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!

I started making no knead bread when DD was a baby. It's so simple and you'll never look back. I tried (like everyone else) with sour dough starters etc during lockdown but found it all an incredible faff on. I couldn't find the original recipe and description I used but I knew it was called Artisan no knead bread, so I've found a more recent link for it here:

www.recipetineats.com/easy-yeast-bread-recipe-no-knead/#h-how-to-make-the-world-s-easiest-homemade-bread-artisan-style

Phew. Pleased it was OK

Speaking of Vinted, someone had just uploaded a copy of CC and a copy of Greenfeast autumn / winter for £4 for the two if it appeals to anyone.

@petitpasta for no knead bread have a look at Alexandra Stafford - very reasonable, straightforward recipes, not super nerdy (wanging on about % hydration makes me want to eat Mothers Pride sliced white). She has a great website with loads of recipes.

Also yes agree with this - my DH will make 3 fish pie bases at a time then freeze ‘em and we add the mash when cooking them. Mashed potato can go weird when it’s frozen plus takes up too much valuable real estate in the freezer!

I've put salmon and prawns on my online order for Saturday and am going to make a big batch. I've no idea why I ever stopped making it really.

Got some great bargains in Sainsbury's. Loads of cheese reduced. Resisted the big mixed cheesboards, but grabbed a potted Stilton and a wheel of French Brie at £1.50 each as well as a Marmite cheese with wooden marmite cheeseboard down from a tenner to £2.50 (DD has ran off with that!) Also some lovely flower bargains. All sorts of gorgeous Christmas arrangements from 75p to these lovely bowls now £3. DD picked up the little 'grow your own' kits for £1 each I think.

I wonder if we can substitute cider for apple juice. I feel the spirits will still appreciate it

Someone is also selling 21 individual st eval tealights plus the terracotta tealight holder for £12.50 on vinted. So almost the full advent calendar. Might be a good bargain for a St Eval tealight lover.

Yeah I'd say so. I've just found a bottle of Italian Rosé cider so I'm going to use s bit of that (after I've poured myself a glass first) Planning to wassail on 12th night. Although if the predicted snow falls by then, that might move to Old Twelfth Night. Gosh, Twelfth is a funny old word eh?

Wow, bargains indeed! I may have a look at Vinted again. I started, then abandoned it.

We are hav8ng a variety of roast veg for dinner tonight. The Food waste box has been vegetable heavy, so we have more sprouts tomatoes mushrooms kale and peppers than a mortal can eat before it goes off.

So dinner will be everything roast or cheese sauced, according to its preference! And while the oven’s on I’ll make some cakes for Sunday. Stollen muffins being one. Maybe a good ol’ tray bake.

Do you think I could give plum wine to my plum trees? Would that count as Wassailing? They certainly do their best every year.

Practical question for you lovely cooks and foodies. Does anyone have saucepans that they love and casserole dishes.

Preferably dishwasher safe and without non stick.

Our old pans are a motley collection and sliw on the new induction hob.

Picture from this morning's stroll in woods.

Send some diary recommendations my way please, ladies. Last year I bought Llewellyns Witches datebook, out of interest but barely used it - too wordy for my taste. & I'm struggling to settle on one for this year 🤔.

That's a gorgeous photo @HannahDefoesChristmasHamper I don't know anything about what's good for induction hobs I'm afraid, but I love my copper pans and my Le Creuset Casserole dishes.

Here's our Birthday Belle. She's 7 today. I have bored some of you with this story before, but it always amazes me that she was born not only on a different day and month to her litter pals, but also a different year. The rest of the litter were born in the hour leading up to midnight on NYE 2018, and she was born at five past midnight on NYD 2019.

Happy birthday Belle! My mum reminded me last night that I was due to be born on NYE - I actually hung around for a few extra days so I could put myself into a whole new decade, and I get to replace the Christmas cards with birthday ones so it doesn't look quite so bare when I take the decorations down.

Got myself up for a tiny sunset walk and have made some smoked salmon and avocado pasta. Am wondering what I could wassail to and with - there's a nearby park that has a few fruit trees, I've picked a few apples from there, but I don't have cider. Do you think they'd appreciate gin? I rarely drink these days but people keep giving me bottles. I think I've even got some sort of festive sparkly one.

