The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, it's nearly that time!

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 begins on 1st November, however there are a good few pages by way of introduction. This is why I start the thread now; so that we have time to prepare and settle in.

A lot of us already have the 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.

I shall post each day and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the day's recipes and sentiments. It's particularly lovely to share any memories and personal traditions (as Nigel himself does)

Note: Reading by candle light can be particularly enjoyable. Cire Trudon may be one of Nigel's favourites but they are somewhat pricey. Share your festive finds here, even if they are at the cheaper end of the scale and possibly NVN (Not Very Nigel)

Pull up a chair, grab a cosy blanket, and light your candle of choice. It's that most wonderful time of the year!

Moose mince, wow!

We had cottage pie yesterday too. But ours is always a very pared back, basic version - it's what we make when we fancy something really mellow that won't take any toll at all on the digestive system; now that we're middle aged 😭😁 we don't seem to handle excessive spice/heat/richness as well as we used to!

I made the mistake of lying down for a 'rest' at around half four and that was it, I was out! Luckily DH had already made the gravy/sauce/whatever it's called earlier in the day, so I just did the mash, assembled the pie and popped it into the oven when I got up.

Today we're having a roast chicken which is a meal I can make with my eyes closed and absolutely no thinking power. Yay. I wanted to make Diana Henry's Greek chicken with Feta and orzo (it's been on my mind for a couple of years now!) but DH has vetoed it yet again as he's really not keen on orzo.

The week before last we had three lovely meals from a chicken - Delia's basque chicken which is one of those we have every couple of years and wonder why we don't do it more often; Poulet Coco; and a soup made with a stock from the carcass and last bits of meat. All very generous portions, not at all stingy. It wasn't quite mythical MN chicken territory but definitely very satisfying to use every bit of the bird, as I always do, and the dishes were all sufficiently different from each other that it wasn't boring.

I'm really feeling the effects of not sleeping well this past week. I'm definitely not a spring chicken anymore...see what I did there? 😏

@NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights we have something of an orzo obsession going on in our house currently. Teen DD's can't get enough of it in various forms and I also love it. I suppose it's nursery food so comforting maybe? Feel free to leave dh at home and bring your chicken, feta and orzo to our house!

@LillianGish that's so funny you should I reference Atkinson Grimshaw. I've just bought a print of his as it reminded me so much of the Autumn Light in the village I used to live in (which I left with much regret when I moved in with Dh. I obviously love dh more, but I miss living there every day). I'd never encountered him before but he came up on some art appreciation page I randomly followed on Facebook and I feel in love his work. So atmospheric.

Thanks very much @WeMeetInFairIthilien and @RainbowZebraWarrior. I managed to snaffle a wide-necked 1litre bottle in Lakeland, which has worked very well, all properly sterilised first. My Nigel Christmas stash is coming along.

I also picked up some Winter candles from the White Shop with a 20% discount. I'm sure Nigel would approve.

I have some Nigel catch reading to do now

Good morning, all.

I woke at 6am, thought sod that and went back to sleep. It's the last day of the half term hols and I want a restful day. So I am still in bed with a cuppa. I haven't heard a single noise so far this morning and it's blissful. DD is in the lounge with her headphones on.

@Dender I also have a White Company Winter candle, but it's in my advent calendar, so no idea what day it will be. I also noticed that the Fireside candle was sold out in my store, so I'm pleased to have one of those in the AC too.

Orzo is a funny thing. I was obsessed with it as an 18 year old when I discovered it in Greece. I'm now not terribly keen. I have a chicken that I was going to roast today, but DD wants to go to the little local Italian restaurant for early dinner (have to be back for 6 30 for Fenwick Window reveal)
I'm thinking Greek chicken with garlic, lemon and potatoes for tomorrow though. I do love a one pot dish!

@IngenTing I love your snowy window pic. As others have said, it is wonderful to peek into the lives / worlds of others. Especially when they are in different countries. My friend lives in Northern Sweden and her life is very similar to yours. She's always cross country skiing and has a family hut in woods.

Here are my hairbrained plans for today; I love this pot from St Eval. Now should I buy it, or try to make it? (There I go trying to bite off more than I can chew again) and I have this candle. The gel element bothers me. I want to take it apart and, well I'm not sure really.

IngenTing Did you know you can make ricotta at home? https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjw3Oe89r-JAxWIXEEAHTmlPMQQFnoECBoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greatbritishchefs.com%2Fhow-to-cook%2Fhow-to-make-ricotta&usg=AOvVaw2a_qkWhIH0l9kJGrMhChfg&opi=89978449

I'm thinking Greek chicken with garlic, lemon and potatoes for tomorrow though. I do love a one pot dish!

That's another one I love! Especially if there are beautiful big green olives in there too.

I'm making silly mistakes today and finding lots of really quite minor things absolutely infuriating. Hoping I can get all chores sorted today so I can relax this evening - do not like having things hanging over me.

@piscofrisco I'll be there!

@IngenTing the sight of that snow warms my heart.

So after saying I wasn’t going to make any drinks I did make the apple brandy and it was excellent. We also made the meatballs but either our chili flakes are ultra strong, or Nigel’s are very mellow because they were very hot! I’d make them again but reduce that ingredient greatly.

