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.

Yes, a huge improvement, just need to be careful not to step out in front of bikes or e scooters.

Yes and those colourful passenger bikes with the Xmas music! They were doing a roaring trade

Its been so mild that my greenhouse thermometer recorded 8C as it’s ‘low’ over the last few days.
Just been catching up on the last couple of days. I was in Tallin last Summer, and they have there an ancient apothecary’s shop which would sell Marzipan as a cure for mild depression in women. Which in the absence of modern medicine sounds like a comforting thing to me.
I’m not sure I would want a pickled fig, but the cauliflower and hummus dish does appeal (and although perhaps a bit worthy for Christmas entertaining, it would be useful for feeding the family vegan).

It was 13 degrees here yesterday which I really don't like, and feels very contrary for the NE coast of England. When I was in the woods on Sunday, I saw this gorse bush in flower, which doesn't usually start till around February.

I love the sound of marzipan having health benefits (very much looking forward to the niederegger selection I know my Mum has for me for Christmas)

Quite a bit of flowering gorse around these parts too, which is a pity - I absolutely love the scent of gorse when hillsides are in full flower and will so many going early, I doubt we'll get the full effect in spring. Our snowdrops are already poking through in the garden too.

I came to marzipan quite late in life. Always thought I hated it when all I had ever tasted was the bright yellow, play-dough-like stuff which used to sit under the icing on fruit cakes. Proper almondy marzipan is a beautif thing. Especially incased in dark chocolate but I'm partial to a marzipan fruit at christmastime too. Struggling with lurgy just now, as well as the always-present anxiety so defintely tempted to send DH out to get some medicinal marzipan.

I like Nigel's idea of kneading orange zest into marzipan (I think it's when he's talking mince pies). However, using Nigella's recommendation of Boyajian citrus oils makes it loads easier; they are fantastic.

A heads-up - a couple of Nigel's '12 Tastes of Christmas' programmes are on BBC1 this week. Today and tomorrow at 2:30. Planning a sit-down with a cup of tea to watch today's Scandinavian-themed episode.

Thanks for that @Octothorpe. I’ll watch later with my first mince pie of the season.

Also loving the sound of the marzipan health benefits. I have a leftover ball of it from the cake icing. It’s wrapped in cling film and every now and again I pop a bit of it off too eat.

Placemarking.

I'm late checking in today due to a hospital appt, but no chapter today anyway.

Hope everyone is OK, and there's nothing too stressful left to organise for Christmas.

I've been doing housework all morning and am currently sat in front of Nigel's Christmas Suppers on BBC1, whilst shovelling in slightly out-of-date taramasalata straight from the plastic tub via cut up pitta bread. VVNN 😂

Just called into my Mum's and she was also watching it whilst eating a satsuma. Felt very festive!

Just found Nige on iplayer 👍

Travelling home to my mum’s for Christmas yesterday, we arrived at Paddington to find a Salvation Army band playing carols under the Christmas tree - it actually brought a tear to my eye (as DD observed, it was like being in a a Christmas film 🥰). We then had the annual scramble for the last Christmas tree in the garden centre - “the spindliest runt” as Nigel might put it - but now dripping with every bauble from my childhood and so rather splendid in its own way. Cake icing to follow (of the cake I baked while I was over in November) which will double as her 87th birthday cake today.

21 December

A wreath for the front door

The wreath is a symbol of welcome. America and Scandanavia have a long tradition of tying a ring of evergreen leaves to the door, but the habit has only recently become popular here. Indeed, I walk down the streets of London where barely a door is unadorned. Wreaths of Holly and red ribbon, wreaths of Mistletoe, wreaths of Douglas fir and rosemary. Some are clearly the handiwork of professionals, others rely on the charm of amateurish. I spot one finished with beech leaves and copper and green pheasant feathers in a way that let's everyone know the owners have a second home.

Typos

Good morning, all!

@LillianGish that all sounds so lovely!

4 days till the big day. Last day of school here, hurrah!

I always think Nigel’s thoughts on wreaths come quite late - in our house it’s usually one of the first things to go up. I can’t resist posting this pic of the wreath in a cheese shop near our apartment - snapped in early December.

I feel VN with my wreath this year. I couldn’t justify £50 at a workshop so made my own with clippings from local woods and a ribbon. Seems to be holding up fine. I did smile at the comment of feathers meaning you have a country estate. Round here it means you went to a floristry workshop.

love the cheese wreath and the creativity all around me at the moment - so many beautiful house decorations to enjoy

@Newgirls I also chuckled at his comment about having a second home with the pheasant feather wreath. I've made loads of stuff with pheasant feathers as my Dad shoots every week. We definitely don't have a country estate, or a second home, though.

I've found myself over the last few days hoping Nigel is OK, after his last post on Instagram. Just wirh him saying it's a low key Christmas this year for him. I know he always makes a big deal of his tree, but posted a pic of last year's instead. I'm hoping he's just off somewhere nice, or staying with friends.

We also went for a homemade wreath this year, so far it is standing up to the wind and rain quite well!

Ooh. I've just done my last (hopefully) errand before Christmas - picked up the cats meds. Popped to the charity shop next door and immediately spotted this. Been after it since it came out as it's the only one I don't have. It's brand new. Merry Christmas to me!

Merry Christmas @RainbowZebraWarrior !

It was meant to be!

Oh, lovely @RainbowZebraWarrior !

I hope Nigel is OK, I wondered about the low key Christmas post, too.