Happy New Year to you all! I am very grumpy with a stinking cold but still enjoying reading all of your lovely updates.

Happy birthday Belle!
Sorry to hear of ongoing grottiness and I hope that there are soothing warm drinks to help.
I have de-Christmas ed the table and taken down a lot of tinsel. The tree is still up as I’m twitchy about doing too much before twelfth night. We’ve had enough bad luck in the last few years.

We had a very nourishing roasting tin Thai curry with extra veg from the fridge. Dh is now tasked with doing the evening meals as I have cooked for over a week now. I’m still enjoying making fresh soups for lunch and make my own bread too.

It has felt very pleasant to have a week after the main festivities although I have done a little work in preparation for my clients next week. I’ve also got all the evidence together and sent off my reaccreditation application. I’ll start checking the professional listings in a month or so, although it could take up to 8 weeks. 😵‍💫

All the best to all for 2026
I do tend to think Happy is a hard word to live up to
A gentle steady improvement is more realistic

We had a night away with friends - came back and ordered Chinese, before I caught up with thread.

It was group decided that until the tree comes down (Sunday) that all thoughts of clean living can wait, couple more nights with the pretty tree and multi coloured lights

I am looking forward to simple teas, winter salads, marmalade making and other such January delights.

Vit C, Vit D, zinc, boiled water with fresh juice splashes.

Morning all. There's no CC entry for the next couple of days, so a chance to catch up, rest and relax hopefully.

So cold here. Haven't looked outside yet so not sure what's happening weather wise, but we are going to try and get some things done today, then have a relaxing weekend before back to school. Snow and weather warnings dependant. Hobbycraft this morning, hair appt at lunchtime then DD wants to go to the city. That's a lot for me in one day, so we will see..

Cold here too. Trying to locate my thermals for work. Brrr.

@RainbowZebraWarrior ah Belle is lovely! Belated Happy Birthday.

It's snowing here and had been all night. We're meant to be going home tomorrow but not sure if we will be now!

So annoyed - I stopped getting notifications for this thread until today, so in the general Christmas madness it fell off my radar. The good thing is that I now have a lovely lot of entries to read when I get a moment.

Happy New Nigel Year to all the lovely people on this thread and I hope we all still have our decorations up since it's only Nine Ladies Dancing Day (I think. I always get confused with the last few).

We won't get snow here as we v rarely do but there are some very dread looking clouds overhead and I have to go out to meet a friend. It's a new scarf and gloves job for sure.

Ah, lovely to have you back! I have all the Nigel threads pinned and also bookmarked. I then also physically check them every day as I've had threads go missing from my watched list before. I probably have too much time on my hands though...

Sitting arked up outside hobbycraft having been talking and on / off hold to JL for half an hour. Of course the dishwasher I wanted is now out of stock. No I can't keep the one that was dented as it wasn't fit for purpose and it was taken away. Yes, I'd love a lovely top notch Bosch one instead thanks (eventually!) Just waiting to arrange the comviniemt for me delivery slot and then we can go and shop!!

Oh gosh. Snowed in! Are you due more snow? We are getting everything done today as the snow is forecast here very soon and then into tomorrow

Yes, I have learned my lesson @RainbowZebraWarrior and will be checking my 'Watched' list on a daily basis now!

Good luck with the JL dishwasher - their customer service is not what it was, I keep hearing. But definitely enjoy Hobbycraft! I was there a couple of days ago, picked up a veritable treasure chest of stuff (not literally, mostly sewing supplies for dd1).

Morning! No snow here (seems to be due Monday/ Tuesday) but it's beautifully bright and crisp.

Fingers crossed for all going smoothly with the upgraded dishwasher delivery @RainbowZebraWarrior

The main thing I've done so far today is sort out my various speakers around the house as I've got into a bad habit of listening to everything just close-up through my phone. I have enough Bluetooth speakers/ adaptors not to do that and I'm sure it'll be more relaxing - my favourite is the one that means I can play anything through the speakers of the lovely Technics stereo that's followed me round many house moves since 1999 and is still going strong! I do have a (probably more Nigel) record collection but need a new turntable which isn't a priority right now.