The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, it's that time of year again!

For anyone who has not already had the pleasure, the annual Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles read along is a real time annual MN tradition.

The Christmas Chronicles (Notes, stories and 100 essential recipes for midwinter) book begins on 1st November, however there are 25 pages of Introduction. That's why I start the thread one now; to allow time to prepare and fully appreciate Nigel in All His Splendour come 1st November.

Some regulars to the thread already have the book. For anyone new, it's a challenge to see of you can pick up a bargain. Vinted has come up trumps in the past, as has ebay. A rare and precious charity shop find is always a bonus. Don't forget, you can also listen along to Nigel's dulcet tones via Audible.

I shall post daily and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the days recipes, sentiments and indeed Dear Nigel himself. Observations of nature and the seasons are also very welcome.

So welcome to old friends and new, and don't forget that reading by candle light is particularly enjoyable. Cire Trudon may be one of Nige's candles of choice, but it's somewhat pricey. We don't discriminate against other less expensive brands - even if they are NVN (Not Very Nigel)

Pull up a chair, light a candle, grab a cosy blanket and join in!

Good morning all. It's the 1st November already. I can't quite believe how quickly its has arrived.

Anyway, let us begin our Nigel 2025 journey.

1 November

A toast to the winter solstice

"What can I get you to drink?" Never has a simple question been so bursting with delicious possibilities. The word 'welcome' put instantly, joyously into motion.
It is true, I do love pouring someone a drink. I'm my time I have worked in a country pub (all gumboots, roaring fires and golden labradors) and behind the bar of a grande dame five- star hotel. You probably didn't know that. Whether it is as simple as a cup of coffee, a beer served in a small, ice cold glass or a home made fruit liquer that has been steeping in the pantry for six weeks, I get quite the buzz handing someone a glass of 'welcome'.

Happy Nigel day all…. I have plans to make the Apricot Brandy and some Sloe gin today. DSS and I are going to do a 5 mile walk (we are doing 50 miles in November for cancer research and The Samaritans respectively) and then fireworks display this evening. So a seasonal sort of day in store for us.

Very tempted to make the apricot brandy today. Made the figs a few years ago and, despite them almost looking like something not out of place in a pathology museum, they were absolutely delicious - rich and syrupy and moreish! DH wasn’t so keen on them, pah!

Happy Nigel Day!

Happy Nigel day all! It's a bright morning here after a very wet and blustery night, and I'm starting the day with Nigel and some chunky, nutty, brown sugary porridge.

Cake-making here, and a walk - I bought a bottle of brandy for the cake so will try to find some fruit to soak in some of that too.

Happy Nigel Day! I'm also planning the fruits in brandy later.

Just been browsing through the Waitrose magazine and there was a recipe for pumpkin spice mix, which I thought I’d try, but some of my spices including cloves are whole and hard to grind really finely in a mortar and pestle (ours anyway its a cast iron tiny one) so I have ordered myself a microplane spice mill. I’m a big fan of flat microplane graters for zesting and for nutmeg but not for smaller spices. We have one of the huge granite M&Ps too but it takes up too much space to keep on the counter and is too heavy to keep getting out of a cupboard so it has been relegated to the garage and is brought out occasionally to make pesto.

EnchantingDecorations ; I have a Bamix stick blender, and an accessory Wet 'n Dry mill. It will grate/grind everything from nuts and spices to cheese and breadcrumbs. Despite this, I rather hanker after Nigel's wide, shallow M&P.

My cooking is, I’m afraid, VNN (very not Nigel). I’m all about the mod cons and shortcuts. To that end I have made cheese dumplings, pastry, pumpkin pie filling and maple cream all in a blender this morning 🤣

I use a bread machine too, though increasingly I just use it for the dough and then over bake the bread. I love making bread by hand but we eat a lot less supermarket bread than we would if I didn’t use the bread machine.

I sadly don’t think I’ll do the brandy or the figs as no one but me will eat/drink them

I would love a big pestle and mortar. I don't have room for anything else in my kitchen sadly!
I make pumpkin spice every autumn, I put it in porridge a lot at this time of year.
Today it's raining again but we've been out with the dogs and it's cosy inside. There's a party for the children in the village this afternoon.

This is my favourite thread, thank you all!

Starting with raspberry jam today, need space in the freezer. Was going to be Damson Rum as well but we've no rum! Lol. It will be done tomorrow when Lamb's Navy turns up! First I did go and check we'd still got empty Kilner jars - there's six out in the garage with sloes 'ginning up', they won't be bottled until next year though. There's one being used for Raspberry gin, so there's still a few empty ones...

I love a gadget. I have a Braun stick blender with mini chopper and the chopper part gets used all the time but there isn't a spice grinder. I used to have a Kenwood Prospero stand mixer and had a spice grinder attachment for that but the motor burned out and the grinder wasn't very good (it was the rotating blade type). Now I have a Lakeland stand mixer and a separate food processor but the latter is kept in a cupboard as I don't use it that often. The new spice grinder is manual like a pepper grinder so tiny and can be got out and used instantly. I'd like to keep the mortar and pestle on the counter but there really isn't room. Unless we get rid of the toaster. Which isn't going to happen.

I am v tempted to make the figs in maple syrup.

This afternoon it will be scones, I have inherited my mum's cold hands and enjoy flouring up a board. I am a little braver than she was (although her herb and spice tin says otherwise) and will be rifling through the rack to find something interesting and savoury to add.

Can I recommend to the house, that you add fennel seeds to dumplings (mixed herbs if you cannot go the distance) as they really lift a stew. I usually split the mix in two at the dry goods stage if I have visitors, but otherwise they are ALL for me!

