The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome all new and old friends.

The journey continues.

I made Nigel’s Christmas cake last year @imp2007 and enjoyed it. A kind friend is making me one this year.

Catching up with myself and the thread after a lovely visit from mum. I think I need to sleep for a week! She is now introduced to the ways of the Nige and enjoys his writing.

I set a centrepiece of candles for our Sunday meal, including one of St Eval’s sandalwood tapers which gives such a lovely aroma.

Having lost dad this summer, my siblings and I have given mum an open choice of whatever/ wherever this Christmas. I’m delighted she is coming to me as we hosted her and dad pretty much every year since the children arrived. Ds1 wants to do Christmas lunch at his, which has been his aim since he bought his house. He’s continuing to do up the place and only has half an oven working - I foresee jolly fun of making some of the food here and driving it the short distance down the road! Such excitement at starting new Christmas traditions. His gf is Polish and a delight - she will celebrate Christmas with her family on Christmas Eve, so I have no worries about taking her away from her parents on Christmas Day so she can celebrate with us.

I’m likely to have a treatment on Christmas Eve and so far have been on a steroid boost the next day - let’s hope that’s the case this year!

I think it comes back to thay old thing of not causing ourselves additional stress, doesn't it @NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights I've made the decision not to get everything out of the loft this year. It stresses me out enormously, and I hate the fact that I have to find someone to do it for me. I kept some bits down in the old dresser from last year, and DD now uses her middle name, so I'm going to go and get some new initial stockings for us both today. The tree gets dragged out from the large hallway cupboard already fully decorated, so that's not a bother. I think a lovely candle and some nisser is the way to go.

@Bimblesalong pleased you have had a nice time with your Mum and that she will be with you this Christmas. For years, I cooked most of the Christmas Dinner and drove it all of the 200 metres to Mum and Dad's house. Your table layout looks wonderfully festive and your chairs are spectacular!

I've dug our advent calendars out, and I guess you could say it's the frugal / traditional versus the extravagant. I picked up the traditional advent calendar for 50p in a charity shop. The Usborne Christmas carols always comes out at this time of the year, too.

Yes, I make Nigel's Christmas Cake (and the lighter pudding, they are about the only things I do make from the book). I really like both. I do tweak but that's partly because I don't have access to all the artisan ingredients, I did find dried figs in Sainsburys this year though.

Good morning all. Lovely sun here.
I've got a long list of things to do today but feeling very headachey and full of cold so not fancying any of it much.

I did just nearly by a 5 ft Christmas tree for the hall in Aldi however. £16.99! Worried it won't last. That said we put both trees up on the 30th movement last year as we were having an early party for DD's 18th and they barely dropped at all. They were garden centre ones but I wonder if they all come from the same places really?

For anyone Nigel cske making I just found some dried figs in Aldi!

I steamed the pudding in a low oven (120) by sitting the bowl in a lasagne dish with about 1.5" of boiling water, it didn't need topping up in 3 hours or so that it took to cook.

@RainbowZebraWarrior the only erratum I can find for CC is the mince pies (https://www.nigelslater.com/the-christmas-chronicles_bk_39#:~:text=Erratum,by%20(Moscow%2C%202018).) so I don’t know what to say about the spices! (Unlike Nigella, the errata for some of her books go on forever!) (publisher’s fault not hers although I suspect Nigel checks his proofs very carefully)
@Bimblesalong your table looks beautiful and how exciting for DS to host for the first time

It makes no sense. He states "The spiced introduce a depth of flavour and a little mystery and magic. They are always used very finely ground. No one wants to find a lump of allspice in their mouth. The presence of cinnamon, nutmeg and mixed spice represents the gold, frankincense and myrrh the magi brought to the infant child. Too add them to a cake recipe, quite unnecessary in most people's eyes, is what separates Christmas cake from everyday fruit cake"

He then goes on to list the ingredients and quantities for his cakes, with not a spice in sight. I honestly thought it was just me and I'd missed something.

Anyway, mine are in the oven smelling delicious. Full of cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice and ginger.

No I've checked and re-checked every year @RainbowZebraWarrior - that's one reason why I've never made his version.

I think you should email him. Or message on instagram. I think he would love to know you are studying his book so closely and I bet he would reply!

I've asked on his Instagram. He has a post relating to his book signing event tomorrow, so I've wished him well for that and asked about spicegate. Hopefully he replies.

I harbour a slim hope that one of his people is a mumsnetter and tell him of our thread and he might pop on to say hello

I've checked previous listings of this recipe in the Observer, the Kitchen Diaries I etc and there's no mention of spices. I suspect his Mum didn't use them in her cake recipe. The only book I no longer have is Appetite as it fell apart so can't check the recipe there.

Well spotted!

I've lost track of the CC and need to catch up. I'm snowed under with work and am now off sick with COVID. The family is slowly coming down with it too 😭

@NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights Steaming the pudding in a slow cooker also works well - also useful for re-steaming on Christmas Day.

@MovingCrib So sorry to hear you’re ill, hope you and family soon recover.

Thanks so much - I'm nearly through it but poor ds is sitting practice exams next week so this is awful timing. At least it's not Christmas.

@MovingCrib feel better soon. I'm behind with the reading too, lots of work on. It's fine, it's not going anywhere. Good luck to DS

Thanks @Seasidebubbles but we don't have one! I'm going to follow @ExpertlyDecorated's method and hope for the best! 🙂

@MovingCrib hope you all get through it and are on the mend quickly! Thankfully only mock exams for DS.

@MovingCrib ouch poor you and yours. More wishes for a swift recovery.

We’ve been out for my tests ahead of tomorrow. It’s a beautiful day, so we had a walk next to the marine lake which is near the cancer centre. I found a gluten free chippie and treated dh, so a lovely tripette.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I hope you get an answer.

last photo is one of the rooms at the wonderful Maggie’s Centre at the hospital where I have my treatment. A real little place of comfort and sanctuary- also a great cuppa! Nigel’s friend Edmund DeWaal has done a ceramic installation for one of the centres down south.

Bimbles wishing you all the best for the tests and tomorrow 💐

I really loved your table setting - so inviting!

Wish you better soon @MovingCrib Covid is miserable.
And lots of love for your treatment tomorrow @bimbles. Lovely pics.

@Bimblesalong thank you and how lovely to have a cake made by a friend this year. Your table looks beautiful - love the Emma Bridgewater!

Yes @Bimblesalong truly a lovely table setting. Lots of EB to admire, and I'm so glad you had a good time. I've NOT looked at the EB black Friday sale. Am going to stand firm!

I've just been to Homesense and I DID NOT buy any more candles! Im proud of myself!