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 went to a Very Nigel farmshop yesterday and bought a few Christmassy bits and bobs. Then to another one (Less Nigel More Tat) this morning as its the only place locally that sells pickling onions and I want to make some this weekend.

Yes, a lot of people left MN to set up another forum, I did join it too but did not intend to leave MN. There was a CC thread over there that lasted quite a while. The forum is still going but fairly quiet. I found I couldn't keep up with both and have stayed with MN.

Here's a pic of the VN farmshop

I left too at that point and have only come back recently specifically for this thread and another couple of long-running ones that I was really missing. At the end of the day I wasn’t going to cut off my nose to spite my face and I’ll just stay well away from the very crappy bits.

I hid AIBU and Relationships years ago to stop me getting dragged into the difficult stuff. I'm on a lot of long running threads though.

Speaking of expensive decorations...I may have splurged on the Georg Jensen Black Friday sale!

But in my defence, the prices were so good I couldn't resist, and a couple of the things I got have been on my wish list for several years now.

Also a long-time returning poster here. Life is complex enough and it’s lovely to have a little corner for the good things.

Just up to date with the book. Made the orange and poppy seed cake which seemed to burn quickly! Oven temp was fine too. Covered it with foil for rest of cooking, scraped the burnt sides and drizzled with syrup. Think I’ve salvaged it and will try later!

Mission accomplished! Picked up a slice of panforte in the Italian deli round the corner - homemade on the premises no less. The man in the shop was less than encouraging (NVN) saying it was an acquired taste - I will let you know.

DH (3rd gen Italian) loves panforte but I can't get on with it. He bought one last week but hasn't yet unwrapped it. Seeing it sitting in the pantry does give me happy Nigel vibes though, even if I won't be eating it.

Wondering if anyone has made the brisket in a slow cooker. I've only ever done the full 4 hours in the oven method and it's glorious but running out of time to make this dish this year and thinking I could do a cs version next weekend instead. I suspect slow cookers are NVN and must admit that while they have their place, I think that there's always some depth missing. I wouldn't want to ruin the brisket recipe so will gratefully receive your tips!

I like the sound of the pork belly in today's entry but miso, mustard and hot fruit with meat are all vetoed in this house and there's little point in making it just for me.

I have a busy weekend ahead but planning to find time to make the orange and poppy seed cake.

@PricklyBob that recipe is one I was really hoping to try this year! But I'm not sure I'll get to it.

We've already got the miso and pork belly so all I'd need is pears in our next delivery, but...I just don't think it'd be good to put myself under the pressure. 🤔🤔 Maybe next year!

I hope you're feeling ok atm and still finding some calm with Nigel amidst the storms of daily life.

I can't help on the slow cooker I'm afraid as I haven't had one in years and never really learnt to use them to my satisfaction.

@Shortkiwi I'm sure it'll still be good!

I think the brisket would work in the slow cooker. I'd have tried it, but apparently my mother has already done it in the Aga with the joint I bought to share this week. I don't like miso (phone tried to change that to misogyny) or hot fruit with meat either. I don't understand apple sauce / cranberry sauce either.

All the talk about brisket has made me want to have it for Sunday dinner, so been to our local butcher this afternoon and got a lovely piece. I always cook brisket in the slow cooker, and it’s always very tender and tasty. I dredge it with flour, salt and black pepper and brown it in a frying pan with a little oil, then cook it with onions, celery, carrots, swede and stock (from a stock cube - NVN) in the slow cooker. Just as good cold the following day. Haven’t tried Nigel’s recipe with dried porcini, but will definitely have to give it a go.
Am really enjoying the CC thread, thanks to RainbowZebraWarrior for keeping it going.

I want to try a panforte as dried fruit and nuts and spices and seeds are my favourites. Perhaps I’ll get one instead of. Christmas cake as I’m looking to break with tradition (English tradition anyway).
I did made the Marmalade pears yesterday. They were delicious and as was discussed up thread the liquid needed reducing down a lot which does leave the pears looking rather too well cooked. Perhaps I’ll leave them in bigger pieces if I make it again.
I’m loving this thread so thank you all you CC stalwarts for making this a delightful and delicious read.
@Bimblesalong. Your Paris shopping photos look great. As I’m going there soon could I ask if there was a particular shop you went to?

