The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025 - Part 3

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, and welcome to Part 3. 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)

For anyone new, it's a challenge to see of you can pick up the book as 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!

"What do you think the tourists on the webcam are waving at? They are quite persistent. Do you think there is a Santa figure waving? Or are they waving optimistically at a camera, assuming someone is watching? I found it disconcerting as though they were looking back at me!"

AFAIK @PrizedPickledPopcorn they tell folks at home to watch the live feed and wave to them. I did this once with my Mum. I agree, it is rather disconcerting. I also felt a bit odd watching the lone family when I clicked on the link at 5am. They did seem genuinely thrilled to have the place ro themselves at that time in the morning though.

Happy Solstice all! I've had a very very quiet day for the first time in months. I even had a nap this afternoon.

Going to listen to the Adrian Mole tonight.

Just back from the festival of nine lessons and carols at my mum’s church - inspired by all your carol service references. Very calm, peaceful start to the festivities and a lovely way to round off the afternoon after taking mum out for a birthday lunch. Starting to regain my Nigel vibes after a bit of a wobble in the frenzy of yesterday.

I got up early this morning and did the work I should have done Friday so now hooray it is officially Christmas! @piscofrisco ive been freelance and home-based since 2002 and there are definitely pros and cons to it.
Then all five of us went to the Lowry to see the lion, the witch and the wardrobe on stage which was a really lovely adaptation with a gorgeous war-horse-style Aslan puppet. If anybody is in the north west and can get there then I really recommend it

There's lovely Christmas and Solstice stardust on this thread ✨🌟🌠🌌

Evening all,
Sorry I've been AWOL for a few days. The end of term, with a nasty cold, really took it out of me. I'm so glad to be finished school for the term, and was really touched at how many of my students left the lab wishing me a happy Christmas.

Yesterday, my PIL arrived for the next week. It's been a difficult relationship, I've known them for 20 years now, and they have been incredibly critical at times. But, since the children arrived, things have been generally better. I find it hard though, that every Christmas, I spend it cooking for them and my SIL (who is single, and the golden child, so doesn't lift a finger). Still, at least they are not staying with us, they have a cottage 5 mins way. I just can't help but feel left out, when I'm the only non-blood relation. But, it is the price to pay of having the children wake-up in their own beds, on Christmas morning.

I organised a very special treat for my eldest yesterday. We went to our local bird of prey sanctuary, and watched the owl flying displays with the sunset, and then got to fly some of the owls ourselves. I was really proud of DD, she was so excited and was brilliant with the owls, especially when they were flying at her and landing on her gloved hand.

At the PILs cottage, they have a wood burner, so we enjoyed that.

And, the cake is iced - did the marzipan yesterday, the leftovers the DC were allowed to roll out, then wrap around glacè cherries. And either dunk in chocolate, or eat as they were. Both the children and DH love marzipan, very much like my late Grandad.

Hope everyone is feeling a bit better. I'm propped up in bed, with water and inhalers to hand, hoping for a bit less coughing and a bit more sleep tonight!

22 December

A terrine or two

I make lists. Shopping lists, to-do lists, Christmas card and present lists. Lists long and short, urgent lists and pipe dreams. And never more so than in the days that bookend Christmas. The one I write today is unusually long and detailed. A stream of consciousness that may or may not be followed. Either way, it is an aide-memiore I feel I cannot live without. There is no point in reproducing it here, because a list is your own and pretty much useless to anyone else.

@WeMeetInFairIthilienhope you are feeling the good of the break soon.

I don't know why some in-laws are like that. I'm afraid we've the same issue with dsil, though one year she actually sent a Christmas letter that was critical of me (to the point where PIL told her to apologise which she didn't) and that was that. DH didn't get on with her anyway so the relationship lapsed. And my family live abroad so we just have a small family Christmas.

I ❤️ marzipan. Lubeck is on my bucket list - would love to try marzipan in that city. Hopefully there's some in my stocking

I had a marzipan mishap yesterday. I lost concentration and added double the icing sugar. So I bunged in the rest of the almonds, though not reaching double the original amount, and an extra egg. It appears ok.

