The Year Round Nigel Slater Discussion Thread - Part 5

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, and welcome to this lovely space for our continued chats.

A bit of background for anyone not familiar with this topic:

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong usually takes place here on Mumsnet between November and February each year - the Christmas Chronicles being a book written by Nigel Slater full of winter recipes and anecdotes - It has been running for a few years, and the contributors collectively decided it would be nice to have it running all year round.

So here it is. It is a place to appreciate all things Nigel-esque. Think seasonal food and recipes, enjoyment of nature, gardening, appreciation of the weather, and sharing of news and small moments of joy. It's a calm, cosy space for gentle chat and merriment so pull up a chair, grab a drink and relax.

A very hearty welcome to friends new and old!

I googled 'french set' and stumbled across an apricot and lavender jam recipe. Now I am intrigued because in my head those two things really don't go together at all.

TBF I do think English jam is a bit too solid and do very much prefer a softer set. Christine Ferber is a legend for jam making in France, and I tried a b expensive pot of her jam once (my absolute fave fruit) and it was like syrup - shocking!

She wouldn’t win any prizes in the Womens Institute with a set like that!!

If you're looking for interesting combinations, I recently picked up this book. I haven't tried any yet, but they do look good. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jams-Twist-deliciously-different-National/dp/1911657380/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24US05R43XHB2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.L5En3e0xedqRScetT4tIoAv8d6YcDqseC20RR4lXhNQ.zPFI1KHwdsJHDNZ6dap6hI1ey1VezfBrNOVVhlxfXjA&dib_tag=se&keywords=jams+with+a+twist&qid=1786523001&s=books&sprefix=jams+with+a+twust%2Cstripbooks%2C134&sr=1-1

I love preserving, but don't bother because no one eats it.

We did get our first honey from the hive this weekend. It was such a lovely experience, and so exciting to have our own honey. I felt a real sense of pride - mostly in the bees, bless em - one of the most magical experiences I have had.

Picture of the early jars!

That sounds like it could be very sweet. I do like lavender in food, but once made lavender gin and massively overdid the amount of lavender - it was only good for disinfecting things!

Well done on your honey @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset - looks great.

All praise goes to the bees 🐝 🤣

The honey looks magnificent and such a lovely colour... is it wrong that my old training kicked in and I looked at it and thought, that is a wonderful straw colour, no urinary issues there!

I have just had a delivery of what was supposed to be a quilt book, and a red die cast car was in the large box... so I now need to send it back... quite bizarre.

I hate lavender in food. It tastes like it smells - of perfume. For this reason, I do not like gin either.

Amazing honey @Markknopflersheadband well done to you, and well done to your wonderful bees, too!

Knackered. Went to the beach early, then for weekly hair appt. Dashed home to make muffins as promised with DD, had a quick late breakfast then dashed back out with DD as we had told Dad we would meet him at the allotment. His pal is away for seven weeks this summer and everything was going to rot, so we have picked about 5 kilos of tomatoes and took the eggs from his hens. We also collected a couple of kilos of blackberries, as they are better than anywhere else I have ever seen around there. Just home. Grabbed a biscuit and a cold drink and will be heading back out for our daily woodland walk in half an hour. I have quickly shoved the blackberries in the freezer. The carrier bag full of tomatoes will have to wait till later. I already made 5 jars of chilli jam out of some of Dads tomatoes last night.

Hot water went off last night. Error code on boiler which I cannot fix. Rang my plumber this morning but no call back as I feared he would be on holiday. Will have another go at fixing later. I joked with folk at the beach today that I would be down tomorroe with my towel for a wash. More nurdles are turning up again as we head towards the next week of Spring tides.

Ordered a gorgeous bookcase 3 days ago. 7 to 10 days delivery they said. Smashing I thought. Plenty of time to clear the hallway and empty and dispose of the current table which is where it's going to go. Argg. Apparently it's coming tomorrow! Need to empty hallway tonight. I am not used to running about like this, but all I can say is that I am grateful it's only 19 degrees here and no hotter!!

N.B. I love making chilli jam. Proper alchemy. Mmmm. The smell, maybe a little pinch more ginger, a tad more garlic a bigger dash of soy and extra splash of red wine vinegar. And of course some extra chilli flakes. I love chilli jam and it loves me. It does as its told and comes out beautifully every time.

Jam is evil. Jam is just angry hot fruit and sugar that threatens to burn you and boil over on your cooker. Jam is spiteful, and it hates me! 😆

N.B. Chilli jam isn't jam really, it's chutney.

When I put the sugar, dried chilli flakes and white pepper into the pan yeaterday, DD said it reminded her of when the lid falls off as you shake the pepper and you just have a mountain of pepper on your dinner.

That's a random thing to receive @LatteLady I had a spell last year where I received some very random things from Vinted that weren't what I ordered. They weren't even from the same seller!

