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.

@SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense I haven't got round to Traitors, but DD has recently got me into something called The Mole which is in a similar vein. I'm another that can't usually be bothered with reality TV, but there's something intriguing about this type of show. I guess it's the fascination of human behaviour.

Thanks @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense we will see how the party bag they’ve given me helps out over the coming days. For now, ds2 had lit a lovely fire for me to come back to and I’m being waited on. Someone is telling citrus stories on the satsuma front though. There was a big box labelled “satsumas” on the greengrocer stall at the hospital. Do they know the season is over?

Lovely monk’s bench. We have a large oak one in storage that belonged to MIL. I need a larger hall but the place for it will come to me.

@Confusedmeanderings my aunt is a dancer and also recounts being taken to see Nureyev/ Fonteyn. Her dancing skills took her to Rome, Paris and then Vegas in the 60s with the Bluebell girls. She has many fascinating stories - and oh my, the photos of her in costumes with rhinestones and huge feathered headwear. She still looks amazing at almost 80.

that is a gorgeous looking meal @RainbowZebraWarrior a delicious find for us.

i also would like to be a Maeven. Like Carmen dell’Orefice, Joanna Lumley or one of the women on the instagram advanced style account.

You're our Maevan @Bimblesalong

Lovely bench.

I'm fond of the Angel of the North, but I confess I've never heard of the other monument mentioned. It looks very imposing!

Hope DD is ok @RainbowZebraWarrior

And that everyone in the path of the ongoing weather is battening down the hatches.

I'm absolutely bone tired after a busy first few days at work, DSS2's birthday, and cleaning the house after the electric works have been finally done. I have made a few nice dinners out of the (horribly named and NVN, but very good) Pinch of Nom one pot book. Last night I made a lime and peanut chicken curry which was phenomenal and even more amazing-all the children liked it!

Pleased to hear you have a fire lit and are being waited on @Bimblesalong I hope the coming days will be OK for you after today's treatment. I love the story about your Aunt's dancing history, and I am another that admires the marvellous Joanna Lumley. She is an absolute idol of mine. An utterly wonderful lady (or Absolutely Fabulous if you will)

I've just discovered that Winterwatch started again last night which I was so excited to learn, so I'm catching up now.

This storm that we have approaching looks rather scary. We are in the Amber area for Friday. Hoping it isn't as bad as forecast, but preparing in case it is. Stay safe, everyone.

A certain Mr Darcy is sparko already on this rather chilly night

Delurking to send 'hope you feel better' vibes to @Bimblesalong & @RainbowZebraWarrior 's DD. And 'good luck in your new job' wishes to @piscofrisco.

I loved the opera memories. It prompted me to check the Desert Island Discs website to find out about Nigel's musical taste.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00935kv

As you can see, it's quite varied but with Pergolesi and Palestrina, it's more early music than opera and I did smile at his choice of the Teddy Bears Picnic. I can imagine him going to a lunchtime concert before returning to a wonderful lunch.

The cheddar, potato and rosemary pie sounds ideal for a winter evening. I am very tempted to try that. Hope everyone is safe during Storm Éowyn.

Hello @nettie434 thankyou so much for this! Lovely to “see” you. (Waving at any other lurkers in this gentle corner of mn.

That desert island discs is such a treat to anticipate.

I haven’t listened to is yet but can absolutely see why he would appreciate early music with its clear, bare bones and wonderful construction. Just like his pared back choices in design, food and home. (I think I’ve gone all fan girl there).

We are big Tolkien lovers in our family (to the LARP extent to one brother, who has chain mail, cloak, etc). I told my brothers that I’m approaching this few weeks of my life as Eowyn taking on the witch king and succeeding - that and a sleeping dragon when I need rest. I hope indeed that Eowyn will be kind to us all - I don’t intend to be king to my “witch king”.

Hello all. Bit of a late one from me. Busy morning largely broken down to honey labelling, hair appt, washing towels, cake baking and storm prep.

