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.

@StrungWithSilverBellsAndFlowers No, it doesn't look burned at all, but it is possible for dried fruits to caramelise if the temp got over 160f. Also, did you Flame it? I always think this causes a bitterness. It actually looks gorgeous. Which recipe was it? The 'My pudding' from the book or the darker one from the book? There is a recipe online, that is supposed to be his, which includes 3 tablespoons of black treacle. I'd imagine that could give a strong bitter taste. (I really don't like black treacle)

My St Eval parcel has just arrived in a massive box. That's my cupboard re stocked for next year. Inspiritus has been a massive favourite this month.

I'm actually looking forward to New Year's Day now so I don't have to see or hear the word Twixmass any more. That sounds very grumpy. I think I need some fresh air as I haven't been outside for four days.

@SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense as a bonus for having to yomp up the Wirral for bloods, we’ve had a beach walk and a pop in to Heswall M n S where there were … clementines 😍

Hope everyone’s lead up to the new year is becoming less grotty.

I finished DH’s slipover just in time for a beach walk. 😀. A photo of the reverse attached as I can’t get the front to upload 🙄

@Bimblesalong I strongly dislike clementines. Sometimes they sneak them in as generic easy peelers and that makes me even more sad than when they are indeterminate citrus! We’ve been Wirral-ward today too, spent a few very peaceful hours at Burton RSPB. A beautiful day but you definitely win on the knitwear!

What a time of year for it as well @AgathaMystery... thinking of you, and DH.

I've just signed up to Pilates at my gym. Determined this year is the year I do something about my non existent fitness levels.

Sounds a lovely day @Bimblesalong I haven't seen the sea for ages-usually we go away to the coast for new years, we just didn't get around to booking it this year and now it's too late. I'm missing it. But we have a night at Burgh Island at the end of Jan which I cannot wait for!

Hope everyone else is on the mend and having a nice in between time.

We took the DD's to the Ivy Asia and for many drinks yesterday-was a lovely day but feeling a bit the worse for wear for it today so aside from a dog walk have spent most of it on the sofa re watching Game of Thrones. We also have so much cheese left over @RainbowZebraWarrior so I've been picking at that all day, and nibbling in the brandy snaps. I'm sure Nigel would not approve but I love a slouchy day like this every so often.

That jumper is spectacular @Bimblesalong. You sure are an amazing knitter!!

I’m weeks behind on thread and book but this time of year 🤷‍♀️ who has the energy. Lots of lolling on the sofa. DD3 and I did a jigsaw. The other two DDs have exams after the hols, which always seems very mean, so they’ve had their heads down. We got out for a long walk yesterday and a shorter one today so that feels a bit better. There is still a lot of cheese.

You’re very kind @piscofrisco Time is on my hands at present!

lots of cheese sounds good @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense I’ve stocked up a bit at mns. After all, there is a cold snap coming. I hope revision is coming on well. Such a pain having exams after what should be a holiday.

Oh @Bimblesalong how beautiful!!

@piscofrisco I hope you love it. I started last January and was so nervous. I do reformer Pilates and couldn’t see how it would ever be something I could ‘do’ and now, somehow, I can do it. I’m so much stronger than I was. I can’t quite fathom it.

I love seeing all of your knitting @Bimblesalong as I love your choice of yarn / colours / patterns. You are very talented.

It was the one on BBC Good Food so yes, I would have added treacle - perhaps that’s the reason. The little bonbons on Nigella’s website look great though, so we have a few options for leftovers. I might try some with ice cream for added sweetness.

We used to make ice cream with normal vanilla, Christmas pudding and, I seem to remember, rum when I was young (80s parenting!). Just soften the ice cream enough to mix in the rest of the ingredients, and freeze.

@piscofrisco I am very jealous, I would love a stay at Burgh Island!

@StrungWithSilverBellsAndFlowers I think it might well have been the treacle. I highly recommend Delia's recipe. The one I have is from before she was even on the telly but I noticed the recipe on her website is pretty much the same. Incidentally, the 'homemade' mincemeat was a triumph this year!

31 December New Year's Eve

Fizz and Focaccia

My father adhered strongly to the Scottish tradition of first footing, the habit of making sure that the first person to enter the house on New Year's Day was a dark haired male brandishing a sixpence and a lump of coal, to bestow good luck on the coming year. Just before the stroke of midnight, he would leave the house through the back door, then, once the clock had struck twelve, would enter through the front, coal and silver coin in hand. He would sing, too, though I cannot honestly remember what. I do know there was quite a fuss made of the whole charade, which I found both quaint and faintly embarrassing.

@Confusedmeanderings dh and I don't do Christmas presents to one another-we always have a trip or night away instead and this was this years. I'm very excited for the sea tractor that gets you there!

I've just found the Lakeland candle co wax melt advent calendar I forgot I bought Will use it in January instead I think to brighten up the days.

