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.

@Nothingbuttheglory Thanks for that. It’s good to know that it freeze’s successfully.

Hello!
I've been reading the threads over the past few days to catch up. Initially I was a bit worried you'd all be a bit precious (much like Nigel himself 😄) but you are fabulously irreverent and your lives sound just as interesting as his. I currently have CC on loan from the library - I've already renewed it once & will have to do so again in a couple of days! The only thing I've made so far from it is the banana and cardamom cake, which was nice, but the cardamom is only in the sugar topping; if I were to make it again I'd put some in the sponge too. I love cardamom.

Yet to make my cake - I only do a small one - 6" - as only DH and I eat it, and I use a old recipe from Good Housekeeping where you soak the fruit in orange liqueur. I use Cointreau. I must confess, I loathe marzipan and don't put it on the cake, just icing. Not surprisingly I hate stollen too.
I've got some mincemeat left from last year so I'll use that to make mince pies next week (pastry is v old Prima recipe with egg yolk and ground almonds).

I actually live not far from Nigel - he's practically opposite a v nice Italian deli, and about 100 yards from the butcher and fishmonger 😄 I went to the fishmonger once to get fish for DH's birthday supper and nearly had a heart attack when they told me the price.

30 November

Christmas windows and a soft, sweet cake

To see Fortnum & Mason's Christmas windows is to step into the pages of a book of fairy tales. Each year they glisten and sparkle, like frost on a topiary garden, a scene of old fashioned wonder and delight. The designs are cluttered in the loveliest sense, like looking into a kaleidoscope. The attention to detail is breathtaking.

Good morning all, and welcome @Barkcloth how exciting that you live close to Nigel himself.

Today's entry reminds me how much I used to love Fenwick window as a kid. When it was properly old-fashioned (the same team from Germany used to do it every year), like a scene from Mister Geppeto's workshop. It always took your breath away as it was so enchanting.

I can't believe it's the last day of November. (I must track down the elves today - NVN) The cake in today's chapter looks delicious, but I'm not a fan of bananas or cardamom, so I may make a different variation. Next week is particularly busy, so I'm looking to enjoy the next couple of days, pottering and cleaning.

Catching up here! We were at an event at the cathedral the other night, @bigbadbarry and the market looked so pretty and twinkly with its lights on. I shall walk into the city in the next few days and pick up some Christmas goodies for the family.
I’ve not opened the curtains yet but it is chilly!

only a day to go til I start on my posh advent. A real treat this year.

love the mouse in Fenwicks window up thread. When I was in Paris, some of their window displays are moving ones with music, they had really gone to town this year.

Advent calendars / fillings at the ready!

Im in London this weekend so will go and look at fortnams window and prob buy very over priced chocolate for stockings. Such lovely packaging I can’t resist. I will make sure to look at detail at the windows to get the full experience

@RainbowZebraWarrior I live in London now but I'm originally from Newcastle and used to love the Fenwicks windows when I was a child. They were very much part of Christmas. That wee mouse upthread is just adorable.

I'm doing a market all weekend so won't have time for cooking but I thought I'd do the sausages & leeks tomorrow night. I have made notes on all your comments about it. I'll go to M&S and see if I can get their fennel sausages.

Years ago I made refillable advent calendars for the 4 of us in the family. I got a cracking selection of chocs (NVN) yesterday so will be filling today - I'll post a pic later.

Welcome @Barkcloth and how apt to be physically Nigel adjacent. I bet the butcher and the fishmonger LOVE him...

😂

In Dublin this weeks so will look at the Brown Thomas windows . Snowy here

I'm from Dublin but have not lived there for years. Always loved Grafton Street at Christmas 🎄

@DingDongMerrilyWithPie - me too! So loved Grafton St at Christmas. Enjoy @Carriemac.

1 December

Mistletoe, malt loaf and a salad of cobnuts

I need to track down a supply of mistletoe. Along with bunches of Holly and ivy, it's soft green stems have long decorated this house at this time of year. Mistletoe is heavy with folklore. Viscum albums, the variety of the genus that produces the white, translucent berries is the one I need to deck our halls at Christmas.

Good morning, all. It's December!

Happy Advent.

It is minus two and currently snowing, here. I'm still in bed, but I've opened the blinds as I love watching it fall.

Happy Advent! Woke up to a covering of snow here again this morning so looking very wintery outside. Nice and cosy indoors, and Christmas mugs out today for early morning tea. And very exciting - just opened first door of Advent calendar (beauty calendar, definitely NN!) DD gives me one every year and I love having a little surprise to look forward to every morning, it’s such a treat!

Waking up to a pretty, frosty garden today. It’s going to be a cold few days but bright so lots of walking for me. Went to a fabric shop last week and the range of Christmas ribbons and fabrics was very cheering. Recommended for a dopamine hit!

Ah, Peridot do you not miss the spiced beef at Christmas? I miss corned beef too. Can't get it here.

Happy advent! Oh my life, that mouse in the Fenwick’s window-how adorable!

Jealous of people with snow although it’s a frosty day in Brum and the garden does look really pretty and festive.

Made Nigel’s orange and poppy seed cake the other day which was delish and might do the banana and cardamom one today as housebound with a poorly eldest DD at the moment. She’s on the vulnerable list so have been covid testing but so far negative. Did have a lovely day with her making Christmas cards for her teachers yesterday though so still feeling quite jovial. Got out the decs and first box contained pink and purple tinsel, NVN…

@Bubblesbythesea Getting the Christmas mugs out. What a good thought, off to get mine in a minute.

Another Brummie (Brummy?) here. The frost looks so pretty but it's so blinkin' cold! To be watching snow falling would be a lovely thing.

Crikey! I'm just home after the school run which has taken over an hour instead of 10 mins. Pleased to be back. Looks pretty, but the roads are a nightmare. I've also got NVN beauty advent, but also an OG pictures-behind-doors one.

Here's a pic of my front garden.

Snow here too in costal north Northumberland. Bitterly cold, but beautiful and everything is so still and peaceful. My little garden robin is enjoying the mealworms & sunflower seeds I flung out onto the back lawn this morning. He's having to compete with the many spuggies and starlings who are also ravenous, bless them.

@DingDongMerrilyWithPie - we never had spiced beef! Strictly a turkey and ham family I’m afraid. DS is doing a Masters at Trinity and is flying home today and I asked him to get me Chocolate Kimberly though! Def NVN! But I love them at Christmas!

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Happy 1st of December everyone!!

The nisser have arrived, exactly on time this year.

(Sorry for my absence; I've missed you all. Have been dealing with major overwhelm the past several weeks, 😔😔 but feeling better today, helped by tackling some of a very long chores list yesterday. There's still more to do but at least I'm no longer completely paralysed/in freeze mode)

I haven't read the thread, and I've not read the book either! I am feeling less stressed today, though, so I will take some time to read both this evening. Need to access that calm and quiet again.

Wishing each of you a peaceful and contented Christmas Season.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

No snow here but was sub zero and super frosty here this morning. Feels VN to be crunching around the garden with everything white and sparkly.

I love mistletoe, it always seems a little bit magical to me. There’s absolutely loads on the street where I live, huge balls of it high up in the trees.

Im off to my first Christmas market this evening, just a local event, and the cold makes it seem even more festive.

It's so frosty here, very pretty. I must put some water out for the blackbirds, everything is frozen solid.

Off to Warsaw tonight!! Will report back.