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.

Ooh sorry- you did mention that! (User name change fail)

@Bimblesalong those scented wax tablets in your photo earlier have been on my mind all day. I finally caved in and went padding to my kitchen at 9.45pm. I have created what I am going to call Botanical Beeswax Ingots. They are drying at the moment, so I shall post a photo tomorrow, but I've fashioned some moulds from ramekins with strategically placed straws to allow for a hole for the hanging ribbon. As the melted beeswax was just starting to set, I have presswed in crushed cloves and herby leafage, and sprinkled on some essential oils. The kitchen smells divine if nothing else.

@StarryAnise I've got some lovely long strands of citrus peel that I bought reduced in late summer. I actually adore and prefer the cheap diced 'greasy' stuff and tend to double up on it when making my Christmas cake. I have actually tried to make my own before, but life is, quite frankly, too short. I don't have rice paper (most recent lot was 5 yrs out of date so binned) so I'll just be lining my tin with parchment. Thankfully, honey is always on hand if nothing else.

I have just had a flashback regarding Angelica. Gosh I used to love that stuff as a kid. Haven't had any in years.

I expect you're not that keen on misogyny either...

@StarryAnise to Christmasise your cups you could put a largeish bauble in each one (large enough so you can see the top of the bauble over the top of the cup) or otherwise maybe different coloured bits of tinsel in each cup, again so it can be seen poking out over the top? You could wind longer strands of tinsel between the cups but that would be quite a delicate operation! Of course tinsel is probably NVN but never mind…

@StarryAnise Your china display is beautiful. Instead of decorating them, why not use them? It would be a lovely treat leading up to Christmas If you used a different one each day for your tea/coffee/whatever. Starting from today, you would have used each one by the beginning of the New Year (I’ve counted 45 on your shelves). Not only would you be able to enjoy each one individually, but they would all have been washed before being put back so wouldn’t need dusting! We have some very pretty china Christmas mugs, bought many years ago, which come out on 1st December and are used every day until 1st January. They live at the back of a kitchen cupboard for the rest of the year so it’s always a lovely reminder that Christmas is coming when I get them out.

18 November

Surf and Turf

It is a rare day when I don't make something to eat. If I am going out to dinner, then I will make lunch, because I can't get all the way through to eight in the evening. My fishmonger has pieces of hot snoked salmon, cut from the thick end of the fillet. I bake them with new potatoes and dill.
While the oven is on, I test a quick recipe that I feel might be fun. A sort of toad in the hole for two, with chubby cocktail sausages, and a handful of sour red cranberries from the freezer to offer a sharp contrast. A keeper.

Morning all.

I think hot smoked salmon is a truly glorious thing. I used to be a chef in a fish restaurant, and the hot smoked salmon dish we made was one of my favourites.

With the toad in the hole dish that Nigel mentions, I see he states either groundnut oil or dripping. This reminds me that I bought dripping last Christmas instead of Goose Fat to roast the potatoes in. Hadn't bought it in decades. My Grandad used to roast a beef joint every Sunday, and would keep the little pot of beef dripping in the fridge (meaty juices at the bottom, fat risen and solid, at the top) He would have dripping on bread which I think was what he was brought up on in that 'Waste not Want not' post World War one era. When I was young, he would make me a 'Bacon dip' which was bread dipped in the bacon fat after frying in the frying pan. God, I can taste that now. It was one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life.

Oh my! I am so happy with the way my scented beeswax ingots have come out. The first thing I did this morning was press them from their little moulds and thread with ribbon. It's still a bit early, so I just grabbed the first I could find. I think they need red ribbon really. I loved making these, and they only took 15 mins. Lots of lovely inspiration as always from these threads.

My Christmas mugs, of which there are many, have been in the community since 1st November and will return to their hibernant state in the drinks cabinet on the 1st January.

Today is Stir Up Saturday as I'm away next weekend and busy tomorrow.

Have soaked the fruit overnight in Amaretto so ready to rock and roll!

My Christmas mugs are out & in use, some Emma Bridgewater (NVN), some more delicate & unusual. All cherished.

It's been a busy week so I will be catching up with reading the CC today 🌲

They're really pretty @RainbowZebraWarrior

I'm off to Aldi today to see if I can snaffle one of their Always pans dupes, then to the big Asian supermarket for frozen dumplings and parathas. Neither of these activities feel very Nigel-adjacent, but DH did go to Waitrose last night!

I've not only made the toad in the hole before, I quite often do a couple of spoons of cranberry sauce to glaze little sausages if we've people over, such an easy way to festivise (Nigelise?) a wee hot snack.

@RainbowZebraWarrior they’re so lovely! And I actually prefer that ribbon - I think red can be overused sometimes at Christmas.

@StarryAnise what a beautiful display! I sometimes think I would like to buy the odd single cup and saucer china set here and there from the charity shops but I already have a lot of things and it could very easily get out of control if I start up yet another collecting habit!

I will definitely do the hot smoked salmon next week as that is the sort of simple fish supper that DH and I both love at this time of year (or any time of year, tbf).

I haven’t read CC yet this week but have earmarked tomorrow for a catch-up with plenty of hygge.

@LaviniasBigBloomers on chocolate Advent calendars, it obviously depends on budget but I think I”d go for something like this:

Neuhaus

Or if you wanted to really push the boat out, perhaps this one:

Venchi

If you’d like a mix of various confections, maybe this one:

Francois Doucet

There’s a nice selection of calendars to choose from on souschef, actually! Including a luxury liquorice one if anyone’s in the mood for a box of Danish delights! 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰

Ooh thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior, I don't use souschef so would never have thought of looking there.

Gosh those wax ingots are beautiful!

Another round of applause for the beeswax decorations from me

I made the Orange Poppy Seed Cake this morning. It’s a little on the toasted side on top (I think my oven runs quite hot). It seems moist though and the syrup drizzle is lush. Definitely a winner.

Happily released my Christmas mugs into circulation today too!

PowerTulle. Looks delish - pity you can’t send a piece my way!

I picked up this from the library today having seen the recommendation on this thread. I can confirm it's lovely! The librarians said that they'd had a good flick through it when it had arrived at the library too!

Ive just made my first xmas cake in years and years. It's burnt on the top and dripped all over the oven. So disappointed.

Virtual winging its way to you. To be honest the well done end bits are probably robust enough to send in an envelope

Oh no @Watchingpaintdrying that’s such a shame! Don’t get rid of it though even if it doesn’t look great - you can salvage the good bits and make something nice with it!

Oh no @Watchingpaintdrying what a shame. I was going to make my cake today but have got a bit behind so I have weighed out all the dry ingredients into tubs (all the fruit is soaking in brandy and fruit juice) and will do the baking tomorrow).

Beautiful ingots @RainbowZebraWarrior

@YuletideSolace I feel exactly the same about china teacups, I am prone to starting collecting habits and we really haven't got space, we already have an entire shelf of mugs in the dining room dresser that aren’t in regular use because we have too many.