to creeping waist and cholesterol. The joys of middle years. I also began walking much more - middle shrinkage is not just due to oats, wish it was the magic answer. My friend says that overnight oats spike her blood sugar, so it’s interesting how different people react.