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.

Happy Christmas everyone. I did manage to make some biscuits today using my Christmas cookie cutters, which has been the limit of my baking this year. They were delicious if not photogenic and were eagerly devoured I’m happy to say. Nigellas recipe I confess.

Merry Christmas everyone.

I love the Christmas Eve chapter - Nigel's sense of excitement about Santa Claus, even as an adult.

I love the idea of bringing evergreens into the home. I've never done it but may do so next year. My house is definitely less grand than Nigel's. I have no unused fireplaces but do like idea of having a jug of Holly on the table.

The fish pie sounds delicious and I appreciate the tradition of eating fish on Christmas eve but nobody here likes fish apart from me. We've been grazing on a charcuterie and cheese board all evening with delicious ibericos brought back from a trip to Madrid in October - it has taken so much willpower to leave these until today and I'm glad I did.

Lastly, I'm pleased to say that the final essential piece of Christmas fell into place for me today when I came across a salvation army band. Had missed this so far this year and NOW it feels like Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Merry Christmas everyone ⛄🎄🎉

Christmas Day

Ringing bells and a roasting goose

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Thanks all for your company so far on this lovely little journey. Whatever you're doing today, I hope you enjoy, and can relax a little, too.

Merry Christmas all. This thread has been perfect for getting me in a Christmassy mood this year - thank you to everyone who shared their preparations.

Rainbow there is no such thing as too many potatoes, enjoy!

A happy and peaceful Christmas to everyone who’s contributed to this thread, which has been a joy to follow. I’ve looked forward to catching up every day and will miss following everyone’s photos, thoughts and Christmas preparations. And a special thanks to @RainbowZebraWarrior for keeping us posted and up to date.

Wishing peace and good health to everyone. I was lte to this thread but have enjoyed reading back through the threads. I've bought the book and will be ready next year.
Thank you.

Merry Christmas everyone and thank you to all, but especially @RainbowZebraWarrior for the thread. It really has been the perfect way to get into the festive spirit and also into a slower, cosy, hygge state during the winter season. Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful day today.

I've just had a quiet moment with a cup of tea, some chocolate, and the Christmas day entry. I so wish I could be invited to Nigel's for Christmas Dinner- he makes it sound exactly as it all should be.

My turkey is in the oven - I'm not hosting this year but always have to buy and cook a turkey. Not only does it make the house smell like Christmas but it gives me the ingredients for all the amazing Christmas leftover dishes for the next few days - I think I like this more than the big day/big dinner itself.

Just popped back to say a huge thank you to @RainbowZebraWarrior and everyone else for this thread. It gave me so much pleasure, anticipation and diversion through the dark and gloomy days of late November and early December. Then the reality of the end of my last ever term of teaching kicked in, I missed a few days and never found a way to catch up and get back to the thread.

Finishing work was full on but amazing, then got hit with a terrible virus and have been on the sofa watching baking themed Hallmark movies for the last 4 days (as recommended in the last segment of this: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-entertainment/id1718287198)

Pulled myself together to deliver an awesome Christmas Feast (though I say it myself!) including Nigel's very good figgy pudding which was made before mayhem hit. Now earned a little mumsnet browse and just wanted to say happy Christmas to you all.

This thread was an utter delight and massively increased my enjoyment of the whole Christmas caboodle. Already looking forward to next year's which hopefully I will be able to stick with all the way through! Hope you had a happy day, and if it wasn't what you hoped, that you are at peace with it. Happy Christmas to you all.

Merry Christmas everyone.

It’s been lovely reading along with you all and Nigel.

Thanks for all the lovely messages.

For those continuing to read on, here we go.

