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!

That’s lovely light @AlicePottery Love the name - I may have missed if you explained the pottery link.

@gremolata a gentle nige high five from me. I was in active treatment for bc this time last year the the thread sustained me through until almost my last intravenous chemo. I’ve started tablet chemo this week (“chemu”!). Anything to keep the critter away. This thread of lovely things and feelings is very sustaining. I hope it’s all going on as well as possible.

I have a few Nige books missing from my collection on their way to me from Vinted sellers. Yay! The kitchen floor goes down tomorrow - another step along the way.

@Bimblesalong I do pottery as a hobby - I sometimes post some of my bits and pieces (and some beautiful things made by actual potters) to my Instagram page with the same user name as here (my profile picture is a pot on fire).

How lovely - I enjoy a bit of raku! I’m a collector too although keep telling myself I’m out of room. I enjoy throwing on the wheel but find it helpful to have a glaze technician for that side of things. Unfortunately, the space I used to throw in has fallen alongside the decline of decent adult Ed classes.

I saved up for 2 years to buy myself a kiln and now have a nice set up at home if you ignore the fact that it's in the boiler room . I make my own glazes and have done a lot of reading Chemistry For Dummies and watching some really interesting videos that are available online. I also go a group pottery session once a week and sub for the ceramics teacher occasionally.
Probably best not to get me started on the subject as I tend to get a bit carried away, at least IRL I can see people's eyes glaze over so I know when to stop 😅

@martha79that sounds like a Xmas right up my street - bath and buns!

I’ve been enjoying the thread and managing to keep up this year with CC as I read when I can but also listen to the audio when doing the baby’s bedtime feed.

I’m in awe of all the cooking and creating that those on this thread achieve. I start each day determined to do something and by 8pm I’m zonked. I’ll just need to be vicariously creative via this thread and hope for a day when I can peel myself off the sofa in the evening!

I realise I’ve said ‘thread’ many times. I’m very tired… 😂

Thiis is a wonderful thread! Too many interesting stories for me to refer back to, but sending a handhold for everyone undergoing or recovering from unpleasant treatments! 💐

I'm also pleased to read so much Christmas cake expertise because I need advice!
I’ve never made one, I don’t like it. However… Nigel’s wonderful description has left me hankering for an adapted one!

If I swap the bigger dried fruits (glacé cherries, figs) for equal weight of ones I like (prunes, apricots, dates, sour/dried cherries etc), can I just leave out the vine fruits? Do I have to increase the quantity of the other fruits?

Secondly, Alcohol. I dislike a lot of spirits- brandy, whisky. What about white rum? Will that work? Vodka seems pointless. Gin would clash! I could soak fruit in vodka then use the flavoured vodka to feed the cake.

I too love marzipan- but didn’t find out for a long time, because the bright yellow stuff we used to have on Christmas cake was vile.

I use all sorts of dried fruit in a Christmas cake - apricots and prunes are nice, I made one with crystallized pineapple and coconut once! White rum works, but would prefer to use brown rum for the flavour.

For those like me that found this thread and need this glorious book in their life please spread the word. Nigel’s book is in the Black Friday sale £11.20! I couldn’t quite justify spending £28 at the time when I stumbled on this original thread but have just purchased this and can’t wait. Thank you for bring this book to my attention. 😊

£11.20 on Amazon’s Black Friday sale incase that previous post wasn’t obvious.

Thank you @RainbowZebraWarriorthis is just want I need right now and wouldn’t have this without you 😘

I was just coming on here to say the same about Christmas cake, although I've not had it since I was a child. Nigel's description has me wanting to make one! I also haven't tried marzipan since a child either and hated it at the time I'm now 41..

I also haven't tried any mince pies since I was little (didn't like those either), but now I'm gluten free, so it'll be interesting to make them. I'm also in the states, so they don't exist here but there are jars of the mincemeat available 🤔

@Celiathebanshee I will be walking out if anyone says anything as ridiculous as that cancer statement! I'm ok with certain levels of woo, and can find it relaxing (the colour breathing visualisation for example) but do think sometimes there's a lot of nonsense connected to what could just be nice, relaxing experiences.

@PrizedPickledPopcorn my cake liquid was a mixture of brandy, chai tea and a bit of a Christmas gin liqueur someone gave me last year (clementine and spice flavour I think). Maybe some fruity spicy vodka with a tea bag in it?

Not entirely sure why I've been awake since 4am - I seem to have turned a corner with covid recovery this week, and along with feeling more normal, I've gone back to old patterns of insomnia instead of sleeping 10 hours at night plus having a nap... I'll take the feeling better though! Going to take advantage, read Nigel with a cuppa and a candle, then go for a frosty sunrise walk in a while.

And thank you to @PricklyBob for mentioning the Val McDermid book - I've ordered several copies as presents as it ticks the boxes for a few people I know, and I've got the audiobook on the go (find her voice very comforting!).

26 November

The Advent calendar

You may have left it rather late to buy an advent calendar. The good ones go early. By good, I mean the traditional ones made to the time honoured designs and devoid of chocolates, miniature bottles of liquers or other silliness.

I always buy myself a Nige-style advent calendar while the DDs get the chocolate/candles/tea type ones - and we all share a beauty advent calendar - but I've completely forgotten what I got for myself this year. It'll be a nice surprise to unbox on Sunday night...

