The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong 2025 - Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, and welcome to Part 2. We Continue our CC journey.

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 began on 1st November.

We continue to read along and comment with the book which is set out in diary form. I will make a post each day (or let you know if there is no entry on a particular day)

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.

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!

Hi and welcome! I'm just catching up, so sorry if this has already been answered. I hate star anise, so I don't put it in. I just use Brandy, orange peel and the apricots. I also leave out the wine. It makes a delicious Orange / Apricot flavoured Brandy without any interference of overpowering flavours or 'watering down'. I've done it this way for five years now and it is gratefully received by all I have given it to.

Oh I love Val McDermid and I've not read that, so there's my next Audible book sorted thank you. I'm so sorry that we have collectively put you off Wintering, though.

Bargain candle of the day for me today. Aery Winter Thyme. One seller had it on ebay for £25, but I snaffled one for £3 on Vinted!

https://www.edinburghbookshop.com/product-page/val-mcdermid-winter

This looks exactly what I wanted Wintering to be. I had asked DH if he could buy it for me for Christmas but having now seen this prize draw, i'm now going to have to encourage him to order it now, via this link! Everything about the book and the potential accompanying prizes is most definitely Nigel-adjecent.

Just caught up
been very not Nigel since last post
football and car engines (my car and F1)
I have finished Hallmarked Man, roasted a chicken, had chemistry A’level explained played pass the pigs and cards against humanity (family version) with 5 teenagers (all boys)
so ramping up the board games in between playing/watching football and F1 although even I had to admit Las Vegas doesn’t fuck about when it comes to lights (super drone display)

the lemon tree that was dragged in has spring into blossom - basically under darkness - smells amazing though (counteracts sweaty teenager shin pads)

Ooh that is also my next Audible book sorted (new credit day tomorrow), plus a couple of copies for presents - thank you!

Oooh, that sounds good! Do you add the sugar as well? I remember someone mentioned on the other thread they don't add it, but couldn't remember if that was you! And do you boil the brandy?
I'm sorry for all of the questions!

Welcome @HazelNuttyElf and ask away. Nobody minds sharing ideas here.

I was struck by @HornungTheHelpful post about multiple concerts, events and busyness in terms of how crammed December used to be with a house full of teens /primary schoolers and various concerts and activities compared to having young adults.

@martha79 has inspired me to look out for some nice things to do because I want to. Thank you.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I'm sure I've shared these before but these are a nice flapjacky but pastryish mincemeat treat from Delia

https://theordinarycook.co.uk/2012/11/14/mincemeat-bars/

25 November

The cake

I have been looking forward to this day for weeks. The one where I get ro make 'the Cake'. It is, and must always be, a day when I have little else on my plate. Baking a fruit cake that will feed twenty people is not something to shoehorn in between fifteen other errands. I usually put on some calming music, or listen to the gentle babble of the radio, and today is no different. (Mitsuko Uchida, Mozart piano concerto, because it will help me concentrate on the lengthy ingredient list.)

Yes, it was me on the previous thread who talked about this. I now only add half the sugar, and don't bother boiling the Brandy anymore, as the sugar dissolves anyway (I make mine in early Sept, so it steeps for at least two months)

I guess it basically bears no resemblance to Nigel's recipe anymore, but that's because I don't like sugary, sweet things, or aniseed. I thank him for the maim inspiration, though. Orange and Apricot is a great combo!

Good morning all-I’ve no chance of catching up on the thread-you have all been busy since I’ve been away!
we got back from Krakow yesterday-a great time but we were both so poorly that we didn’t do as much as we normally would. The memory of being at Birkenau as it began to go dark and in the freezing cold Wil stay with me a long while. A bleak and sorrowful experience but a necessary one I think.
DH is back to the dr this morning for his second round of antibiotics and I’m probably going to have to be off work as also struggling a bit. So much to do now in very little time for Christmas and various other things we have coming up and I don’t have time to be ill really :(
Anyway will have a little read of the thread throughout the day. A happy Tuesday to all

@piscofrisco I shall join you in the frustration of being ill yet having Things To Do. I have a Dr's appointment tomorrow but have been off work since yesterday due to a little cold tipping me over the edge after a couple weeks of doing too much and not listening to my body bastarding long covid 🙄
I've never made Christmas cake as it has never really appealed to me, I much prefer the moistness of Christmas pudding. On the few occasions I have eaten a slice I do agree with Nigel on taking a bite of everything together though, at least that makes it vaguely interesting.