26 December - Boxing Day

A pig in a blanket, a crisp salad

Boxing Day could, just could, be the very best day of the year. I could elaborate, but what is the point when all is said and done in one, vast, magnificent, glorious sandwich. There is, I venture to suggest, no finer sandwich than the one built from the contents of the fridge on the day after Christmas. Thin folds of roast turkey, beef or goose, generously salted, cold stuffing, cold sausage, cranberry or apple sauce. A few sharp, possibly fiery Pickles. You will need some rather good bread of course, a dollop of mayonnaise, some leaves of sprightly lettuce or a tangle of watercress. You will almost certainly want to crisp a handful of rashers of smoked streaky bacon, too.

Happy Boxing Day! I tend to agree with Nigel that it’s the best day as much more relaxed than the day itself with less pressure to do anything and with lots of food already prepared. Thanks for doing the business @RainbowZebraWarrior - I’ll definitely be staying the course 🌲

Yes, I was hoping we'd keep going with the book through the post-Christmas winter season.

I agree, for me Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are the best days of the season. No stress or family squabbles (and boy did we have plenty of those yesterday!). Been for a long and much needed walk in the hills today. Normally we'd have soup (something bright and orange and slightly sweet always hits the spot on Boxing day - I made butternut and chilli last week and defrosted for today) for lunch with a turkey sandwich followed by my mum's turkey curry* for dinner. As our walk was quite lengthy, we took flasks and some cheese and nibbly bits with us and will have the soup tonight with a more substantial turkey and cranberry baguette. The curry will.maje an appearance tomorrow instead.

*Mum's turkey curry is actually a weight watchers recipe which she always used on boxing day and I've carried on the tradition. Made with ground almonds stirred into low fat yoghurt and some curry powder, it's far from authentic but it's not Christmas without it.

I've just listened to a new podcast with Nigel on. It shows a really different side to him & worth a listen, perhaps whilst you cook. It's called Before the Lights (S3 E5) and is about 35 mins long.

Ooh thanks for that podcast heads up!

27 December

The prospect of soup

Christmas used to be longer. The twelve days were truly celebrated with feasting and merriment right up to Twelfth Night, the feast of Epiphany on January 6.

Thanks for this, I shall listen this evening.

I can't decide what to cook / eat today. I have enough turkey left for sandwiches for a late lunch (I had welsh cakes with clotted cream for breakfast!) I did buy a whole side of salmon, so I think it might have to be that, today. I think it would make a welcome change.

I'm aware that I'm having to check and double check what day it is. Next food shopping is due to be delivered Saturday, and DD and I are planning a buffet for NYE. That means I need to decide on meals for Thursday to Saturday. I think soup could be a good option for tomorrow. It will be a vegetable effort, though.

A day for using up leftovers, and my very favourite post Christmas treat, bubble and squeak, fried up mashed potatoes mixed with leftover vegetables, a bit of brown sauce and I’m very happy!

No brown sauce so having it with home made piccalilli instead - even better!!!

This has been a Christmas of revelations - firstly, that I am capable of producing a Beef Wellington, and secondly, that said Beef Wellington is absolutely glorious, cold, 2 days later :)

Still drowning in a mountain of cheese, cold meats, pickles and booze - but we're struggling through, and looking forward to the New Year :)

I think I was done with leftovers by yesterday. There isn't much left. Have frozen the roast potatoes. I'm ready for some light, fresh dishes. Just had paté on toast for dinner. Haven't touched any cheese yet, but I'm making a baked cheese dish for NYE.

28 December

A sweet moment

The books. There are books in the kitchen, books in the study and books in the drawing room. There are books in my satchel, books on my desk and books by my bedside. There are novels and short stories, biographies and diaries, hiakus and travelogues. There are gardening books and poetry and of course there are cook books, though I am far from what you might call a collector.

@Inextremis do you have a recipe you could share please?

I was happy to see the book carries on beyond Xmas, I’ve so enjoyed reading it each day. I’m not looking ahead to see how much more there is to go…

@MerryMidwinter I used the Gordon Ramsay recipe - followed it more or less to the letter, but the cooking time was a bit longer - used a meat thermometer to make sure it was cooked :)