Oops, I posted my advent calendars on here a bit early 😊 Just been out and it's a beautiful morning, took a few photos and was wondering if anyone had ever offered a service turning your own pictures into advent calendars (will Google shortly, and then consider patenting idea 😁). I got some jigsaws made as presents a few years ago - I took a lovely photo of a friend at a distance on a walk, gazing off into the hills, and she now has a jigsaw of herself in her local landscape.

Here's a bit of today's frost...

Morning all.

Very tired. Usually I spring into action at 5am each morning (annoying morning person) but today I just feel sloth like. DD has coughed and sneezed for most of each night since Saturday. She's asleep next to ne now and Mr D is purring on the other side of me. I need to get up soon and ring school as she won't be in again. I've got that cotton wool in my head feeling that I've no idea if I'm meant to be anywhere today and don't quite know how to get going...

Anyway, some random thoughts.

Rum is very good in Christmas cake and Christmas cake cab be very forgiving, so I'd chuck I'm whatever fruits you like and make it your own @PrizedPickledPopcorn

I used to be a hardcore Yoga fanatic up until my body broke so I'm aware how sanctimonious (and wrong) some of the more woo folk can be. It's really annoying and I came across a lot of it when I was in Australia. Pushy fellow travellers spouting tripe and trying to push their reiki master techniques on me got short shrift.

@piscofrisco Hope you're feeling better soon and get your mojo back pet. Winter is a rubbish time for Christmas really isn't it. Dark, cold and viruses hiding around every corner.

@DarkEyedSailor Christmas Dinner pizza sounds glorious. I used to be a chef, and some of the crap chefs eat is quite startling. Nigel must have some junk food days surely? I know he likes plain crisps and eats them most days. I'd love to see him post a pic of him enjoying a pot noodle or some such!

Mmm. Niederegger marzipan. I get that sometimes from Lakeland. When we were in Copenhagen last Christmas I was thrilled to learn that DD discovered a shared love for marzipan too. We stocked up and brought loads home but it's all gone now so I've bought a selection of Aldi ones to road test.

@AlicePottery you would never bore me and I'd love to see more pics of your makings. I've not checked your insta (or any insta) for a while so I might have a little catch up later. Lovely photos = Food for the soul!

Thank you so much for this lovely post ❤️

Thanks for that link @martha79 I don't think I've read it before. Oh to have Nigel's life just for a day or two.

Right. Ring school, make pot of tea, unscramble brain.

What beautiful frosty photos @martha79 they would make lovely postcards!

@AlicePottery I frequently geek out on pottery techniques and was an avid reader of ceramics review. Geek away!

The trick with Vinted is spend some time training it so the algorithm learns what you are looking for and saved searches help..I've lost almost 7 stone over the last 18 months so I have reinvented my wardrobe a number of times. Currently my wardrobe is almost 100% Vinted bargains, almost all new with tags.

To train the algorithm just dedicate a bit of time to searching for things you know you like, whether that's grey wide leg trousers or burgundy maxi skirts or whatever. Then click on anything you like the look of (even if not intending to buy). The algorithm will then learn what sort of colours, shapes and brands you like and will show you more of those. I often say now that Vinted knows what I want before I do!

This is so true (and definitely how I'm finding a lot of my bargains) My home page now just loads with a cornucopia of hand picked Lovely Things just for me. Very well done on the weight loss. I'm similar in that I've lost 5 stone and also have an entirely new wardrobe thanks to Vinted. Once I find something I like that fits well and suits me I just think "OK. Let's grab a few more of these, perhaps in other colours too" and it's been joyful.

I really do need to sell some of my bigger clothes now though. Everyday clothing has gone in charity bags, but designer stuff could help towards new double glazing! I just cba with the selling process. I'm looking at a boutique near me that sells on preloaded clothes for commission. I'm just not sure my clothes are high end enough (they mostly sell Gucci and Dior, mine is things like One Hundred Stars, but I have around 50 pieces so would be worthwhile)

Spare a thought for the poor woman who developed an almond (salicylate) intolerance and now cannot have marzipan. I tend to replace with cashews in baking but haven't tried a marzipan substitute yet. There are a few recipes around but they rely on an almond flavouring and I have yet to find one that is completely artificial. I can manage a small amount of dried fruit so can eat my homemade Christmas pud and cake, but it's getting worse as I get older. I loved marzipan sweets when younger.

I did a Christmas themed needle felting workshop last night and made a snowy scene picture and a bauble. I'm not a natural crafter by any stretch of the imagination but I am quite pleased with these.

All my Christmas cards are now written and I am awaiting delivery of the final present so I can wrap this weekend.

I have decided to treat myself to a (for me) outrageously expensive candle this weekend. DH bought me one last year and the scent is divine and nothing else compares to it so I fear I am now ruined for any other candle. It's a cinnamon, orange and nutmeg candle by a brand called pharmacy I think. A local florist sells them and they are honestly wonderful. I burned the last dregs on Friday and could still smell it yesterday. Not quite Nigel level of spending but spending nonetheless.

@petitpasta you should share your felting exploits over on the Poncetastic thread, they would fit right in.