The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 3

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome to thread three.

The Christmas Chronicles is the story of Nigel Slater’s love for winter. Taking you from 1 November all the way to early February, The Christmas Chronicles covers everything from Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Year to Epiphany. Throughout the season, Nigel offers over 100 recipes to see you through the build-up, the celebrations and the aftermath.

Anyone who hasn't yet joined in, there's still a big chunk of the book to go as you can see from the description above. It's in diary form with an entry most days and is easy to dip in and out of.

Anyway, welcome friends new and old. Pull a cosy chair closer the the fire, light a candle, pour a glass of something warming and settle in.

Well anticipated @RainbowZebraWarrior! Checking in here now so I don't lose my place.

Thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior , much appreciated

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Checking in! Thanks for the shiny new thread! ✨️

Just checking in. Thankyou for the new thread. @imp2007 I did very little cleaning in the end. I ended up going to Primark for some last bits for the girls and it took an inordinate amount of time for some reason. It's like the seventh circle of hell in there but they did have some surprisingly nice pyjamas!

Checking in with my nice new name! Watching the box of delights on the iplayer, it is the absolute embodiment of Christmas to me and anybody else born within a year or two of me (it was first shown in 1984). Slightly spooky in a good way. The CGI is obviously laughable by today's standards but the story is magical. (What i should be doing is thinking of presents for 2/3 of the daughters, and making a menu/shopping list)

Barry, is that you in a dress?

Hello, all!

@Bimblesalong I'm so pleased to hear you're at the halfway treatment mark. I had been thinking of this last week when you mentioned the number of treatments you'd had. I hope you get to enjoy your couple of good days once the antihistamines wear off.

Barry in a dress has me chuckling. I've got the unmentionable Christmas Nonsense book by the front door ready to return to the library.

I've just been out to the car as I left my phone in there. I happened to look up just as a tawny owl swooped down from the roof of the house across the road. It landed briefly in my driveway before flying off over the farmland with it's signature hoot.

I know a couple of you linked to a recent article about Nigel's home, but I've just stumbled upon this short YouTube video where he describes how his anxiety affects him. I apologise in advance here for any assumption, but as a Neurodivergent person, I've often wondered if he is, too.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zzgtetpA1vQ

Just signing in!

‘Tis I, Leclerc. (If banging on about the box of delights didn’t date me, that will)

Ha! Excellent @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense !

Evening all!! @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense what was your prev name ?!

BigBadBarry. To which I will revert once all this is over 😂

Bahahahahaha 'LeClerk' allo allo was one of my most favourite programmes when I was little.

Half way Bimbles! What a woman!

ANAAN picture (absolutely not at all Nigel) although with the head banging music on his recent tv recordings my impression that he just listens to Gregorian Plainsong and Kabuki music is shattered.

I have wondered this too. A definite strength in neurodiversity for the lifestyle he has curated.

12 December

A fine and fruity chutney

Chutney, the ever useful sour-sweet splodge for sharpening up cold roast lamb or a wedge of pork pie, is one of those recipes that changes over time. What appears a little acidic as it simmers in the pot will often as not calm down after a few weeks in a jar on a shelf. Even a week trapped in a glass storage jar allows the fruit, vinegar, spices and aromatics a chance to mellow. Sour, sweet and spicy become one harmonious mixture rather than opposites fighting for supremacy. Best make it now, then.

That chutney looks gorgeous. Adding to my wishlist.

I'm a big fan of chutneys and relishes. And yet I've never made from scratch. I think I'm put off by thinking I'd need a massive thick bottomed jam pan to make them. Would I?

Not at all. I use a fairly standard but large saucepan and make chutney all year round. I used to make hundreds of jars when I had my café as I sold it. I don't even think I follow a recipe any more as it just depends what I have in (glut of apples / courgettes etc) as long as the fruit/ sugar / vinegar ratio is basically I'm synch, it's a very forgiving thing to make. Depending on what I'm after - light, dark, spicy, garlicky - I'll add in chillies, soy, balsamic, lots of garlic etc.

I've made small quantities in a large non-stick saucepan.

Definitely try it! The taste is amazing and so variable depending on choices of fruit/veg/spices. I found using a standard saucepan has always worked fine. I have made chutney for Christmas pressies before - used the Mary Berry Christmas chutney recipe. Just be prepared for the kitchen to smell of vinegar for a while.

Ooh, chutney is one of my favourite things but I've never made it either. Not needing a dedicated pan has me tempted to try it!

@Dender my mum makes a delia one which is phenomenal. If I don't need a big heavy pan I might give it a go.