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!

I have the book and hope to pop on and join you. Lots of new things coming so hope I have time to give it the attention it deserves. I need some hygge time to relax a little so I think this will be a great escape.

Looking forward to starting to read next week. Maybe this year I’ll actually try some of the recipes 😆.

I can recommend a nose around The Christmas Imaginarium website for some lovely decorations.

Just flicking through the introduction now and I realise it's probably one of my favourite parts of the book. The titles of the paragraphs are so evocative, borderline magical. 'A walk through the snow' 'The winter light. Stars and shadows' 'Fire' 'Coming in from the cold' 'The scent of winter' 'Eating winter - The food of fairy tales' That last one would be a great title for a cookery book in itself.

A couple of images from the first few introduction pages.

Im just on the last few pages of 'A Thousand Feasts' which i have absolutely loved so i am more than ready for 'The Christmas Chronicles'. I have lurked in the past but fully intend to join in this year as im really in need of that cosy warm feeling that only Nigel can provide! Candles, blankets and chocolate at the ready, let the cosiness commence!

Life has been challenging for a while. But today I woke up to this thread! Awesome. And I scored a copy on eBay for a tenner! I went for the acceptable condition copy not the new as I wanted something someone had read and loved. I am so looking forward to walking alongside you all. I have polished and hoovered and got out blankets, poodles and candles. Hygge here I come. Thank U Rainbow, you made my day

@Pinkballoon5 ‘poodles’? I’m intrigued 😀

I’m keen to cook along this year, so will run prior notice for the recipes if anyone else is interested! I’ll be shopping ahead.
Nov 1st has lots of alcohol and dried fruit based drinks which I’m not interested in. If that’s your thing, then check out the ingredients- they aren’t the kind of thing people keep in.
Nov 4th is turkey and fennel meatballs with cranberry sauce. I will substitute the lardo for some dripping, and may use crab apple jelly in place of cranberry sauce. I’ll get my Christmas cranberries early, if I see them.

This is my favourite thread every year. I got a second hand copy a couple of years ago which is well worn but I have literally just found a waterstones voucher which must be a forgotten gift from last Christmas so I have just treated myself to my very own brand new copy. This thread is a highlight of the year for me, sharing the loveliness and cosiness of Autumn, winter and advent so I though I should treat myself to my very own copy to cherish.

I will list my old one on vinted so, hopefully someone will get a bargain.

Well next week I'm off to IKEA to buy (amongst other things) some scented candles, NVN at all (I might even ask DH to pickup an airwick one in the supermarket this afternoon 😂).
For those interested there's also the Poncetastic thread running, it has a similar vibe to this thread, and the more the merrier (especially if you post photos 🤩).

Thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior for getting this going again. Such a great thread although life here is very busy at the moment so I don't know how well I will keep up this year.
Bay and Rosemary is my favourite St Eval for winter, although I have the absolute dregs of a candle I bought at a craft fair in China, years ago, and I am on a constant quest to find that scent again. It is wonderful.
I had a boyfriend when I was at university who used to read to me and it was very lovely. I somehow ended up married to a man who would think I had taken leave of my senses if I suggested it, all the more so if it was a Nigel book 😥But fortunately these days we have audiobooks available so we can pretend

I listed to the audio book on BorrowBox last year and loved it so I bought a copy. Looking forward to reading it 😃

Oh, those turkey and fennel meatballs are really good. I've been making some really nice, but simpler turkey and fennel meatballs as part of our standards weekly dinner rotation, so I might see if I can do a hybrid version.

Not a Nigel question, but does anyone here know if I could use extra dry vermouth instead of the gin for sloe gin?
I've got a bottle that'll never be used otherwise, and lots of sloes!

Interesting question. You can make a sloe gin cocktail by adding vermouth to sloe gin. By that rationale, you could make sloe vermouth and add some gin to it to make a sloe gin cocktail. I think it would work well. Essentially you'd be making a fruity wine. I shove my sloes in the freezer for a while, then prick them just to be sure they dissolve / bleed into the alcohol well in case that helps. I think I'd also be inclined to taste it in a month or so to see how much sugar it needs as it may not need as much as gin would (I only add half the amount of recommended sugar anyway as I don't like very sweet liquers)

May I join please? I don’t have either of the books (off to search up a copy now) and we don’t do Christmas per se but I’m all about the baking, stewing, provisioning, preserving, fire-lighting and wintertime-appreciation!

Also: turkey and fennel meatballs sound amazing!

Thank you- I'll give it a go! I made the apricot and star anise brandy (Very Nigel, very lovely) last year as presents and it went down really well.

@DecktheHallswithCireTrudonSpiritusSancti did a CC recipe thread to accompany this one a couple of years ago. I might see if I can find it and link to it as it was very handy.

My Apricot Brandy is already made as I tend to do it in early October at the same time as my Sloe gin.

Absolutely! A very hearty welcome to you and anyone else new to the thread. So pleased to see so many folk happy to see it.

Time to dig out my copy. I'll try and keep up but i mainly lurked last year!

I didn’t realise there was an entire group dedicated to this book. Hurray. I have a copy but to my shame never delved in. The turkey and fennel meatballs sound sublime.

I wonder if Nigel knows that every year we have this thread? He did a webchat on here ages ago so MNHQ definitely have his contact details, maybe we should ask then to send him a message 😁

Thank you! I will have a look 😊

I've mentioned it to him a couple of times on his Instagram feed. Once last year and once the year before. He never replied, but always 'likes' my comment. 😊

Perhaps he lurks!