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.

Welcome, @Octothorpe I actually gave myself a headache, sniffing my frankincense resin yesterday. It's utterly divine, but a bit too much of a good thing, I think. I've got a small bowl full in the kitchen, and some nuggets beside my bed though. I'm not lighting any candles today either as I think my asthma might need a break from the scent overload (even the natural ones) What I really want to do is open the windows for some fresh air, but it's still -3 here.

I could kick myself: I was in Jerusalem a few months ago and could easily have got some frankincense but I just wasn't in 'the zone'. Regretting it now, reading all your lovely posts about it.

@StarryAnise your cup & holly is beautiful, as is your crib.

If you have an open fire or woodburner, put a couple of little lumps on a shovel, heat it till it starts smoking and then sort of waft it around a bit. It's gorgeous.

Also you can buy it here from an actual abbey: https://www.prinknashabbey.org/prinknash-incense

@StarryAnise - loving your tea cup collection. How lovely have them displayed rather than stuck in a cupboard. And I love your nativity.

@LillianGish - Berlin looks wonderful. I used to live in Budapest and loved the Christmas markets there. It felt so atmospheric.

I have only once attempted to make mince pies from scratch and they were not good. My Nana would not be impressed. She was an amazing baker. I may manage an assembly this year. With bought pastry and mincemeat.

I, too, use bought pastry and "assemble" mince pies.

The crib looks amazing!

I use this recipe, which makes the most amazing mince pies. The pastry is utterly delicious.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/recipes/0/orange-scented-mince-pies-recipe/

I’ve made those mince pies too, @UnimaginableWindBird - with the orange juice pastry. They’re wonderful, aren’t they?

Several years ago now I spotted a Victorian scrapbook in a secondhand bookshop. It had been made in the 1870s by a little boy who rejoiced in the name of Cleveland Butterfield, and he stuck Christmas cards into it. I snapped it up for £30 and it’s one of my treasures now. I’ve been looking through it this afternoon while the rain poured outside. He pasted his own photo in the front with his name in his best lettering. I looked him up in the censuses and he became a newspaper editor and died in 1949, aged 80. He and his wife never had any children but one of their nephews lived with them and was described as 'adopted' in the 1911 census. I’d love to know more about his life.

What a treasure @Octothorpe.

This is the December Book of the Month for the Jamie Oliver Cookbook Club. Waiting for mine to be delivered at the moment.

@Elmrosie thanks for that. I had no idea that Jamie had a cookbook club so I've just joined.

@RainbowZebraWarrior the last two books have been absolutely brilliant, so this one has a lot to live up to. I'm building my cookbook collection back up after downsizing meant I initially had to cull 3/4s of it. I've now got a new kitchen and an entire full length cupboard to myself for my books!

@RainbowZebraWarrior that book looks right up my street!

Happy 1st Sunday of Advent, everyone.

Today ended up being a lot busier than we had planned and I spent the evening on a phone call with my DDs. So I will catch up on book/thread tomorrow instead.

@Octothorpe that's exquisite. Sent a little shiver down my spine. Loving the glimpses into everyone's treasures and traditions.

A super-Christmassy baking day for me. A GH Fig and Ginger Christmas cake for us (new recipe for me but someone shared it on another forum and I liked the sound of it) and a smaller classic Mary Berry for a friend. Then did Nigel's Christmas pudding." His description made me laugh "My little pudding...was given top marks by the Telegraph Newspaper and it was up against the best of our living cookery writers". Love that humble "little" there! Looks delicious.

The Quince and Cardamom mincemeat was less successful as am still getting used to my new induction hob and burnt the bottom of the pan. Rescued most of it but definitely a slight trace of chargrilled quince to it. Might try a small trial batch of mince pies to see if I can get away with it.

Mr Anise has been poorly, but felt up to putting up our hall decorations. I was twitching watching him, then thought I'd got away with saying "that looks lovely - I normally put the best ones in first and then fill in with the plain ones" and he laughed and said" I was just waiting for you to tell me how to do it". All looks lovely though. Beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Morning all. There is no chapter today, so a chance to take a breath and catch up for those that need to.