Just rearranging my cook books now and cane across one of my absolute favourites; Twelve (A Tuscan cookbook) by Tessa Kiros. It's wonderfully set out month by month with seasonal produce and notes from the author on the weather etc. Here's part of her January into:

January

The fields are dry now, the corn a pale shade of straw. The brick thatch and rust tiles blend beautifully into their brown, monotones background of hills, which stand silently and patiently, knowing they shall one day bear their gifts. It is January.

The snow of last week is fading, exposing the countryside once again. Everywhere there are logs stacked up, fireplaces waiting each evening to be lit. People are indoors, so it is natural to assume that so are the crops. Many of the long lasting vegetables from months before - pumpkins, potatoes, onions and carrots - are cooked and eaten with various meats.

It also made me remember how much I love Ribollita. Here's a recipe from Felicity Cloake:

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/oct/12/how-to-make-the-perfect-ribollita-soup-recipe-felicity-cloake

@Bimblesalong I also come from a Tolkien / Hobbit / LOTR mad family. When my parents purchased the house they currently live in (in 1981) they named it Lórien. I have to admit, however that I have never really enjoyed any of the films. I think the world I imagined in my mind as a child when I read the books was better! (As is often the case)

Love your approach and way of thinking ❤️

Have not been around for a week or so and see I have missed a lot.
@Bimblesalong I also hope post treatment will be kind to you this time.
@RainbowZebraWarrior round here the schools are crazy with no places at all for some year groups and an abundance of space for others but of course that doesn’t work.
I’m currently burning a candle I got at Christmas but it very little smell even up close - I don’t know where they got it from but I do know not to buy any more in that range.
Here the weather is a bit rainy and a bit windy but according to the forecast it’s going to get a lot worse overnight. Hope those of you further north than me aren’t too badly affected.

Baking here too, a first time making bagels - partly to tempt Ds away from his work project (self employed). A success!

Oh my @Bimblesalong you have absolutely outdone yourself there. They look magnificent! 😍

Hello @MadMadMadThe school situation here is bonkers (and I'm hearing similar stories elsewhere) Ours has been compounded by the LA closing our High school that they only built 14 yrs ago. You have just prompted me to light a candle. It's far too chilly and miserable out there tonight, so I find a candle provides a bit of cheer.

We are on an an Amber warning, but not far from the Red one. I wish the Met office would include us in the red warning as at least the school would close not that the idiots did for the last red warning

Sorry, I also meant to say hello to you too @nettie434 I remember listening to Nigel's DID episode a couple of years ago. It struck me when he chose Teddy Bears Picnic that he clings dearly to some of his happier (younger) childhood memories, due to his Mum dying when he was 9. (Understandable)

Typo

Just home from a very wet day on the farm, most of it spent outdoors with a severely autistic man who can only really tolerate being outside and moving-he hates being indoors. So move we did, I think I've done 15, 000 steps today at work. Still no bad weather, only the wrong clothes as they say, and I was in old salapettes and an ancient ski jacket so toasty.DH says I've reverted back to my farmers daughters ways as my hair is by now inexplicable-zero point in doing it for it to get wet and blown about all day.

The storm looms dramatic under the red warning so be careful all. And I hope school is closed for you RZW.

The bagels look super @bimbles. And props to the brother with chain mail! I once sought to join The Sealed Knot but I was off put by the price of the costumes needed.

Waves @nettie434 nice to see you

It sounds a lovely day @piscofrisco Ive a long history of working with /managing provision for children with ASD and also Audhd. We were lucky that we had extensive grounds outside and we worked hard to build up sensory activities and shelters from the elements. Some of our children could really get up a speed when they wanted to go somewhere but didn’t have the filter to ask or stop. Our LSA team were super fit and we ensured they had good protective weather gear too.

We’ve just walked the dog and dropped off baking to ds1. Ds1 and his girlfriend are due to fly out to Malta tomorrow first thing from Manchester. Fingers crossed they get ahead of the storm.

I have to say the bagels are delicious. Ds selected a seaweed and Japanese seasoning to top one of his with. I bake a lot of gf stuff for dh but am really enjoying going full leaded as there’s a wider range of things I can make - my boys will always help with the eating!