I meant to say that I liked your thinking here and pleased to know that I am not alone. French set it is! 😁

Lovely honey @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset . Same re other people, I have given up making chutney because my family won't eat it (DC's not any chutney and DH only Branston NVN). The only jam they will eat is strawberry. DH makes his own marmalade because the rest of us hate it.

I had a bumper crop of redcurrants last year and made redcurrant jelly infused with chilli flakes, it was nice but they all sank as it cooled so the further down the jar you go the hotter it gets.

Hope you can get your water sorted @RainbowZebraWarrior - dip in the sea could be quite chilly!

It's gone too hot again but I did manage a walk in the shadier part of the park and a nice salad for lunch.

Lovely day today. This morning got a bargain of a beach bag from fat Face £22 reduced to £12. Being looking for ages but all too pricey, too big no zip so great. And a few last minute bits for my holidays

then this evening went into Falmouth where it is Falmouth week to see an air display and then some someone dp knows has a beach hut on the beach so watched the eclipse from there. Before heading into town for a few drinks.

Now dreaming of how handy a beach hut would be, I would use it all the time of course and how way it English sea side it would all be

That sounds fab! We have some beach huts here on one of the Northumberland beaches about 5 miles north of me. They aren't sold off but rented out daily.

It was cloudy here so didn't really see the eclipse as such. So it just went darkish and quiet for an hour.

Right. Off to the beach so I can be home in time for my bookcase delivery (hallway spick and Spanish to receive it!) 😀

Oh crikey. Ive just noticed that its 19 degrees already. Thats mighty unusual for us.

Thanks lovely. It's still off. Plumber on holiday. Not sure how long for. Might have to get someone else out. Will see how I get on with juggling other jobs today

Sea temp almost 15 degrees here. Im taking my towel this morning and having a paddle!

@RainbowZebraWarriori think beach huts down here work like allotments. In that you get out on a waiting list which is 15/20 years long. So forget all about it then the council contacts you to say one is available do you want it rent?

have a lovely time on the beach. Yes it’s going to be another warm day here too.

We were initially disappointed when the sun was covered by a cloud! But we could see shadow rays which were amazing.
Then got a good view through the clouds.

We had a cloudless sky, the light changed and there was a lovely cool breeze. We went out to a local beauty spot, there were hundreds of people but loads of space for everyone it's a big field. We had glasses but spotted lots of people with colanders.

It's already feeling very stuffy and warm here - take me to the 15C sea!

I didn't go out for the eclipse, but watched the light/ shadows changing - the pigeons on the roof all started coo-ing and the cats fell asleep.

Having a quiet work day here, got a friend visiting later so I need to tidy up a bit - we were going to build furniture but it's meant to hit 34/35C so we may just sit around and eat cold things!

It's already 23C here. I went to the gym at 6am to avoid the heat! Yoga tonight but that's in an air conditioned studio so that will be nice.

I am so ready for Autumn. I just want a break from the heat. There's rain in the forecast for next week but I am not that hopeful as it's been forecast before and then as we've got closer it's vanished from the forecast

Yes its 26 here already which is most strange. We have only had two whole days this year that have reached that temp. One in May and one in June. We've had nothing really of the heatwaves at all, so today is a bit weird for us.

Beach was lush. I had an hour and 45 mins of bliss and then scuttled off at 8.45 as folk started arriving with wind breakers and beach tents. Obviously everyone has seen the news that Whitley bay is going to be 30 degrees today and decided to go to the beach.

Just waiting for my bookcase. They have just rang to say they will be here in 30 mins. Very excited.

Great pics @HannahDefoesSpringFling

Sitting eating cold things sounds like a plan @martha79 I have out water bottles, extra uce cubes and wipes in the freezer. I am meant to be making chilli jam later. The tomatoes won't last much longer! At least the woods later are shady.

Have a good day all.

Good Morning all
mercifully because a fair few co farmers have sensibly sacked it off today, I have been allowed to be off work. Not before getting up at 6 to leave Southwold to drive to work however and getting 3 quarters of the way there. So I have just come home where it already 29 degrees and to make matters worse the town is covered in a pall of thick smoke from a fire 15 miles away on a Fenland nature reserve that is now in its 6th day.

we saw the eclipse -ish. Funny to think that we won’t be around for the next one. Makes you realise how small you are in the universe.

Stay cool everyone! Surely this is the last of the extreeeeeeme heat? Though still no rain showing in the forecast for here next week.

Here is the view from MIL’s beach hut. We had a lovely day there yesterday. She rents it out fairly cheaply if anyone is ever in Southwold. It’s at the wrong end of the beach however so you only get sand when the tide is low.

Lovely looking honey and how industrious you have all been at the Jam etc.

Ive just been to Aldi ans started stocking up on the Autumnal candle offerings which seems innocuous when it’s 29 degrees out. They have some very sweet ones with autumnal things in wax on the top for £3.99 so I’ve snaffled
a few of this to add to my autumn trim up.