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Christmas

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Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Annual Read along 2023

991 replies

RainbowZebraWarrior · 23/10/2023 21:27

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.

Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Annual Read along 2023
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129
Watchingpaintdrying · 20/11/2023 08:56

Ooh! I need that !

BaconAndAvocado · 20/11/2023 09:00

noodlezoodle I love your reference to Blade Runner 🤣

Nigel IS Rutger Hauer...but with added nutmeg and mixed spices.

BaconAndAvocado · 20/11/2023 09:02

There's a book too...😬

Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Annual Read along 2023
RainbowZebraWarrior · 20/11/2023 09:44

BaconAndAvocado · 20/11/2023 09:02

There's a book too...😬

Oh! I bought that book last year. I need to go and find it.

Also, I loved Rutger Hauer. He was an incredibly handsome man. He was wonderful in the film Escape from Sobibor.

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Bubblesbythesea · 20/11/2023 12:36

Just had leek and cauliflower soup for lunch - delicious, will definitely do again. Hadn’t any sourdough bread, but melted cheddar on wholemeal toast was a good substitute. Slow cooked brisket was excellent yesterday. Grey, wet and mizz weather here, and DH and I are both full of cold at the moment so comfort food is definitely on the menu!

RainbowZebraWarrior · 20/11/2023 13:57

It's just the day for leek and Cauliflower soup, @Bubblesbythesea I could really fancy a bowl myself!

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narniabusiness · 20/11/2023 14:01

@noodlezoodle 😂at the Bladerunner analogy.
I enjoyed reading today’s chapter about the history of Christmas pudding. It would be interesting and also I suspect stomach churning to eat plum pottage. Like Nigel, I usually feel too full to enjoy eating Christmas pudding. It’s very heavy. The Brandy butter reference confuses me though. Our pudding is always drowned in loads of ‘White Sauce’. Have I been brought up wrong?

At this point I have to confess that Im being extremely NVN as I have a large Asda Christmas pudding that has been in the cupboard for a year. I bought it in one of those panicky moments when the number of guests was potentially going to exceed the number I’d planned to cater for, and then it didn’t so we had a posh one from a hamper. This year they will be getting the Asda version.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 20/11/2023 14:26

@narniabusiness (OMG I've just said your user name aloud and got the pun!) I'm aways too full for Christmas pudding on the day itself, too. I only cracked open a Heston B hidden clementine one last year that I'd had for 10 yrs. That said, I love the stuff. We never had Brandy Butter when I was growing up, it was always cream. Cream is still my favourite (double or clotted) but I've got some BB this year for a change.

I've been thinking about potato and lemon stuffing since it was mentioned yesterday. I think I need to have some for Christmas day. When I used to cook for a house full, I'd often make three types of stuffing. Can't really justify that with just me and DD though. We do have a 'swap shop' with Mum and Dad, which works well - we visit at midday, take round some of our Pork, Beef and Roast Potatoes, and come home with stuffing and whatever else takes our fancy. We have our Christmas meal at about 5pm these days.

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YuletideSolace · 20/11/2023 14:40

@narniabusiness (OMG I've just said your user name aloud and got the pun!)

Me too!!

Had the braised brisket last night - was lovely, as brisket always is.

See you all on the other side!🎄🎄🎄

narniabusiness · 20/11/2023 15:10

😅I wasn’t sure you’d still want to engage with me after the NVN Christmas pudding confession.
User name is the punch line to a favourite joke…
’What were you doing in the wardrobe?…
It’s a favourite book and film too.
I think cream and clotted cream might down well here, so I will put it to the family vote.

DingDongMerrilyWithPie · 20/11/2023 18:10

noodlezoodle · 20/11/2023 01:54

I don't know why but this paragraph from Nigel has really reminded me of the Bladerunner 'Tears in the Rain' speech and I can't stop laughing.

(It goes "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe... Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion... I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... Time to die.").

Yes it does! Hauer took the rather turgid speech and rewrote it. The scene was filmed at night and the crew applauded spontaneously once he'd finished.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 20/11/2023 18:26

narniabusiness · 20/11/2023 15:10

😅I wasn’t sure you’d still want to engage with me after the NVN Christmas pudding confession.
User name is the punch line to a favourite joke…
’What were you doing in the wardrobe?…
It’s a favourite book and film too.
I think cream and clotted cream might down well here, so I will put it to the family vote.

Hee hee. I am absolutely howling at that joke. I've never heard it before, and it very much appeals to my inner 6 year old!

Mmm. I want Christmas pudding and cream now..

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RainbowZebraWarrior · 20/11/2023 18:28

Oh, I also meant to mention @narniabusiness that Fenwick window at Newcastle is Chronicles of Narnia this year. Wen went to see it on Saturday. I can't remember whereabouts you are, but if you aren't near Newcastle, you can watch the window reveal on YouTube.

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narniabusiness · 20/11/2023 19:20

I’m too far away to visit in person, but I had a look at the YouTube and it looks lovely. Thanks for the link.

BaconAndAvocado · 20/11/2023 19:32

DingDongMerrilyWithPie
That's really interesting re Rutger Hauer rewriting that speech,
DS2is is doing A level Film Studies and recently covered Blade Runner. He wasn't that impressed 😳😳😳

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