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!

@piscofrisco do you have a recipe for the chicken and lime curry please?

I'm feeling much better today. Can still feel the need to rest whenever I do something (just been up for the washing basket - body did not approve). Work's going to be interesting if my 1:1 is hard work on Tuesday -I already struggle & need to pull people from their classes quite often...this will not go down well 🤷‍♀️.

No snow here <boo>. Hopefully our further afield staff are snowed in (another day off would be lovely!).

beer barrel?! 🫣😂

@lucysmamhere it is - a slow cooker one
2 pounds of chicken diced
1 can coconut milk
1/3rd cup of lime juice (I use more)
1 tablespoon of lime zest (I don’t bother)
1 diced onion
1 tsp of chilli flakes (I use more )
2 tablespoons of curry powder
1 tsp turmeric
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.
Chuck in slow cooker 4-5 hour on low, 2.5 hour on high. Throw in some fresh spinach 15 mins before you are due to serve. Serve with rice and what have you. It’s very lovely and fresh tasting but not at all healthy!

Loving the moon and goat pictures!

Slow day here. Today's CC entry is very apt as I do love pears - especially love them with creamy blue cheese and walnuts in a salad. Bit cold for that today!

I was my future friend yesterday and I prepped all of the veg for our sausage and chorizo casserole so it's just a matter of browning the sausages and frying the chorizo and onions and tipping everything in the slow cooker with tomatoes and beans. I found the last carton of brandy sauce yesterday (dated today!) and I have a spare Christmas pudding so that's dessert sorted.

We also need to draw up the guest list for our 30th wedding anniversary party later in the year so that will be this afternoon's job. Not bad considering we'd only known each other for 4 weeks when we got engaged and for 5.5 months when we got married!

We are on the way home! Still a lot of snow but we made it through the worst.

Safe travels @DarkEyedSailor .

It’s those clever men who underestimate their wives and assume there can’t be a plan that they haven’t had. It’s the assumption that if I do it, it must be fairly easy and he’ll be able to do it with little forethought. Harrumph!

He’s not generally sexist, but just doesn’t see the science/experience/knowledge in household management. Harrumph! Harrumph!

However, he will put all the decorations away very thoroughly tomorrow without my lifting a finger. And he tolerates my mother. So I probably shouldn’t complain!

Epiphany Party- Roscón des Rois, Galette de Rois, stollen muffins, Nigel’s Christmas cake, marzipan crescents, peppermint creams, coconut ice, candied peel, apple/quince pastries, lemon possets…

Has anyone made the Stollen muffins? They didn’t behave as expected, made twice the volume and needed loads of yogurt to thin the mixture. However they taste lovely so whatever went wrong was a happy accident! I will have another go next year, see what happens.

@PrizedPickledPopcornwhat a feast!

It will look lovely when the candles are lit and the Christmas lights are sparkly!

That looks incredible @PrizedPickledPopcorn!

Afternoon all
The big Christmas put away is in full swing no one agreed with my idea of keeping the tree up until next year (it’s a real tree so it clearly won’t last forever)

It looks so bare!

I am in between cooking a beef roast, H is putting stuff away. I am sure we will appreciate the space again and it’s time to get back to normal.

I am going to finish the yogi Christmas tea box mind

Gorgeous snow photos all. It’s frosty here but largely uninspiring.

All round to yours then, @PrizedPickledPopcorn

I've just booked a week in the Wye Valley at the end of June and am about to start making a chicken, ham and leek pie. January consolations.

@leporello pick me up on your way?

@PrizedPickledPopcorn beautiful looking feast.

I had the stollen muffins bookmarked to try - still haven't made the original stollen after it behaved weirdly, so may try them at some point soon. I'll report back if I do.

Thanks for the curry recipe @RainbowZebraWarrior!

I've never seen snow like this in my 18 odd years living in this area. We managed to get more food today - I don't think our food delivery will arrive on Wednesday. 20+cms of snow in my garden. I made sure I put hardy plants in but wonder what things will look like after the thaw!

That looks amazing @PrizedPickledPopcorn!

Dh and I had our occasional breakfast treat this morning, warm crusts of homemade bread (from the bread maker set up the night before to be ready for breakfast). We used to share a crust from the loaf, then decided to go for broke and cut both crusts off and have one each, his with butter and marmalade, mine butter and marmite - absolutely delicious with a pot of coffee!

That sounds very romantic @Seasidebubbles😁

That spread looks amazing @PrizedPickledPopcornHappy Epiphany

That is mighty impressive! I was also going to say that I'm coming round to yours next year for the feast 😊

Hope you're home safe and sound or will be soon @DarkEyedSailor

Oh the Wye Valley is beautiful. One of my Mum's favourite places @leporello

Crusts are the best @Confusedmeanderings I'd have both, if DD hadn't recently decided that she also loved crusts. One with marmite, and one with marmalade or Apricot Jam. We have a funfair here in our village (called The Treat) My Mum one year volunteered to make the sandwiches. She came home with two carrier bags of crusts that were otherwise cast aside. We lobbed them in the freezer and had crusts for breakfast for months!

Sorry that should have been to @Seasidebubbles about the crusts. I'm having bother tagging people at the minute.

Also meant to mention, have I missed your birthday @martha79 I'm sure you mentioned on NYE that you 'hung on a few extra days'

What a feast @PrizedPickledPopcorn!
we are just back from hiking around Rutland water trying to see a murmuration. The most we saw was a very cold looking seagull but it looked very pretty in the dusk as the sun set. Now home waiting for my curry to finish cooking and dd2 and I will watch a film later.
I know I’ve been back to work already but tomorrow feels like back to work proper so I’ve packed up my new work rucksack and have all my soup making things in the car already. I like a crust too-dipped into Bovril.

It's tomorrow 😊I haven't got round to taking the Christmas tree down yet so it now has birthday presents under it!

@RainbowZebraWarrior we should be home in just under an hour! I am very ready for a cup of tea and a bath. We're straight back to work and school tomorrow.

@PrizedPickledPopcorn that spread looks magnificent. I picked up what has become my now traditional Durance tealight Advent calendar half-price in the sale. I shall pack it away carefully and hopefully remember to get it out on December 1. In the meantime, I am working my way through the remaining tealights from this Christmas - the doors I didn’t open while I was away in the UK. Happy birthday for tomorrow @martha79 - I love the idea of having your gifts under the tree. Mine will be coming down on January 6 - I will be sad to see it go, but thanks to Nigel and CC, I now rather enjoy packing all the decorations away in tissue paper so I have set aside Tuesday to do just that!