How much will my fruit cake dry out if it isn’t marzipanned? I was thinking of doing the sides but leaving the top bare. Or partially doing the sides with a marzipan ribbon. I want to leave it out of the tin, on a cake stand. Will it survive or will it dry out?

I also finally made the poppy orange cake. Very nice. Though I didn’t have the right size tin. Too big for a loaf tin. I could fret about the candied peel sinking in the top, but I won’t!

It’s hard!

Oh no to the marzipan mishap @PrizedPickledPopcorn but pleased to hear that it seems to have turned out OK. I don't ice or marzipan my cakes and they are never dry. I'll be getting both of them out today to check on them.

My Christmas plans are completely derailed, but I am calm, so I'm focussing on that. Work has kicked off in a major way, so not sure quite how I'm going to manage that, but it will find a way. Need to do our cake today (we are not fruitcake consumers here so cake has to be very last minute) then I am decorating it with my 6 yo. This is not my forte at the best of times, so I'm going to need more than a few deep breaths!

Saturday we went to some fairy gardens to meet Father Christmas and "Lady Winter". It was really nice (I was dreading it) but instead of a load of plastic tat, they got a wish with Lady Winter and a really well-told story (plus chocolate) from Father Christmas. They all loved it, even the 8 yo, who is very grown up this year and "knows it's just you and Daddy".

Tomorrow is the ballet (really the cake should be made tomorrow but we are where we are). The house is a disaster, I haven't finished the wrapping and Husband hasn't been here for three weeks, and only gets back tonight. I am genuinely just trying to count my blessings (twee I know) and ignore the things I can't do anything about.

Happy solstice for yesterday and good luck for the coming days!

Morning all.

Didn't post the pics accompanying the chapter today as the whole idea of terrine make me feel ill.

Yesterday was crazy. Had a lovely morning at Tynemouth Market and then delivered my best friends Christmas gifts. Her husband has just returned home six months after having a stroke, just in time for his birthday today and then, obviously Christmas. It transpired my friend hadn't even managed to get him a card yet (been so stressful getting the hospital bed and commode installed in their lounge) so DD and I went shopping for a card and other bits. We made up a massive hamper of lovely goodies and they were so grateful.

Anyway, all good and most stuff done. I run out of Spoons entirely by about 5pm each day no matter what I've done so I remembered about the carols by Candlelight at 6pm and my body and mind just went 'Nope'

Today is a quiet day pottering and making a hot pot for my Mum. Tomorrow is madness (M&S ealy Morning food collection followed by hairdresser, DDs weekly nurse appointment then my Mum's Sainsbury's and my Waitrose order are both coming in the PM) I intend to do NOWT on Christmas Eve!

The tree has now been trimmed with the fresh eucalyptus, and I have done a candle stocktake - I like to line up about a weeks worth and put the rest back in the cupboard - Found this lovely one (only a day late!)

I've also just seen that there's a sale on with Toasted Crumpet. Their Winter Noir candle is one of my new favourites, so going to put an order in today and stash them for next winter.

Hope everyone has a good day. Sending healing vibes to those that need them ❤️

Thank you! I decorated it beautifully adequately then felt disappointed to ha=to put it back in the tin!

I love a festive sideboard! Cakes and snacks on the side, ready for when they are wanted, looking all abundant and festive. I used to keep the dining room cold especially so it was good for left out food, but that doesn’t work so well when Mum is here.

I don't think it will dry out

I did spot a nice marzipan decoration online - little marzipan cone shapes with toasted almond slices placed in the marzipan so that it resembled a pine cone. Whole thing is then dipped in chocolate and left to dry. Looks like a real pinecone then.

Oh awesome, @Hesse ! I also have a little recipe stored somewhere for crescent shaped marzipan biscuits covered in slivered almonds.

So today there could be more cooking… depends what the mother has in mind, though.