I feel like I'm coming down with something. I had a weird night's sleep and have woken with a sore throat. DD is also unwell so off school. I have a Rheumatology appt today that I've waited 20 months for which is typical. I'll take a Covid test, and all being well, drag myself along and wear a mask. Thankfully the hospital is only a 5 min drive.

Exactly this time last year, I got Covid and it knocked me out for 3 weeks. I only tested negative on the Christmas Eve. It properly messed with all my pre Christmas plans.

The weather doesn't help I suppose. I went to bed at midnight it was -1 with 3 inches of snow and ice on the ground. Woke up at 7am to 5 degrees and all the snow has disappeared.

Anyway, I'm waffling. Hope you all have nice, gentle days and enjoy what you do.

@RainbowZebraWarrior have you tried First Defence? There is actually some scientific evidence for it, but I'm sure the major impact is placebo as you squirt foul, icy liquid up your nose willing yourself to stay strong. Also, a hot drink of honey, lemon juice, turmeric and fresh ginger feels like it is boosting the immune system. Fingers crossed it doesn't turn into anything nasty.

@UnimaginableWindBird - I may give that recipe a try.

@Octothorpe - how fabulous is that? Lovely to see and so nice that you were able to find out a bit more about him.

@Elmrosie - I saw that book but am trying to resist. I have far too many cookbooks as it is. It does look interesting though!

@RainbowZebraWarrior - hope you feel better soon. Take lots of vitamin C. Berocca if you have any.

Sounds like lots of lovely baking @StarryAnise.

I love the simplicity of your advent candles @YuletideSolace. I lit mine yesterday too.

@Octothorpe that is lovely. I have something similar and it is such a treasure.

@RainbowZebraWarrior i hope all is well. Hopefully an early night will do the trick. I’m also feeling not myself and think I’ll send my apologies to book group and go to bed!

I hope you got to your appointment @RainbowZebraWarrior - hopefully you’re back and managing to rest a bit.

I did like Nigel S's simple, homely little mince pies the other day. The photo was lovely and really reminded me of the mince pies my Mum used to make, just with ordinary shortcrust pastry and in those old-fashioned, rounded base tart tins that aren’t too deep. I sometimes find the commercial ones these days just have too much mincemeat in.

5 December

Krampusnacht and a cake that smells of sugar and spice

The fallen leaves remain in crisp piles under the chestnut trees outside the house. No one sweeps them up, instead, we leave them to break down into a chocolate brown loam. I planted Narcissi under them once, but the bulbs mysteriously moved to further down the road, where they bloom, laughing at me each spring. A branch has broken off in the wind and I pick it up and bring it into the house.

Morning all!

I love this chapter and have been eagerly awaiting it. I love the description of Krampus. I get the same sort of feeling, by listening to Nigels description of Krampus as I used to as a child when we would share (mostly benign) ghost stories. For this reason, I listened to it last night on Audible, and am going to again now. Of course DD came into the room last night and said 'You're listening to his Christmas thing again"

I also love the cake. I love the idea and description of the cake, the look of the cake, and the smell of the cake. It's everything I love wrapped up in one, well, cake.

I'm still feeling ropey, and I posted on the wrong thread then lost my formatting, but it doesn't seem to have progressed to anything really nasty, and at least I got yesterday's appointment done. I swear by Zincovit Vitamin C with Propolis. Today I have to take the car for it's MOT. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes, but needs must as I simply don't have anyone I can just hand that responsibility to. The garage is in the village, so not too onerous (and hopefully not too expensive!)

Hope everyone else is feeling OK @Bimblesalong fingers crossed you aren't feeling any worse.

I’m actually a bit nervous about meeting Krampus while out and about in Berlin today. I think I posted a picture last year of an encounter at a Christmas market when we lived here that nearly frightened my son to death (he was about 2 at the time).

Oh gosh of course you're in Berlin. And yes, I remember your story. You'll have to be on your guard all day.

I’m sorry or perhaps I should be glad? that I didn’t see your Krampus photo last year. I’d never heard of this character before.
@RainbowZebraWarrior hope you are feeling better soon.

Waiting to board my plane home so I passed the time looking for last year’s Krampus photo. No new sightings this year!