I am popping into town to tackle the ravening hordes in TK Maxx to pick up some candles...

@EnchantingDecorations I use my trusty Kenwood Chef and attachments for everything, I've collected every attachment known to man over the years. The spice mill is ace. I have got a lovely looking pestle and mortar but the spice mill wins every time.

I am going to make the brisket and porcini recipe for dinner today, probably not with swede mash as no one else here would be keen on it.

I dream of my next house having a pantry. I used to have two in another house, they were fairly big - 4ft x 10ft. One was for food, also had a window, slab and a cheese box, the other one was for pans, jars, appliances etc, it had deep wooden shelves that had been put in in Victorian times lining the walls.

A huge positive of having them was that I needed very little in the kitchen, literally one L shaped run of base units and a rayburn in the fireplace recess.

I have got a bread machine too, I sometimes use it for dough but use my Chef more than anything else tbh. I'm making focaccia today with cherry tomatoes and black olives.

I'm just about to go outside for my daily gardening half an hour. 🍁

All the more for you then LadySpratt :)
I would love a fancy blender. We have a Nutrition bullet but it’s not much use for anything other than smoothies and soup.
very jealous of everyone who lives near a Homesense or TKMaxx. We used to have a huge one within walking distance of our house. Our nearest one since we moved is 20 miles away. I miss my Saturday Candle sniffing in there more than i miss some of my friends! (Well, as much maybe :) ). The town we live in now has a very Beautiful home fragrance shop. This is very dangerous aa it’s also incredibly spendy. Worse still there is a White Company which is calling to me and I must resist as I’m trying to curb my silly money candle habit. In fact it’s the sort of place where there are a large number of expensivo shops selling home things. DH might live to regret this move!
@RainbowZebraWarriordo you still have party mouse? I just found all my felting bits in a moving box and it made me think of him :)

Good morning!

A late start to the day for me - I was woken in the night by the rain absolutely hammering on the windows. As I was lying awake, I decided to embrace it Nigel-style and enjoy being safe and cosy in my blankets, listening to the sound of the rain. It meant however, that by the time I drifted off again, my body made up for the lost time and gave me a long lie this morning. That's fine, I don't really have any reason to be up early today (other than just generally enjoying getting up and making the most of the day).

I had planned to light a candle and read the 1 November entry early this morning but the day seems to light and bright for that now. Instead, I've realised that I have failed to read the introduction of CC this year, so have just done that and will come back to the first diary entry in early evening. I have some apple juice which I think I will mull with cinnamon for the occasion.

The house smells a bit musty this morning so I have all the windows wide open. It's cold, in a fresh, invigorating way. Also currently drinking peppermint tea and am struck by Nigel's descriptions of cold, fresh smells like peppermint. I think I'm craving this kind of sensory experience today. I need to go into town later to find an 18th birthday present for my godson. I'm tempted to see if I can find some eucalyptus- i bought a lovely ceramic jug a few months ago which I planned to use as a vase. This feels like a good first usage.

Reading through the introductory pages of CC is occurs to me that despite having read through the entire book many times now, I pick up different things every time. It's so rich in detail. Today, I'm finding joy and familiarity in Nigel's descriptions of winter walks, in a way I haven't previously connected.

I made a risotto last night and agree with the joy and meditative effect of the stirring. I get something similar from bolognese (or at least the meaty ragu I make - I know people get pedantic about bolognese 😂. It's my comfort food, both for cooking and eating - and takes hours of prep and cooking; chopping, slow frying of the onions, then gradually layering all the other ingredients to slowly simmer. On the day my dad died last year, I think I was in a bit of shock and realising that i had onions, carrots and celery, all I wanted to do was get the rest of the ingredients to make bolognese. I made and froze 14 portions that day and it was exactly what I needed.

Now the neighbour's cat is sitting on the fence, eyeing up my open living room window, so that's my cue to close the windows and get on with the day.

DD started complaining about DH's chili having whole cumin seeds in. I was online browsing spice grinders when DH suggested trying the (abandoned, gathering dust) coffee grinder, it works perfectly for the job of blending spices.

I have lots of old salt and pepper mills. I refill them with whatever- coriander seeds at the moment.

I'm steering clear of most of the recipes as I'm on a diet. I don't do tiny glasses of something delicious - if it's that good, bring me the jug. However, the bit in the intro about the onsen with the woodsmoke got me to sign up for an outdoor swim and sauna tomorrow.

I've just taken my cake out of the oven! Looks ok I think - I used a Good Food 'free from' recipe as friends who are likely to come over around Christmas have various dietary requirements. It's very much highlighted my lack of decent kitchen equipment (there was some improvising, including mixing it in the pot from the slow cooker when I realised I didn't have a bowl big enough) - but maybe that gives me an answer for when people ask what I'd like for Christmas...

Ooh Happy Nigel Day everyone!! I was woken up by DH snoring very early this morning and felt quite grumpy until I realised it was 1 November and I could enjoy the first chapter in peace and quiet with a coffee before anyone else awoke. Won't be making any of the drinks but have caught up on the thread and now really really fancy cheese scones!!! Quite rainy here this afternoon so a quiet one pottering around at home for me hopefully catching up on some reading. Keep eyeing up the St Eval advent calendar - trying to be good and resist!

@martha79 I'll have a look for that recipe- there's two gluten free in my family.
Just back from a really beautiful walk. The light is amazing. Bright blue sky and white clouds. I got some pictures of a few bits.

Here you go! https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gluten-free-christmas-cake (the stage where the liquid 'splits' is very weird but it did all seem to come together ok after that).

Lovely pictures!