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. There's no CC entry today so a chance to catch up for anyone who needs it.

Good morning @RainbowZebraWarrior and everyone on this very November day.

I’m just waiting for my grocery delivery before retreating to my office until about 4pm.

The clotted cream and Victoria plums are en route 🙏, but with some very disappointing substitutions which I’ll reject. I’d ordered an ancient grains bread, new line, that’s not coming either and nothing in replacement, so I’ll be making bread today but (NVN) I’ll use my bread maker to make the dough while I work.

I must google bay leaf wreaths and how to preserve them as I’ve got three bay trees.

Another mild yet wet day here. DD requested pain perdu and a café viennois for breakfast. I'm savouring a persimmon, I haven't managed to convert her or DH to them. They are probably my favourite fruit (along with watermelons and Cavaillon melons) especially when they're so ripe they're almost liquid 🤌
I'm listening to radio 4 and enjoying the choir singing (I'm not remotely religious bit still like listening to the Sunday morning service).

I love a super-ripe persimmon, @AlicePottery I had my first one as a child when dad returned from working in Israel (university prof). It was before fancy suitcases with wheels, so he put his suitcase on the living room floor and opened it out. Amidst all the crumpled clothes and books, there was a parcel of plastic bags to stop leakage, with two persimmon wrapped in layers of a newspaper whose writing was impenetrable to me. We savoured those fruits. I’ve recently seen a clip of Miss Matty and friends enjoying oranges in Cranford. It reminded me of that magical childhood moment.

What a lovely memory @Bimblesalong. I made a nice persimmon bread pudding a few years ago, it wasn't exactly this recipe but very similar, with brioche - https://flamingoestate.com/blogs/recipes/persimmon-bread-pudding-with-rosemary-creme-anglaise

Very lazy day for me, got back into bed after breakfast - although I am trying to do a bit of Christmas shopping thinking/ planning while I'm here.

That looks awesome! My mum loves persimmon, so I will try to do this next time she's around

I've got a recipe for persimmon chutney somewhere that I've never tried, I should look it up. I love the story of the persimmons in the suitcase!

I've been busy making sausage rolls and Bath buns. Sausage rolls ready for inspection, with flaky pastry made with my favourite recipe from a 1950s Good Housekeeping recipe book.

Beautiful wreath @AlicePottery

I went out for a walk with DDog between the showers. Collected more leaves to preserve and some pinecones and some acorns and some greenery and some bark 😅
I ended up having to carry DDog as I forgot to take his pram (wouldn't have been practical anyway as we went through the forest).

I tried two recipes - only got my book through last week.

The cauliflower leek soup and cheese toast - the cheese toast was delicious but personally I wasn’t mad about the soup, although my husband said it was really nice.

I also made the orange poppyseed cake last night, the flavour is excellent but I did struggle a bit with a texture because it was VERY soft (like falling apart soft). Not sure if it was underbaked, too much syrup, or something else. Was delicious and DD said please make this one again. So not a slam dunk but pretty good.

I don't do the syrup. I cannot abide syrupy, soggy cake (sorry, Nigel) If I ever make lemon or orange cake, I just do a drizzle of icing sugar with a squeeze of lemon or orange juice.

Pisco do you have a link for the crispy beef tray bake please?

Good morning all. Due to being abroad I have only just started, in the last few days the readalong (not my first read though).
I'm currently on 10th November! I always love reading his description of fire and my dream would be a log fire.

Just to let you know that there’s a Part 2 of this thread started now as this one is nearly full up. If you scroll up a bit you’ll see the link and you’ll find everybody there.

Here's the link to Parrt 2. Come on over!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5444762-the-nigel-slater-christmas-chronicles-readalong-2025-part-2?page=4&reply=148609775

I’d like that recipe too, @piscofrisco! I’m on the other thread, as well.

I meant to reply to @AGreenWitch earlier this week about the Bay Leaf Wreath we were discussing. It looks something like this.

That looks fab @RainbowZebraWarrior . I've got a load of natural hessian style ribbon too although I think my bayleaves are smaller than those.

We've had a few flakes of snow here tonight with 2" on the high points nearby apparently.

It is white with snow here this morning. Did anyone else get a covering?

Yes there's a few with snow. We are over on thread 2. Here's the link. I'm going to use this thread up now so as we don't get confused as to where we're at 😊

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5444762-the-nigel-slater-christmas-chronicles-readalong-2025-part-2?page=6&reply=148628911

Using up the thread with some seasonal photos

This is our sunrise from yesterday

Not my photo, but taken from a wildlife group I follow.

And so, over we go to Thread 2

Link to thread 2 here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5444762-the-nigel-slater-christmas-chronicles-readalong-2025-part-2?page=6&reply=148628911