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.

The mention of Pelham puppets in today’s CC instantly brings back memories of my great excitement one year on finding Father Christmas had brought me a Pelham puppet, Looby Loo. I remember the sound of her little wooden feet clattering away when I made her dance - the background noise of that Christmas, driving everyone else mad - but I loved her!

I’ve been away and I’ve spent this afternoon catching up on the last few chapters. The tree is sat outside waiting to be brought into the house and decorated by me (I suspect this is because the family find the task boring, although they would no doubt claim it is because I’m so good at it).

I got the chance to smell the Trudon candles at Galleries Lafayette but resisted buying one. However I would have loved to have bought a Buche de Noel for Christmas Eve if there were any but I assume we were too early, and that unlike here the French do not think a long shelf life is a good thing. There were plenty of Christmas trees for sale though and I was impressed that they come fitted into a stand made from a section of log so they will stand up on their own. Why don’t we have this?

I made Nigel's Rye, Treacle and Linseed bread yesterday. It's lovely-not as heavy as you'd expect from a loaf made with half rye flour. It's a bit like a malt loaf without the stickiness. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwign8j-5oeDAxVAUUEAHaRsCg0QFnoECA0QAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Flifeandstyle%2F2017%2Fjan%2F01%2Fnigel-slater-new-years-day-knead-free-knobbly-loaf&usg=AOvVaw0V2iSupvyaNASMevqzouq_&opi=89978449

I love the sound of the Treacle & Linseed bread but I know DH wouldn't like it.

DH came home with this today - he says he thinks Christofle is to Christmas decorations what Trudon is to candles (and that this at least could come out year after year!). He’s not actually reading CC so it’s pure coincidence that he brought it home today. My Christmas tree is wedged in half a log @narniabusiness - it’s true it is a ready made stand, but it means I can’t stand it in my German stand with water reservoir so it just has to slowly dry out (it’s absolutely impossible to remove the the trunk from the log!)

@LillianGish that is a beautiful ornament.

So not such a brilliant idea then @LillianGish. That Christmas ornament is so beautiful. ❤️

12 December

A fine and fruity chutney

Chutney, the ever useful sour-sweet splodge for sharpening up cold roast lamb or a wedge of pork pie, is one of those recipes that changes over time. What appears a little acidic as it simmers in the pot will often as not calm down after a few weeks in a jar on a shelf. Even a week trapped in a glass storage jar allows the fruit, vinegar, spices and aromatics a chance to mellow. Sour, sweet and spicy become one harmonious mixture rather than opposites fighting for supremacy. Best man it now, then.

Love a chutney - both making it and eating it (also you can’t easily buy it here). I always make Delia’s spicy apricot (sorry Nige 😳)

I’ve never tried making chutney, the ladies from the two local Churches (C of E and RC) make such wonderful ones that they sell - very cheaply - at regular coffee mornings and fetes that I am rather lazy in that respect. Perhaps next year I should give it a try!

Chutney made locally sounds perfect

I have lots of my grandmas decorations which will come out soon. I have mulled wine ready for when our eldest comes back and then we can do the tree!

went to a wonderful school Carol concert last week which had readings and trad carols - really lovely

Not sure I will buy cinnamon biscuits but I like the idea of little things in a tin so will have a think - hard to beat mince pies though

Newgirls; I've been making Elisenlebkuchen for the last couple of years-they're gorgeous.

Katie Stewart’s Plum chutney is my recipe of choice. I can’t remember why I chose it in the first place but it tastes good to me so I’ve never tried any others.
Writing that down sounds a bit sad tbh. 😂

Your carol concert sounds lovely @Newgirls DH and I were at a wonderful candlelit Advent concert last night - on the programme was the the traditional French Christmas song Quelle est cette odeur agréable which I believe tranlates as Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing when sung in English. DH pointed to the song in the programme and said “That’s clearly a song about one of Nigel’s candles!” 🤣

It does sound VN

We often visit family in St Albans and the Abbey bells there play Quelle est cette odeur……definitely VN!

Re Christmas decorations: I have it on good authority that every year the C.I.A.launches a commemorative Christmas bauble for its staff and associates. And that one year, the wording on it was, "We know if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness' sake".

I've also been busy making chutney to go with a homemake fruitcake, marmalade and biscuits for christmas baskets of goodies for a few friends and family.
Had the opportunity to sing with a choir last night under the tree in Trafalgar Square. The Christmas lights were super.

Morning all!

My thoughts on chutney before we move onto today's chapter. I've made chutney for about 30 years. Largely because we have always had produce to use up. I used to sell it in my café. I'm feeling a little bereft this year, as I haven't made any (although I have made some of my chilli jam which is famous among friends and family) I make loads of different kinds, including a dark one which I love at Christmas. It's a regular chutney recipe with added Cinnamon and All Spice, Balsamic Vinegar and dates. Makes it beautifully dark and rich. Anyway, I have so many still from last year, that this is the first year I've not made more. The Vinegar evaporating while cooking it aggravates DD and she's off at the minute with a cough, but I may make a small batch next week if she's back to school - just ro put away for next year! I posted some pics last year and a few of you pointed out that my writing is like Nigel's.

13 December

Broth and bones. Coming in from the cold

I have been working in the garden, digging mostly, planting scented white narcissi in soil the colour of wet tobacco. White tulips too, in old terracotta pots for the spring. My hands are scratched. The ground is heavy and sodden, and every step is like wading through treacle. The sun, a watery orange-pink seen through witch black trees, is sliding down towards the earth much like my wet socks have ruckled down my boots. It takes an age to get them off, standing first on one leg, then on the other outside the kitchen door, determined not to traipse any more mud inside the house than absolutely necessary.

We went to London on a coach trip on Sunday 2nd. Of course, that was the first time they postponed putting up the tree until the 7th!

I hope that’s true about the cia! Brilliant.

it will be marmalade time soon Rainbow so if you don’t need more chutney then plenty more creative opportunities soon x

I truly feel Nigel's pain re the ruckled-down socks in the wellies. The worst part of gardening by far!

I’ve never really got the hang of chutney-making somehow. I think I’m with your daughter, @RainbowZebraWarrior - I find the tang of the vinegar as it simmers down for hours so actively difficult that it puts me off, unlike jam or marmalade-making where the kitchen smells fruity and delicious. I made some apple, sultana and ginger chutney several years ago when we had an enormous apple glut (and before we found a local place that makes juice from our surplus crop instead), and I’m still using it up, as DH doesn’t like chutney anyway…

First year I was married, I got all housewifely, and made pickled onions and picallilli. You couldn't see across the kitchen for vinegar fumes! I swear the air shimmered.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I’ve yet to find a good source of chilli jam, perhaps I could suggest to the church ladies that they add that to their repertoire!