Our plans for NYE have been scuppered a bit by sodding rail engineering works which would mean an hour on a rail replacement bus there and back. I've lost count of the times railway issues have actually ruined plans for us this year-it's uncanny. And we only ever really either want to go half an hour into London or 40 mins the other way into Cambridge-nothing overly ambitious. So I would think it will be take away and Cremant on the sofa for us.
Which is still fine but not quite the nice stroll around the shops, punt and Japanese meal I was hoping for. That said we've friends that went to Edinburgh for Hogmanay and they are now pretty much stuck in their hotel with not so much to do really which is a shame.

Hope everyone is happy and well and taking appropriate shelter from any weather coming your way. (Naturally and as ever, it is dead calm here).

We do a sort of version of first footing-just opening the back door at midnight to let the old year out and the front door to let the new year in. All very well unless we are both drunk and the dog escapes!

The wind has already kicked off here and I can hear it occasionally rattling my loft hatch as I lie in bed refusing to get up. Looking back at last years thread, we had wind and rain then, too on NYE.

Sorry to hear of cancelled plans @piscofrisco and hope you have a nice evening nonetheless. I used to go to Edinburgh every year when I was married back in my 20s. It is always bitterly cold and often (moreso lately) the weather is atrocious. This time of year is a rubbish time for celebrations in many ways.

I remember someone else last year mentioning the new year in through the front door and old year out the back. DD and I ended up doing that as it was her first year staying up.

I went to university in Edinburgh (many many years ago!) and my main memory of NYE is horrible drunk men trying to kiss us in the streets. Hopefully it is nicer now.
We are going to my sister tonight. Bit worried about the M62 in this wind so will set off sooner rather than later. Might bring CC with me and try to catch up a bit

I've just been pondering resolutions and the like. I'd already decided that I am also going to continue to read for 30 minutes per day (this thread is great for me as it makes me do that, if I didnt host it, I'd likely just smile at the book each day as I got up and saw it on my bedisde table)

I had also been thinking of 20 minutes of nature per day, just following on from this year where DD and I started our daily walk. I've attached a slightly naff but true image which sort of links to the above. We make all kinds of excuses not to do things for ourselves or carve out some time.

Finally, I was just pondering the 'small Moments of joy' approach and I've bought a gorgeous new diary with space for a daily reflection. As I was thinking about this, a lady was on the radio explaining how she chooses a new word each NYE to carry her forward in the following year. Sort of a manifestation of whatever it is that you need to do or to happen in your life. Her word this year is 'Flourish' which I think is a great choice. We all wish to Flourish in the best way we can, no matter what our current starting point.

Like Nigel. I've never been a fan of New Year Eve parties and celebrations. Less so since it marks the anniversary of my mother's death. 21 years today. So a quiet drink and evening at home. It's wild out there today so being cuddled up on the sofa in front of the fire is looking very appealing. Might wander to the pub for a couple but we won't be going far.
I've doubled down on the soup front. Made french onion soup yesterday but today it's hot and sour tomato soup from M&S - I'm addicted.
@Bimblesalong - that jumper is incredible!
@RainbowZebraWarrior love the idea of nature and moments of joy. Sometimes I focus on the negative too much so a daily reminder of small moments of joy would be good for me, I think.
So whatever your plans or circumstances I wish you a happy and peaceful new year. Xx

I'm going to say my word will be 'emerge'. We had a rubbish sort of year this year for various reasons. Nothing strikingly awful (as we have had in other years), just unending minor bad luck and it's felt like a miserable joyless trudge a lot of the time. So I'm hoping to 'emerge' from that. I can't think of a better word to illustrate it! Where's @EphemeraleEudemonia when I need her :)

I think my resolutions will be health related-I've recently lost a stone and would like to carry on with that and actually go back to doing some exercise. And to try and read more, and more varied books instead of my usual historical fiction. And to make more effort with my friends-to actually see them.

Lovely post from Nigel on his Insta account this evening. Hope everyone is well. The wind and rain are atrocious here. Quiet night with DD and Mr Darcy.

Just popping back to wish you all a Happy New Year and thank everyone that posted kind words over the weekend about my stressful Christmas after Mum's fall. She is doing well, I have been able to relax a bit and do some normal stuff (work yesterday, bit of shopping today etc). So gradually getting back to normal. I think my parents needs are going to increase this coming year, DH faces a challenge with his friend's illness too. My DCs will both be looking at changes, one graduating, one finishing college, maybe some support will be needed for them too, especially DS with his SNs. So my word (phrase) for the year will probably need to be Do Not Over-Commit.

Which might be easier said than done as I'm one of those people who sees a space in my diary as an opportunity to fill it, rather than as time out.

In bed here listening to the wind which is bad even here. Dh seems to have been struck down with noro :(.
Happy new year to all my Nigel friends x what a joy you have all been x

Happy new year to all. @piscofrisco poor dh. I hope you miss out on that joy.

I have perfected playing the spoons to The Gnome Song from Wallace and grommet whilst expressive dancing a la Miranda. (It’s the chemo, I’ve not had alcohol since early Sept!). I send this image to the universe to cheer up the glum ones. There’s nothing like a quick bit of disco or Northern Gnome singing to add a bit of cheer.