Stollen on the other hand is a personal favourite, DH makes me one every year 🥰

Hello everyone, I’m new to the thread and to the book - I’ve had it a couple of years but never managed to read past the first few days. Thank you for inspiring me to try again! I started late so am reading the earlier entries on the days off. DS is going on a Christmas markets trip with school so I loved reading about Cologne. I haven’t been for years but lived in Germany for a while so it brought back happy memories…

@martha79 your plans sound lovely and you inspired me to look for a soundbath locally and it turns out there’s a place in town that does them - I had no idea! The next one is this week, I’m very tempted to book. They also have some massages which are aligned with the seasons which sound amazing.

I’m another one who didn’t get on with Wintering. I felt like I was waiting for it to properly get started the whole time I was reading it. That may say more about me than the book 🤔. Some of the book recommendations on here sound wonderful, as do the candles. DD and I are going into the city on Friday so I’ll be looking in bookshops and TKMaxx!

Much as I love a Christmas cake - mine would last me well into January and an afternoon slice with a cup of tea would be a bright spot in a bleak month - it is a victim this year of gallstones (mine) and a combination of veganism and fussiness in everyone else.

It's a little saddening as making the Christmas cake was one of the last things I did with my late mum before she died in early December nine years ago. I did all the weighing and mixing on the living room carpet while she oversaw from her bed, which had been moved downstairs by then. She was a wonderful baker and the recipe I use is hers.

There can be so much emotion, tradition, expectation and memories wrapped up in a Christmas cake. Very line Nigel's own experience. I checked on mine last night, then found a Waitrose No 1 Christmas cake at the back of the pantry. Best before Feb 2025. It was absolutely delicious and without doubt the most moist shop bought cake I've ever tried. DD came through into the kitchen to find out what my little squeaks of delight were all about!

Sending hugs to all those who are poorly (pleased to hear from you @AlicePottery as I had a feeling something must have been up, I was going to check in on you)

Welcome to the thread @SheSawSeaShore Nice to have you here!

I am jiggered. DD is poorly and last night we barely slept. The weather is horrid again, too. We've definitely hit that time of year eh?

Also I forgot to say thanks all for the mincemeat ideas. Some really inspired offerings! I intend making honey ice cream at the weekend, so that could be a good combo!

I'll leave you for now with this. I take any photos from the book the night before posting. Mr Darcy tried to get in on the act last night (naturally!; he is Very Important after all)

That's a wonderful memory and what a lovely thing to do with your Mum. I read today's entry and remembered my Mum's regular fruit cakes and her making the Christmas one which we helped to decorate every year. (Then all fussily deconstructed it and swapped the bits we didn't like with each other). My Mum is 86 and life is difficult for her so your post made me think when I visit before Christmas I should take the ingredients and sit and make her cake with her.

That's him curled up in a balk on one side BTW. He loves lying on books! Perhaps this is why I often favour Audible...

How do you do that?! I haven’t managed to make vented work for me. I never see any bargains!

Ah! I have my favourite things as 'saved searches' and I check on them 3 or 4 times a day which takes me about 5 mins. I have it set so that it shows me newly listed items first. Every few days, something will pop up thats on my watch list that fits the bill, that a seller has listed very cheaply. They often have other, similar items and often have 20% bundle discount so I buy as quickly as possible. A few times, someone else has beaten me to it though. This happens more with popular beauty items that a lot of folk may be looking for. I've gotten really lucky a few times, but it is happening less and less lately. Certain brands like St Eval never seem to be listed at much less than RRP, which I find weird, cos even high end skincare you'd expect to see for around half the RRP.

I think it probably helps that I have quite a lot of time on my hands! Perhaps I could also be described as dedicated or a bit obsessive depending which way you look at it 🤔 Most people probably couldn't be bothered!

You probably wish you hadn't asked hehe.

I’m so glad that’s an illustration of a cake he’s sat on! I misunderstood at first glance!

I'm glad to have inspired some relaxing activities (goodness knows, I'm generally terrible at that myself!). I've got quite a lot of time off over Christmas and had been looking at retreat-type breaks but nothing quite works so I may build my own out of yoga classes, sound baths, massages, saunas etc.

Hope those of you feeling poorly are better soon.

@leporello that is a beautiful memory.

I unwrapped my cake this morning for a feed of brandy. It's quite sticky on top but I'm guessing that's the gluten-free recipe (and better than too dry).

Arran Aromatics / Arran Sense of Scotland have 40% off bestselling home fragrance for today only. They do some lovely candles.

Yes, they are doing a different part of their product range every day. I might have to buy an After The Rain candle.

I too thought Mr Darcy was sitting on an actual cake for a few seconds 😅

My advent calendars have arrived! Very pleased with the William Morris one which I got for about half price (£28 when I've seen it for anywhere between £45 and £65) - hoping it'll cheer up the stressed friend it's destined for.