Thanks so much for that link @nettie434 - I spent a very enjoyable 45 minutes in the kitchen this afternoon making soup while I listened. I was delighted to discover that I actually have Nigel's desert island book choice. The programme is nearly 20 years old now, but it felt much older somehow. I wonder if Nigel would still choose the same records today? (No mention of the Mozart piano concerto he bakes his Christmas cake to or the Christmas carols that move him to tears). @Bimblesalong those bagels are magnificent!

@Bimblesalong wowwweee those bagels look amazing. @BobBobBobbing huge congrats on raising a man. No mean feat! Happy birthday to him.

Not much to report here. Wet days and dark nights and some spectacular sunsets. I’m quite ready for DH to start his new job (please god may it take him out the house some days - his runs and walks and bike rides don’t count) & for lighter days ahead.

I am using and enjoying my candles this season. I’m never one to particularly save them but I haven’t lit them much in the past year. Making up for it now. We have enjoyed @RainbowZebraWarrior & her DD candles every night this week. Lovely subtle scent of citrus and lavender I think. Sounds odd but works so well. I even had a candle-lit shower the other day!

Oh I mean to say - I too am a fan of Rachel Roddy. Her A to Z of pasta is such a lovely, comforting read. My copy is very worn and splattered. Her Bolognese/lasagne/carbonara recipes are stunning. I always thought my bolognese was decent (recipe from Italian neighbour) but hers is better.

Whrr we n sues he start @AgathaMystery ? It's so unsettling to be out of routine and between things sometimes.

It's a touch windy here but as usual nothing compared to elsewhere, hope everyone in the path of the storm is safe

Good morning, all from a very blustery NE Coast of England. I stopped off at Sainsbury's after dropping DD at school. Parked up just as a trolley went past me at high speed from one side of the car park to the other and smashed into some poor buggers immaculate Audi. Branches down everywhere and I've seen a few roof tiles off, too. Someone is moving house in my street today and I do not envy them. Hope everyone is safe and sound.

Anyway, here's a little excerpt from Kitchen Diaries 3 (25 January)

Food for a windy night

This old house with it's endless stairs, drab colours and creaking boards has an aura thay some visitors find faintly spooky, and never more so than on a bone-cold winter's night. When a gale blows, the wind rattles down the chimney like a tube train coming into a station, with gusts and thumps and the occasional bang that, at 3am sets your heart pounding in your chest.

I know what he means. The wind is currently howling down my chimney in violent bursts and I keep thinking its going to blow the stove door open. I do wonder why he described the colours of his home as 'drab' in that passage. 'Muted' would have worked well. (I guess he wanted to make it sound more spooky)

The recipe that accompanies this entry (Artichoke Tartiflette) can be found here:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/feb/02/raclette-tart-artichoke-tartiflette-recipe-nigel-slater

Bit blowy here to say the least. DS1’s flight to Malta got away at 7am. Never thought I’d hear myself say “good old Ryanair” but I told him they don’t like to refund a plane load!
must look for a decent flight radar thread.

Also just a little heads up for anyone wanting to grow fruit and veg this year. Grow your own magazine currently has 10 free Mr Fothergills seed packs. The magazine is £5.99 but the seeds make it excellent value.

I've pulled the seeds out to show the variety.

Pleased they got away safely. Big Jet TV was Live at LHR early this morning which is on YouTube. Let me know if you find a good FR24 thread.

Edited to add: Have found the current FR thread.

He’s just FaceTimed us from in the sea in some Roman baths. Dh is a Roman history expert and has made a few programmes for the telly on it. Looks so sunny and warm out there. Hope they get a really good rest.

It's blowing a hoolie here in Northumberland. I'm currently watching my fence rocking back and forth and praying it holds. Making use of my time catching up on jobs and doing a bit of deep cleaning. Ready for a cuppa.
Hope everyone is safe from the storm. Is it just me or are we having far more of these storms than we used to?