The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome all new and old friends.

The journey continues.

Here you go, Tangled. My referral code was posted yesterday although there are plenty of others on there too.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/4940918-4940918-bargain-referrals-thread-6?reply=139827186

Thank you! 💐 Lovely that you already earnt yourself a free candle!🕯️ Still haven't caught up with book but tonight is the night and I'm looking forward to reading the thread as well.

Aha! Just my people! I'm currently reading this and desperately want to make the beef brisket for lunch on Sunday. Dear old Nige doesn't stipulate the amount of water required for the broth, it simply says "pour over boiling water over them [porcini mushrooms]".

I am also thinking of substituting the porcini broth for beef stock (he says it's an option).

If anyone has any experience with this recipe I would be very grateful to receive your wisdom .

Good afternoon @EdinaMonsoon (Sweetie Darling!) I've made it before and I just used enough liquid to 3/4 cover the brisket iyswim. I sort of gauged it from the photo. know that others have also made it so they may have more accurate measurements.

I never measure either. 🙂 I go about halfway up the side of the meat and then I top up if needed.

(also turn the meat over, halfway through, though I don't think that's strictly necessary)

Aha! Here you are. As usual at about this time, this week has completely got away from me and I need to catch up. Hopefully tomorrow morning might involve a bit of Nigel time!

My DH brings me my first coffee in bed every morning (yes, I am spoilt!). This is now my 'Nigel time'. Sets me up for the day by putting me in a relaxed frame of mind before I even have to get dressed

The brisket looks wonderful, another recipe to add to the growing list...

Lovely looking soup up the thread there. @RainbowZebraWarrior is there a limit to referral code use? It wouldn’t apply it to the trimmers but I can wait until something else crops up. Glad you’re getting some freebies.

Inspired by Nigel, I have bought DH a romantic cabbage gift (a sweetheart cabbage). He is honestly obsessed with the vegetable. We will do the cabbage and cheese sauce dish over the weekend. We’ve had a joint trip out to the GP so took time to have a tisane and baklava at a lovely Turkish place which has an outdoor area strewn with richly embroidered cushions, as well as delightful staff. I popped into my favourite independent florist and was bewitched by these beauties - not my usual choice but I think VN in their oriental roots.

I'm going to have a go at the apricot brandy on Sunday. DH doesn't like aniseed so going to replace that with a cinnamon stick. would also lime to give the brisket a go too.
Snow is very pretty and xmassy but I prefer to view it through a window whilst holding a mug of hot chocolate. with the occasional dog walk thrown in.

Beautiful flowers @Bimblesalong I don't think there's a limit. 3 people have used mine I think and it doesn't state any limit. Might be worth picking another code and trying, but a code worked for me on the wick trimmers yesterday. I know I had ro try a couple of times with the referral code I used.

Oh I found you all!
We had a beautiful sky this morning, a welcome change after almost constant fog for nearly 2 weeks.

More snow due for us at the weekend and a drop to -14 on Tuesday! I try to remember "Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær!" No such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!

This weekend is quiet for our family, so lots of baking, cooking and being outside.

Our gnudi last weekend were really successful. This weekend I would like to try the ricotta and filo tart and maybe some roast beef.

Happy weekend to everyone.

Oh my goodness, that brisket sounds amazing. If we get the promised cold snap next week I think I might try it.

I am trying to love the cold as much as Nigel does but it's difficult. I dislike being too hot but there's a happy medium and I think Nigel is too far the other way for my liking.

We have a slightly chilly house and are too parsimonious to have the heating up high so I'm not against putting on another layer, but rather than it making me feel more alive (which I think is what he's saying) I find myself longing to light the fire and get under a blanket. Not allowed until sunset.

Having said that - happy thought - sunset is happening earlier every day.

What glorious skyscapes, @IngenTing

Thank you everyone for the brisket tips! Much appreciated. I will be sure to let you know the outcome on Sunday.

@IDareSay I'm also a "chapter a day with my morning coffee in bed" person! It's a delicious way to start the day.

@Bimblesalong those flowers are stunning.

@IngenTing Those skies <<sigh>>. Beautiful colours.

@StrungWithSilverBellsAndFlowers I hear you on the embracing the cold thing. The reason I picked up this book this year was to try and lean into the season as wholeheartedly as possible. For me, it's the lack of light that I find tricky. We have had 1 day of sunshine here in the last 3 weeks and my cosy candle light vibes are beginning to wear thin. I am quite enjoying the cold though. It feels like we are finally getting a proper winter instead of weeks of rain. I'll take cold and grey over sodden and fed up any day!

Hello all! I've just made my apricot brandy.

Beautiful flowers @bimbles.
Home from work and talked out now.on the sofa covered in Dogs as it's very chilly in our house at the best of times and it seems especially cold this evening.
I'm very interested in the brisket, and also have snuck a peek at Sundays entry (which is our wedding anniversary) and was delighted to see it is the Pork recipe that I wanted to make last year and didn't get round to. So off to the butchers tomorrow for me to get the requisite meat for it.
Happy Fridays evening to all

Apricot Brandy looks good @drspouse Mind, my apricots have doubled in size in two weeks so keep an eye!

Mr Darcy isn't feeling well tonight and is very clingy. I'm going to keep an eye on him over the weekend and take him to the vet next week if need be. He's had a bout of cystitis and is drinking lots.

Also, meant to wish everyone a happy Friday evening and hope you all carve out some Nigel Time for yourselves. ❤️

Found you all. We have gone from luminous leaves against eternal shades of grey to skies being in entire denial of November here, though I suspect not for much longer.

I'm very behind with having the garden ready for winter, (another free lancer needing to make hay when others want it.) so while I love snow, I'm slightly worried about the claims of a major temperature drop and an apparent 48% chance of it here next week. It will catch me short if it happens, but I'll be aware that NS is enjoying it at least.

While other things are closing down and tucking in, my bronze fennel is shooting up

Thank you whoever introduced Søstrene Grene to the thread. It will be some time before I'm in a position to go browse one, but lovely to have a new place to be hopeful about.

Am hoping to manage making bay candles, mincemeat, and adapt the apricots to peaches in brandy (thanks to acquiring cheap peaches) over the next week if life doesn't get in the way too much.

@IngenTing I shall try and remember that saying. Lovely skies.

@Bimblesalong It's lovely to read that your "a little more than mild peril" has brought you good things too.

Forgot the pic!

So pleased to find you all again - thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior for the new thread. I too love the snow, and can’t wait to get out in it when it’s all pristine. When DD was little we used to wake her up if it started snowing at night and go out for a walk down the lane and across the fields - it was magical. She now does the same with her children and they love it.

Oh about the JL ad - I must admit that I was completely confused by it, hadn’t a clue what it was supposed to be about, maybe I just wasn’t paying attention!

Found you - mostly reading along at the moment enjoying all the photos and shared moments. Just about to settle down with a coffee and catch up. Here's a pic from yesterday's dog walk - the most beautiful colours I think I've seen this autumn so vibrant - the carpet of flame coloured crunchy leaves was amazing and we had the woods almost to ourselves - bliss!!!

@MovingCrib that was me with the podcast, I loved it too, as I posted it right at the end of the other thread I thought I’d post it again here for anyone who missed it, especially as there isn’t a CC chapter today
https://shows.acast.com/the-modern-house-podcast/episodes/nigel-slater