Morning all 😊

I love marzipan...will quite happily eat it as a sweet treat 😋. @PrizedPickledPopcorn I think yours should be fine - quite often my measurements are not quite right (generally, I don't scoop out any excess when weighing ingredients, but sometimes am under too) & nothing's gone dreadfully wrong yet. I've never made marzipan yet though, I forget extra almonds & then life ends up busy anyway 🤷‍♀️.

I'm with Nige on the list love 💗. My current one is almost completed, it mainly features things for dd2's birthday, on Sunday, now. Really must bake a cake soon! This week's busy...with added appointments for bloods & meds <sigh>. The worst week to need to take 2x3 hour ish chunks of time to trek across town to the chemo suite.

Right...must get dressed and get on. The girls have decided today's nip to Asda, will be to BIG Asda! Ah well, stollen dough is busy proving to bake when we get in 😋. (Cross everything that the electrician doesn't want to turn off all the power to the house!).

Last year I made a garden list- effectively jobs and dates to do them, with links to an internet page of instructions for things like pruning. I was very proud of that list, and it has been helpful! I tend to think about pruning things at the wrong time 🤣

This is today’s recipe I think!
https://baketotheroots.de/almond-marzipan-crescents/

Lists. Yes, I love lists. I only write in violet pen (not a fancy fountain pen, just a uniball) Mr D also loves lists, and paper and pens in general. He has literally just swiped my pen as I started typing this. Ninja pen thief that he is! Best go and get it from him as it will end up under the cupboards like the one from yesterday I also have to be mindful of not leaving the lids off the pens as he rolls around on them and ends up looking like a small purple striped tiger!

<note to self: order even more pens>

Ooh I like your violet ink @RainbowZebraWarrior - I also very much like a list.

Sending lots of calming thoughts to those dealing with last-minute chaos and tricky families.

I'm having a quiet day today - this morning's radio treat was Ladies of Letters Make Mincemeat (www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g2jbb/episodes/guide).

Tomorrow I have to press 'deliver' on the Waitrose order via Uber Eats - I'm still a bit undecided as to whether to get 'proper' Christmas dinner food as it very much depends on energy levels whether I'll be able to cook it, plus I've been really clumsy the last few days which doesn't bode well for that. I am tempted to just get a load of parsnips to roast and a tub of gravy, that'd do me (sorry Nigel)!

You can get nice disposable Pilot V Pen fountain pens in different colours @RainbowZebraWarrioralthough I suppose environmentally they aren't as friendly as regular fountain pens.

I do love Nigel's garden, even in winter. There are some winter Gardener's World specials on ATM and we are going to survey our backgarden today to see how things are doing. I've planted snowdrops so hopefully they'll come up in January.

I also favour a violet pen, given the opportunity. I’m currently using an erasable one for food diary/journal I’m keeping.
We’re making cinder toffee, and will do the Stollen and Crescents tomorrow.

The poppy seeds in the orange cake are wonderful, but I’d have liked it more orangey. I make add much more next time. Perhaps small pieces of candied peel in it.

Crescents, Stollen and strong opinions on cake are why I need to keep a food diary 🤣

I can highly recommend this. I used to use it (and the Sicilian lemon one) when I made citrussy muffins or cakes in my café. In fact. I think I'll go and pop some on my mums order for tomorrow. A little goes a long way and it really does make a massive difference. Taste the difference indeed. There's another advertising campaign we should get in on!

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-valencian-orange-oil-extract-taste-the-difference-38ml

I haven't used the Sainsburys orange/lemon extracts, but I do absolutely swear by these - https://www.kingsfinefood.co.uk/shop/boyajian-citrus-mini-oils-boxed-set/ They are unbelievably concentrated - the claim on that site that they make 4-5 recipes each is nonsense. I use them in preference to zesting as I have quite bad arthritis and it hurts my hands.

They're also a lovely present for foodie friends. As is this for cocktail-loving friends: https://www.htfw.com/the-bitter-truth-cocktail-bar-pack-bitters-miniature-gift-pack

Yes I've had a similar set from Lakeland before, and the Sainsbury's ones were a good find as they work out a bit cheaper. They've never done a lime one though so far, which is a shame as I love anything lime flavoured.