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!

@RainbowZebraWarrior well done on the glasses find - they look the same 🙌🏻
Enjoy the trip with DD to the Fenwick's window reveal. Lovely thing to do; I'm a little bit envious! Please report back to the group!

I've gone in on the apricots, orange and anise. The kitchen smells very Christmassy. Looking forward to getting it out after the requisite two weeks to see how it comes out.

It looks suitably festive I think in its Jar. Puts me in mind of my mum who is a big pickler and brewer and always had jars of things she had made all over the kitchen

@RainbowZebraWarrior Marmalade whisky sounds lovely! I've made marmalade vodka before but I'm the only one who liked it. Ah well! May as well fill my jars up!

I lived in Stockholm for a year and have had many many trips to Scandinavia, the first when I was about 14, so will be looking closely at that website! My no spend November isn't going so well but I'm having lots of fun!

@IngenTing i love the snowy window photo. So snug

@NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights gosh - I’m a vegetarian and you’ve made me hungry/ nostalgic for a warm, slightly steamy kitchen and home food - these are the type of things mum made (she and dad ate meat).

@RainbowZebraWarrior those glasses are gorgeous! I’m looking forward to hearing about your trip.

I love the White Co winter candle - I usually light a large one on December 1st and it lasts us through the season (@RainbowZebraWarrior‘s will be the first one for December 😍). I’ve burned through the fireside one this week but don’t think I’m in danger of running out of candles any time soon. I have the Aldi dupe winter one going and it’s pretty good. My real fave is diptyque’s feu du bois but it’s a special lighting as they’re so spendy!

I’ve had a bit more energy today so have made dh a gluten free banana cake, which he loves. The house smells all inviting and cosy. Ds2 is away for a networking thing so we are empty nesters for a week or so - even the dog has gone down to ds1’s house today!

Scandi kitchen is my go-to at Christmas time. I try to stay away for the rest of the year (for the most part) otherwise I'd buy everything all the time. 🙂

@RainbowZebraWarrior make sure to go to Tivoli gardens, in the afternoon/evening if you can. The lights are beautiful at night. There's no need to go on any rides if your DD doesn't want to, you can just spend an hour or two, or three, wandering, eating, drinking and enjoying the ambience.

(unless you're going soon, in which case Tivoli won't be open, unfortunately)

Easy dinner from the freezer here today, slow cooker brisket with vegetables (and lots of gravy so DH is very happy!), which we had a couple of weeks ago and this portion frozen - with Yorkshire puddings, and gooseberries from the freezer for a crumble. So only Yorkshire puddings mixture and crumble to make.
@Bimblesalong I too love the White Co winter candle - you mention the Aldi dupe being pretty good - what is it called? I’m going for an Aldi shop next week so could look out for it and save the genuine White Co one for nearer Christmas!

@NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights

I love Delia's Chicken Basque! It used to be a regular in our house and then for some reason I forgot about it for at least a decade before stumbling upon the recipe a couple of years back. Since then we've had it several times, delicious.

I couldn't sleep last night so was up at 2.00am feeding the Christmas cake and prepping for a big batch cooking session that I did today - sausage casserole, scandi seeded crackers and a boiled fruit cake. I'm now enjoying a quiet cuppa while I watch the mist settling on the hill behind the garden, before heading off for supper with friends tonight.

@Seasidebubbles Its called winter spice. It has bay, orange slices and a bit of fir / cinnamon in the surrounding wax. It is nv white co but the smell is pretty good.

I’m not sure if it’s in Aldi yet as last year there was a definite date for this middle aisle wonder. I’m not doing supermarkets whilst I’m having chemo so will have to send a chap in to do a home candle restock for me!

Thank you @Bimblesalong , I’ll look out for it.

Oh I'm just watching it on YouTube as I applied in the ballot for tickets but didn't get them. I am really excited though as I loved last year's. I will likely go and see the window next week as I need bits from town. I've been going since I was tiny so probably around 50 years.

@NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights Tivoli Gardens is top of my list and our hotel is right next to it. The hotel actually sell discounted tickets too. You're right, DD likely won't go on any rides, but we definitely want to see the lights and drink in all the atmosphere. DD is looking forward to the food and shopping. (It's her birthday a few weeks before and I've put two thousand Danish krone in an envelope - she will probably think she is rich!) We go on 20th December for 3 nights so it will be full on Christmas markets etc. We've just booked Mr Darcy in to our usual cattery and as we aren't back till late on 23rd, we will be collecting him on Christmas eve. All very exciting!

We love Delia's Basque chicken. It's on the menu for this week. I use orzo pasta instead of rice because DS doesn't like rice. I think I prefer it.

May I join the read-along? Wanted to do this last year but life got in the way. Will catch up this evening. @RainbowZebraWarrior cakes look great. Did you use the nordicware tin? I have that one too. Would love to try that bake.

Yes of course. Welcome!

I used a silicone mould and poured melted chocolate in then filled them with a tiffin mixture, so they aren't really cakes as such. I'm experimenting really.

Fenwick Newcastle 2024 Christmas window is The Twelve Days of Christmas. The story of foggy the partridge and his pear tree!

@GrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick if you are using orzo in place of rice, do you add it a bit later? Or do you just follow the recipe and somehow it is fine?

Inspired by someone else's caramelised apples, I made a deconstructed apple crumble with the crumble cooked separately and made with wholemeal spelt and oats and almonds so that counteracts the sugar and butter right?

That might have been my caramelised apples about a week ago. Your crumble looks delicious and I reckon you've got your 5-a-day in there

These are my favourite Christmas fruit liquers.

The Christmas Spirit is amazing, and a truly phenomenal pink colour!

• [pics removed at poster's request]

Although...

I realise that, by reducing the photo quality, to fit in with the 6Mb limit, the recipes mat not be so visible.

Let me known if you want any of them typed out.

I think it may technically be a breach of copyright to post photos of recipes rather than links. They do look like amazing drinks though! I made cranberry gin a few years ago and it was the most gorgeous red.

@bigbadbarry the orzo goes in a bit later but I've found that as long as the chicken is fully cooked it's all good. Plus the whole thing takes a lot less time to cook.

@RainbowZebraWarrior if you're at or by the SAS Royal (I think - the arne Jacobsen one) there's a bizarrely good Japanese/Peruvian fusion restaurant there. And if you're not veggie, I always like Herefordshire Beefsteow with an entrance to the road and one to Tivoli. How I love a Scandi winter!

4th November

The Joy of Stuffing

"Goose-fat roast potatoes aside, I consider stuffing to be the most delicious of all accompaniments to the Sunday Roast. A sausage meat stuffing made with browned onions, bacon, thyme and dried apricots; a cousin cousin version with red onion, rosemary and raisins; another with minced turkey, lardo - the currd, herbed strips oofpork fat from Italy - fennel seed and cranberries. I like my stuffing rough edged, generously seasoned and deeply savoury. A little sweetness from dried fruits perhaps, but onions qnd herbs, much lemon zest and black pepper are essential"

Photos: Turkey, lardo and fennel seed stuffing, cranberry orange sauce. Pearson, clove and orange granita.