Nigella and the New Year
Nigella and I have been friends for years. It is a one-sided relationship, unless you count the tiny contribution made to her fortune through the purchase of her books and kitchenware, but a very satisfying one from my point of view. Andrew bought me Forever Summer for Christmas in 2002 and ever since hers have been almost the only cookbooks I use. I also cook from Delicious, most delightfully subscribed to on my behalf by my siblings-in-law, but as Nigella contributes to that wonderful magazine I don't feel disloyal.
I can see why people don't like her as much as I do. When I first watched Nigella Bites on TV years ago she was less polished and less deliberately food pornish. It is the Nigella of the books that I really love. She isn't a chef, just a greedy home cook and a working mother so her recipes fit easily into my life and she writes so wonderfully that you can read her books like a novel.
Last Christmas she released Nigella Express and I was in no doubt that I had to have it, but this year I was uncertain. Nigella Christmas is out now and is a beautiful book. I was not worried that the subject was too narrow as I knew she wouldn't write a book of recipes that could only be made at Christmas but almost all of her books have a Christmas chapter and I knew that I would, therefore, already have a copy of many of the recipes. Still, it didn't feel right not to have it and thankfully, Andrew surprised me with it after he went into town to get the paper!
It is, of course, a fabulous book that I will use all year round and I am completely set for Christmas recipe inspiration. So far I have made the Christmas granola (made Christmassy by cranberries) and Girdlebuster Pie. I didn't take this photo of the girdlebuster but I'm sure you know that mine looked just like it ;)
I have been having such a relaxing holiday. After finally finishing The Trout Opera, I have read A Singular Hostage by Thalassa Ali, The Other Hand by Chris Cleave, Dawn French's memoir Dear Fatty and am now reading A Black Englishman by Carolyn Slaughter. On New Year's Eve we went to the Scotts' with a couple of other families to eat dessert (I made Nigella's chocolate pavlova), light sparklers and watch the children run wild. Last night Steve, Jane and Archie came for dinner and we had such a lovely time catching up with them. I can't believe I am going back to work on Monday (Andrew has already gone back), especially as daycare is closed for another week and we aren't sure what we will do with the kids!
I can see why people don't like her as much as I do. When I first watched Nigella Bites on TV years ago she was less polished and less deliberately food pornish. It is the Nigella of the books that I really love. She isn't a chef, just a greedy home cook and a working mother so her recipes fit easily into my life and she writes so wonderfully that you can read her books like a novel.
Last Christmas she released Nigella Express and I was in no doubt that I had to have it, but this year I was uncertain. Nigella Christmas is out now and is a beautiful book. I was not worried that the subject was too narrow as I knew she wouldn't write a book of recipes that could only be made at Christmas but almost all of her books have a Christmas chapter and I knew that I would, therefore, already have a copy of many of the recipes. Still, it didn't feel right not to have it and thankfully, Andrew surprised me with it after he went into town to get the paper!
It is, of course, a fabulous book that I will use all year round and I am completely set for Christmas recipe inspiration. So far I have made the Christmas granola (made Christmassy by cranberries) and Girdlebuster Pie. I didn't take this photo of the girdlebuster but I'm sure you know that mine looked just like it ;)
I have been having such a relaxing holiday. After finally finishing The Trout Opera, I have read A Singular Hostage by Thalassa Ali, The Other Hand by Chris Cleave, Dawn French's memoir Dear Fatty and am now reading A Black Englishman by Carolyn Slaughter. On New Year's Eve we went to the Scotts' with a couple of other families to eat dessert (I made Nigella's chocolate pavlova), light sparklers and watch the children run wild. Last night Steve, Jane and Archie came for dinner and we had such a lovely time catching up with them. I can't believe I am going back to work on Monday (Andrew has already gone back), especially as daycare is closed for another week and we aren't sure what we will do with the kids!
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