Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Read Along 2023 - Part Two

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Continuing from Part 1

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 began on 1st November, however there is still time to fully appreciate Nigel in All His Splendour as it takes us to Christmas and beyond.

Most of us already have the book (or Audio 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 continue to make a post each day and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the days recipes, sentiments and indeed Dear Old Nige himself.

Pull up a chair and a cosy blanket and join in. Twinkly lights are optional, but candle light is definitely recommended. Regulars and newcomers are welcomed like old friends.

Only three weeks in and we are at Part Two already!

Let's continue our cosy journey into winter.

Thank you RainbowZebra. Checking in with my mid afternoon cuppa in a Christmas mug.

Placemarking so I can find this thread later. I don't yet own the Holy Grail Chronicles, as I cant find it anywhere for much less than twenty quid and I don't have that to spare at the moment, but I am following the thread for the hygge.

We did rice pudding in the slow cooker yesterday with double cream in it and nutmeg.....not sure how that shapes up next to Nigel, but it did feel and taste decadent!

@MammaWeasel do you have amazon prime? It is free to download if you do.

Thank you @Breadhead1 sadly we don't have Amazon Prime.

Checking in for the new thread - Christmas cake is in the oven so the apartment is smelling very Nigel.

Thanks for the new thread @RainbowZebraWarrior

Im here and just had first mince pie - from bakery not home made. I tried to hold out til dec but it was not to be

We have a Christmas pudding (Aldi, I think) in the cupboard from 4-5 years ago. Nobody ever eats it! I like the idea more than the reality, I think.

Would they eat it in like a festive Eton mess type pudding? Or chopped up into cubes and mixed into fairy cake mixture and baked, with buttercrean icing? Or mixed into ice cream, in little cubes.......or something?

Thankyou for the new thread. My imagination is full of the flavours and smells described so far.

Cake is out of the oven - I think it’s even better than the first one I made. Took it out earlier after reading advice on here about fan ovens. Of course the proof will be in the tasting! Most importantly it smells heavenly.

Looks delicious @LillianGish

Looks fabulous @LillianGish we bought the ingredients we needed to make a Christmas cake yesterday from Lidl (NVN), and I am looking forward to the day we make it and my house smells heavenly.

I think making your own Christmas cake is always VN @MammaWeasel - wherever you buy your ingredients from.

Have been enjoying the read along so much - thank you to all the eloquent posters who contribute so beautifully. 💕

I'm more of a happy reader, but wanted to add a little something to the pot so to speak! I've not been able to make any of Nigel's recipes as I only have the audio version of the book, so I had a bash at one of Nigella's festive offerings - lentil & chestnut soup. I found some vac pack chestnuts from Aldi in the cupboard that they were selling off at 9p per pack in January (bargain!). It was absolutely delicious and really filling. I served it with Sainsbury's new sage, onion & cranberry bread, which I recommend highly.

Have also booked a festive trip with a friend to Edinburgh next month to take in the Christmas market and this:

A visit to Valvona & Crolla is also on the agenda and I'm hoping to buy some panforte amongst other things. I'll give the Vin Santo a miss though, as it's eye-wateringly expensive!

Thank you all once again for the absolute joy of this cosy corner of the forum.

Just nipped out to pick up a baguette and discovered the concierge has decorated our entrance hall. A lovely festive surprise - dark and wet outside.

Lovely cake 🍰 I'll need to catch up on Nigel tonight. I've fallen behind

@MammaWeasel. Do you have a library card? You can download ebooks or audio books free, and it’s worth having a look to see if CC is available.

Thanks @Bubblesbythesea I have managed to borrow a copy but I can only keep it for a couple of weeks. I think the same is true of downloaded books. Thank you for the suggestion though!

What a lovely thread this is.

Did my Christmas cake yesterday from the M&S kit (NVN) and given it the first feed. Can't believe Homebase are selling fresh trees already!

Ooh, I'm going to M&S later this week. I had a nosey on Saturday to see if they had reduced their kits yet (they had this time last year) I need to stick to my list though, and not be tempted by unnecessary fripperies (Never going to happen)

Cake looks lovely, and that hallway looks so pretty @LillianGish Like a winter Wonderland!

Also, @ilovecardigans Christmas at the Botanics looks lovely. I've booked for Northern Lights Newcastle this year, which is held at Leazes Park. It's the first time they have done it here, and I'm hoping for a suitably crisp frosty night when we go on 22 December.

Speaking of snow, we have some on the forecast for next week. Fingers crossed, but it probably won't happen.

I'm of those parts @ilovecardigans, let me know if you need any restaurant recs or anything like that. The markets are supposed to be better this year but they get incredibly busy so I'd go early. Christmas at the Botanics is lush.

Thanks for the new thread- checking in.