Gosh those glasses are amazeballs. Are they vintage? (Or if not, cab you remember where they were from?)

Morning…

@RainbowZebraWarrior I am from the North but now live in the Midlands. I have many happy memories of the Northumberland coast line - from Crab sandwiches at Craster to Beadnell tower where I stayed with my beloved Grandma and Pa for holidays in a cottage.

Yesterday afternoon I managed to get the garden tidied and all of the bulbs in. I cooked Keema Pau from the Dishoom cookbook - it was nice and went down well with ‘Slaw’ but I don’t think it was as quite nice as the restaurants.

I also got the ingredients for the apricot and prune drinks and the turkey stuffing balls (no cranberries in Sainsbury’s fresh or frozen so that will have to wait for now and put mince in freezer) Just waiting for my bottles to arrive for the drinks.

Roasting a large loin of pork for a roast dinner today and pulled BBQ pork with wedges and salad tomorrow- I try to double up whenever I cook at the start of the week to make it easier on the days I work.

I am keeping CC for later as I’m just finishing ‘The Close’ next to my NVM fake log modern fire complete with real logs in a basket - cosy enough

Happy Sunday

Place-marking! I don't drink much any more, but reading the first instalment I definitely got an urge for a snifter of something rich and fruity

Have you got a sloe gin recipe I can have a peak at? I’d love to rustle up some of my own!

ive Just got back from a lovely autumnal Sunday morning walk. It was quite hilly but worth it for the views. The high rises you can see in the second photo is Manchester City centre. When you’re in the city centre is seems absolutely huge, but looking at it from a distance is looks tiny.

@ThatRealFawn I just use a Good Food one - 1 litre of gin (whatever's on offer, wouldn't waste Bomay Sapphire on it) to 500g of sloes and 250g sugar. I never prick my sloes - far too time consuming. I shove them in the freezer and they pop themselves. Stick it all in a sterilised Kilner jar, shake it around a lot then put in a dark place - we use the garage. Shake it about every few days or whenever you remember. Some people use less sugar, some recipes say add the sugar later - think Sipsmith says to do this - but it's easy and delicious! We have a bottle funnel https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kalave-Premium-Stainless-Kitchen-Strainer/dp/B08SGNCXKP/ref=asc_df_B08SGNCXKP?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80814206192208&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584413748527610&psc=1 but you can use muslin or a filter paper when you strain it - it just takes ages! The funnel is great for all sorts.

Sign the dirtbag household up to any Orzo Obsessives group going. I've also found that - and least in the recipes I use it in - it works as a direct sub for giant couscous which I often can't get hold of.

Pot roast brisket tonight from the slow cooker. I remembered Nigel has a brisket recipe in the CC so flipped ahead to find it. He uses porcini and I don't have any in so it's not really a Nigel dish - although most things in the slow cooker aren't recipes at all in this house. But he did remind me about some shallots which need using so they've gone in. All happily melding together in the slow cooker as I type.

Can I join?
Late to the party as usual but I am ahead in the book.

Firework display yesterday, weekend, local, very DIY but with super fireworks. And a decent clearance bonfire at our monthly local village farm volunteering morning today.

Not quite a nip in the air yet.

And am making a roast later this afternoon but want to try more Nigel recipes in the run up this year, will be easier once half term over.

So for us a decent start.

I’ve been on site for an event all week so missed my 1st November Christmas Chronicles kick off but got home today to my DP making a beef, barley and stout stew so have popped the fire on and am about to start reading! Time to hunker down.

I have a ridiculous number of kilner type jars and now I'm in the mood I want to fill them with yummy stuff (have done prunes/figs/sloe gin). Does anyone have any lovely festive suggestions? I'm thinking fruit/alcohol type things. Thank you!

Welcome, @IDontLikePinaColadas and @frozendaisy

I've been researching what to buy when I'm in Denmark next month, and it occurred to me that I haven't seen Havarti cheese for ages. Sandi Toksvig also mentions it in this months Waitrose magazine. I fell in love with it as a teenager when my mum used to take me to the cheese counter in Fenwick's deli, and I worked my way through tasting all the cheeses. (Those were the days. It was so quiet, now it's rammed with people) I don't think you're meant to bring cheese back, though, are you? Anyway, upshot is I've discovered a UK website called Scandi Kitchen, and not only do they sell it at a great price, it's also only £1.99 delivery.

I'm dangerous when I've got time on my hands.

Sorry @RainbowZebraWarrior they were from a pop up Christmas market years ago. They are a really nice size and weight and were really cheap, less than £10 for two. If I could go back in time I’d get at least 4 more…

I've made Marmalade Whisky which is looking gorgeous. I've also made home made limoncello in the past as well as Raspberry gin, cherry brandy and blackberry whisky.

This page is worth a read for ideas.

https://permaculturecc.org.au/recipe/home-made-liqueur-recipe/

Thanks Cactus. I've found these on Vinted which are very similar and only £4 so I'm going to grab them.

Got our Booths Christmas book today, here is DD modelling it.
I am also baking but that's for the DCs confirmation which is on Weds.

I love the Booth's Christmas catalogue! Ma Dender always sends me a copy for my birthday (late November). It's the official beginning of my Christmas season.