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.

That’s lovely, Yuletide. He responded to me a few weeks ago and it made my day!

Fairly Nige creations here - not sure if he’d be one for baubles tho.

How lovely to have Instagram interactions with him. He didn't reply to me (awww!) I noticed that he seems pretty good at replying to new posts, but I'd left it a couple of days.

I've commented a few times and not had replies. But last time was when there hadn't been many yet. I guess it's easier to keep track of the comments when there're only a few dozen to read!

For those of us who may be feeling a little overwhelmed or struggling with all that life may be throwing at us this season, may I recommend this lovely read?

https://www.waterstones.com/book/wintering/katherine-may/9781846045998

Feeling terribly sad today. I came home from a long, very cold walk and found a little goldfinch lying dead on the front drive. There wasn't a mark on him, so I can only imagine that he had literally frozen to death. Poor little soul. I laid him to rest in the snow under a hebe.

Safe travels to everyone heading out and about this weekend.

That's so sad @ilovecardigans but at least you gave him a good send off.

Those of you who have made them, can you recommend a cinnamon rolls recipe? I would like to make a batch and freeze them for Christmas morning. I'm a good cook, and can bake, but I've never made anything with enriched dough.

@ilovecardigans that would have made me so sad too, poor little bird.

@Barkcloth I make these but non-vegan (use butter and cows milk) https://minimalistbaker.com/the-worlds-easiest-cinnamon-rolls/

I make them on Christmas Eve evening and leave them somewhere cool overnight for their second rise (garden shed or car boot). Make the icing and put it in a piping bag then too. Put the oven on on Christmas morning and bake them before putting the turkey in.

I saw the Northern Lights off the coast at St Mary's on bonfire night. Unfortunately, I was raised on a literary diet of Jack London whose descriptions of the aurora I remember as utterly transcendent (must reread). All I could see was a smudge on the sky that I initially took for a cloud. People with cameras got decent pictures with long exposures though.

One day I'll get to Norway or Reykjavik.

Berlin is gratifyingly cold and snowy and the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market (relocated round the corner this year into the equally scenic Bebelplatz) did not disappoint. DH was particularly fascinated by a VN brush stall and I picked up some frankincense resin I’ve been trying to track down ever since reading that Nigel likes to carry some with him at all times. It does actually feel as if I’ve stepped into the pages of the CC.

Ooh it does look like you've stepped into the pages of the CC (in particular, tomorrow's bumper chaper) Beautiful Baubles!!
It's very cold and snowy here too, but sadly without the beautiful shops and markets.

It looks wonderful @LillianGish Thanks for the photos.

I like the look of that brush stall @LillianGish !

Thank you for the recipe @EversoDisorganised

I've had a hectic week and missed so much loveliness! Planning to catch up properly - book and thread - in a long soak in the bath tonight. But the start of Advent has galvanised me and yesterday was full of gentle Christmassy action.

Fruit is soaking for the cake, quinces are stewed for the mincemeat, crib is finished and mounted in the big bay tree in the front garden, and the teacup advent calendar (use a different teacup from my porch display every morning then fill it with greenery) is a lovely way to start the day. Can't remember who suggested an advent morning tea ritual, but thank you very much, just inspired.

Ridiculously excited to see this out of the window this morning (East Midlands).

@StarryAnise You've got a lovely collection of tea cups. I like your idea of using them in an advent calendar.

I finished the crib on Thursday night, tried it out on the low garden wall where I thought it would go and was very disappointed. It didn't look great and was crying out to be vandalised. I couldn't see it lasting long in central Manchester, even screwed down. Then I had the idea of fitting it in the bay tree by the gate. It looks much better with its frame of glossy bay leaves, and I think because lots of people have lights in garden trees, it looks more normal and less nickable.

The photo doesn't really do it justice, it's so tiny and cute. The figures are French Feves - the ceramic beans which are traditionally hidden in Galette De Rois. They aren't a matching set, we just picked them up in french junk shops over the years. I'm so pleased they now have a suitable home.

Right, I'm biting the bullet and I'm going to make a Stollen, including using homemade marzipan 😬.

3 Decdmber

Mince pies and the shop windows of Nurenburg

The Christmas windows of Nuremberg are cluttered with the toys I never had. A tower of painted toy soldiers in hats; A badsman's cap in green and gold; A bearskin you want to stroke; A shiny, pointed pickelhaube; A marching drummer with braided red jacket qnd golden chinstrap; A barman in a gingham shirt, with a bowler and frothing Pilsner. A bearded man in an Amish hat. A mouse in a crown and a mushroom with a shining red cap. It occurs to me that a mushroom probably always wears a cap.

It was another poster's idea after I asked how I could Christmassify them.

I'm very fond of them, just charity shop finds which line a wall in our porch. Make me smile every time I go through the front door.

Go for it, and don't forget to post photos!

Morning all! Gosh. I am late today. I've been lying watching the snow falling with the blinds open. We've had quite a bit, here as Friday's snow was still on the ground. It all looks like a Wonderland this morning, and because it's Sunday, it has that entirely silent eeriness to it.

Today's chapter is the gift that keeps on giving. So many photo's and recipes. The fig and orange shortbreads are calling to me!

It is my mother's birthday today (and my father's tomorrow!) I can't make my mind up if it is worth digging the car out, or if I shall attempt to walk around.

The crib is wonderful, @StarryAnise I fancy that a number of folk are going to feel utterly charmed by it, when they happen upon it nestling in the bay tree.

Ooh @LillianGish how lovely to have frankincense! The markets sound super.

no snow here, so I’m enjoying those photos instead.

@StarryAnise Your nativity scene is so sweet. It will give a lot of pleasure I’m sure.
Full confession time now - I have never made a mince pie in my life. This is not due to a deficiency in baking skills but more due to a shocking lack of good taste. I prefer shop bought ones with oodles of sugar. I think those from our national patisserie chain, Gregs, are my favourite perhaps with Mr Kiplings in second place.
The obligation to eat and praise homemade mince pies is one of the downsides of the festive season imho.
I would love a fig and orange shortbread- but surely they need crystallised rose petals on the top otherwise it would be like eating pot pouri.

Todays posts are fabulous! Lovely snowy garden, Berlin market and a nativity scene. Thank you all x

@narniabusiness I thought exactly the same about the rose petals! Also, they will just fall off when you pick then up as they aren't 'stuck on' for want of a better expression. I remember having a discussion with Gary Rhodes when he critiqued my dishes on Masterchef. He had the very strong opinion that nothing should be on a plate for decoration only (I had said that I'd included mini chargrilled leeks for 'colour' then quickly added 'and flavour!' as I knew he felt this way as he had mentioned it before) I There was also a heated discussion between himself, the Director and Producer (Melanie Jappy - a previous Masterchef contestant) and they agreed that if something is placed atop a dish, it should be indicative of what's inside.

May I join in, please? I’ve got the book (and the kindle version too 🫣) and I’m a keen baker so Christmas is always a fun time. I don’t use Nigel's recipe for my cake, though, dare I admit that? I made mine quite a few weeks ago so it’s wrapped up and maturing, with a few feeds yet to go.

I've been reminded by the recent posts that I have some frankincense - DH once worked in the Gulf and brought some back for me from a souk. I’d never opened it so I dug it out and oh my goodness - it smells amazing. Spicy, slightly citrussy, a tiny bit herby; not quite like anything I can describe. I’ve put a few crystals in a small dish and it’s scenting the entire room.