OH @YuletideSolace those confit chickpeas are the absolute bomb! A total favourite here.

IF one was going to order oneself a posh advent calendar would the thread a) forgive that it's NVN and b) recommend anywhere? I saw some gorgeous ones in the posh London chocolatiers when I was down recently but couldn't bring myself to pick one up, but I've been thinking about them ever since so figure I should take the plunge.

Very outing but I did name change for this thread so I'm OK with that.

This is my NVN charity shop china haul. Unaccountably no blue willow pattern, I definitely would have snapped it up if I'd seen any.

Kind of the opposite of Nigel's carefully curated tasteful objects, but I love them anyway. Half way through collecting them together I realised that they would mostly have been some elderly lady's pride and joy which is kind of sad and lovely at the same time.

Only built the shelf this spring so it hasn't seen a Christmas yet - not sure if I can Christmasise it up at all?

Photo...

@StarryAnise
oh my goodness, I absolutely love those!!
I’m a sucker for fancy china from charity shops and like you I always think they were possibly some old ladies pride and joy. I’m a bit the same with random cut glass/crystal vases, decanters etc.

We are a mostly veggie household so I don't cook meat, so the last couple of recipes slightly passed me by. I was very excited by the panforte description but...no recipe?

Felicity Cloake has done her customary thorough job here so maybe I'll give it a try. Though I'm hoping to do the Bake Off Chocolate Box cake this weekend, so that might be enough domestic pottering for me.

How to make the perfect panforte | Life and style | The Guardian

Thank you for all the food inspiration. I am feeling the end of year slow down happening and some comfort dishes would be nice.

The pork and pears recipe appeals- has anyone cooked it before? Found the sausage and beans tips really useful (and have noted the aubegine oven one).

@StarryAnise - lovely display.

I can report that the panforte was a huge success - we consumed it "in a room glowing with candlelight" as instructed (following on from our pork with pears) - and just the fact of knowing we were following Nigel to the letter lent that "certain sense of occasion to appreciate its charms".
@StarryAnise thanks so much for sharing your teacup display - I think it's VVN - with more than a hint of his own kitchen art installation (and no doubt at a fraction of the price). Absolutely gorgeous.

@StarryAnise Your China collection is very lovely. Thanks for showing it to us all and many thanks for the panforte recipe too.

I've been reading the thread, but not the book. I'll do a catch up over the weekend. I'm planning a quiet weekend and I'll enjoy an open fire and a candle and a read at some point.

@Bimblesalong I loved 'The Hare with Amber Eyes' and always suggest it when people are looking for non-fiction recommendations. I was amazed to read that you visited one of the family's former homes in Paris.

@LillianGish - sounds lovely. Did you cook the pork exactly as recipe?

Ooh. Beautiful cups. I love them. I've got a collection of about 3 or 4 almost full sets that I bought from charity Shops years ago. They used to live on my oak dresser, but I got sick of dusting them. I might get them back out in Spring.

Aha. A Panforte recipe. Lovely idea for the weekend and I have all the ingredients to hand. I especially like the idea of using walnuts (partly because I have plenty in, partly because their softness works well I think) I was supposed to go scrumping for cob nuts last week, but rain stopped play.

@Fatlittlefruits I’m ashamed to say I didn’t do Nigel’s recipe, but an entirely different Jamie Oliver recipe for tray baked pork chops with pears

RainbowZebraWarrior, what candied peel have you already got to hand? I checked and I have some Morrison's candied orange peel which is not bad but I suspect Felicity would class it as "the slightly greasy chopped mixed variety". Interesting that Felicity - whose "perfect" series I really rate - is clearly not above a bit of Nigelesque food snobbery. But I guess if you're going to make what will end up a fairly costly Panforte, you don't want to scrimp on the ingredients.

Very slightly tempted to make my own glace fruits but probably not enough to actually do it.