The Autumnal Christmas Chronicles Preamble thread

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hi, and welcome to the Nigel Slater appreciation society Christmas Chronicles Premable thread.

The thread will start proper in late October where we begin our annual journey of reading the Christmas Chronicles in real time. It is a cosy, heartwarming event that one can dip in and out of as life allows. Think flickering candles, woodsmoke, delicious recipes, the odd home made tipple, and bucket loads of touching Nigel-esque anecdotes. It is a veritable Hyyge of a thread.

This thread is to see us through until that time. You will find me, like a squirell, checking on my store of candles at the back of the cupboard.

It's also worth noting that Nigel's new book; A Thousand Feasts is out on 26th September. (with a deliciously Autumnal cover)

@IngenTing I think you will appreciate the book - there's even a little mention of Norway in there - and even though it was expensive there's such a lot of loveliness in it.

@Gatekeeper that's so beautifully written.

@Gettingannoyednow lovely photos!

@PricklyBob nice to see you! I'm the same, I really love the autumn colours.

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat thanks for linking to that article - I'd completely forgotten about it and it's such a good one. Might cook a couple of dishes from it in the next couple of weeks.

Loving this thread. It's already inspired me to have a good clean of the house today with a candle on from first thing. I'm making a macaroni cheese for supper with roast butternut squash and halloumi mixed in. Definitely getting to autumn recipes now!

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat thanks so much for the link to that article and recipes. A great read!

I’ve just ordered the new book too

I need to learn to read threads properly. I had thought that the new book was called Autumn and was an actual cookbook of seasonal recipes. I now realise that it's A Thousand Feasts and is more of a memoir. I've also just pre-ordered and can't wait to read it.

I write as a hobby and many of my writings are food memories. I'm already very much inspired by Toast and Eating for England and I know that this new book is going to be right up my street. I had fallen out of the habit for writing for a while and just picked it up again recently. I've already been thinking that I'll need to make my office space as Nigel Adjacent as possible before our houseguests arrive for winter as I feel this could end up being a place of sanctuary for me. A notebook, a candle and solitude for a little while a few times each week.

Thinking about how many of us have pre ordered Nigel's new book. Would it be good to discuss it on here, once we have received them? Or would people prefer a separate thread? There's going to be just over a month between the new book coming out, and our usual CC discussion starting.

I was envisaging discussion continuing here on the thread so that's fine with me! But I'm happy either way.

I think we should discuss it on here - it's still too early for Christmas (though I accept that may be a minority view).

I’d love to discuss it here.

Yes please keep the new book chat on here, I’m not planning on buying it but I could be swayed!

Here is the Good Housekeeping Chocolate & Guinness cake and attached is my vegan version

Thanks for the replies, folks. Good to know everyone agrees about keeping it on here.

Back to school here today. It's a beautifully sunny day, but a very Autumnal 11 degrees. I think we will be looking for our first conkers this week.

My latest cookbook is a Hegderow one. We have guests today and I am hoping to engineer a walk somewhere I can forage as we go.
I will Nigel vicariously with you until I’ve made enough from the last book to justify another!

Right I've pre-ordered the new book and a library candle, it's grey and damp here so feeling more autumnal.
I'm also reading 'Home is where the hearth is' by Kate Humble which is a lovely cosy read about peoples ideas about what home means to them. Very comforting and warm blanketish.😀

@RainbowZebraWarrior Is it cheating if I use my audible credit to listen to the Christmas Chronicles instead of buying it 🤔. I'm a bit skint and I can't even find a second hand copy at a price I want to pay

It comes with a PDF of the recipes..

Gosh, no! Do it. Listening to it on Audible is the best thing ever. I do it twice a year (once in June!) I'll also let you into a little secret, it was 'bought' using a credit from my ex partners Audible account (with his permission) and although we've been split up for four years, I'm still listening to it whole logged into his account. I really need to get my own account!

This thread is not about having to buy things! It's never cheating to save yourself some money and/or do things the way you need to. In fact if you feel pressured to buy it's really the opposite of what the book/this thread should do. It's as much about the small joys in life as trips to Vienna and very expensive candles.

@Bimblesalong your fairisle knitting is beautiful. @RainbowZebraWarrior so pleased to be able to follow on here when the new book is out.

https://wickandwonder.com/collections/candles/products/old-bookshop-candle This is my bookshop candle, highly recommended 🕯️

I had not realised this - thank you!

This is beautifully put… you put words to something I’ve also felt but never been able to describe!

@StiffyByngsDogBartholomew I’ve got hardcopy (a gift from my mum the year it was published) and audible, they are both fabulous in their own way. Nigel also has a short series of podcasts which are excerpts from the book.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I’m not planning to buy the book but will enjoy hearing what you all think of it and it might end up on my Christmas list, so I’m happy for the chat to remain here too.

If anyone would like another delicious pre-order, I bhave just sent for this lady’s book. I have been following her on FB for a couple of years and her recipes are proper old fashioned tea time bakes, which are straightforward, reliable and delicious https://www.sarahsslice.co.uk

Well, at the weekend I cleared out my main food cupboard and found a jar of malt extract which I bought last year while planning to make malt loaf and never got round to it, was that from CC does anyone know (my book is still stashed away for summer). It was certainly from a MN thread. I must make it this year.

Yes @EternallyDelighted the malt loaf is from CC. 🙂

@EternallyDelighted Thank you for the Sarah's Slice link. There is some super stuff on there.
I scrolled down to October/November/December and there are some lovely festive recipes including German biscuits also featured in the Advent baking book by Anja Dunk and some great mincemeat ideas - mini loaves, mincemeat slice, mincemeat bead and butter pudding.
I like Delia's mincemeat slice made with oats and wholemeal flour so I will try some of these.

Which mincemeat recipe do people use? I might give Nigel's a whirl although I usually use Delia's if I have veg suet in or Mary's if I have butter.

I was too late to the party last year ( I may change my name to this. How does this work please a chapter a week ect