This is actually the first cookbook (or perhaps more accurately, book about food) that I have read by him.

Chronicles: A Podcast | a podcast by Nigel Slater A Cook‘s Chronicles: A Podcast | a podcast by Nigel Slater

It made it feel exclusionary which is a thing that food, cooking and Christmas should never be in my opinion. We open our presents, and I’ll talk you through my recipe for a hot-smoked fish and leek pie – my unshakeable habit of making a fish dish on Christmas Eve has never wavered – and a good, nicely balanced brandy butter to effortlessly melt into your steaming pudding tomorrow evening. When I brought out the 2019 Christmas stuff I dove right into this book where I had left off and thoroughly looked forward to reading a little bit of it each morning.Comforting tales and recipes that transport the listener to a magical winter wonderland - full of nostalgia and Christmas cheer, and delicious recipe ideas, read by Nigel slater’s soothing voice. Yes this book does feel a bit like a nostalgic (and sometimes sad) look back at the good old days and yes I am old enough to feel that but i think also there are inspirations and ideas for making new traditions and memories for the future - and I for one love this message of hope. I don't know if I'll ever make any of his recipes since I'd have to convert them from grams and milliliters but I can drool and dream. A joy to enjoy on a lazy afternoon with the weather outside rather grim but the fire is cracking in the wood burner .

The Christmas Chronicles: Notes, stories and 100 essential

Covered with bacon and smeared with dripping, they will roast to rose-tinted perfection in 25 minutes at 230C/gas mark 9. The result for me at least is a festive and very nostalgic look at the season - if you were not living it (as we are at the time of me thing this up) you could almost imagine the frost on the window panes or the feeling on your face as the crisp winter air hits it for the first time as you step outside. Many of the festival’s observances date from pre-Christians times, and those who celebrate it as a purely religious event might be surprised to find how much of the festivities hails from pagan times…Christmas is a vast steaming pudding of Christianity, folklore, paganism, tradition and commerce. However, I picked it up again on a snowy Christmas Day, and then it was a nice treat, with his little peevish particularities (no charades and games! Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and let the figs simmer for 20 minutes until soft and plump, and bloated with wine.I think the really interesting bits of my story was growing up with this terribly dominating dad and a mum who I loved to bits but obviously I lost very early on; and then having to fight with the woman who replaced her . I thoroughly enjoyed reading this slowly and savoring his words, and would like to read the autobiography of his childhood, "Toast". In this episode we’ll talk about the tradition of the Christmas dinner – are you having turkey or goose? Spoon the apricots and star anise into a sterilised preserving jar, then pour in the liquor (breathing in at this point is highly recommended) and top up with the sweet white wine.