to be terrible upset that Delia failed me :O

[poppycomeshere]

I follwed the recipe to the 'T' I even double checked it. (had never used her recipe for this before)
Check it half way looks okay, about 5 mins to end was looking getting close, take it out when buzzer goes.

My knife wouldn't even cut it - It was a pure rock - had to chuck it in the bin

Ahhhhh

I've lost the ability to cook and Delia has failed me :(

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

what were you making ?

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

ps her lemon meringue in the 3 part books = pants

[squeakytoy]

Delia has never failed me.. what were you making?

[poppycomeshere]

The American Chocolate Brownies - so so sad :(

[clappyhands]

yabu
your oven temperature has failed you
away and wash your mouth out - delia rocks :)

[bruffin]

The only thing Delia every failed me on was her lemon curd, I tried to make it 3 times and it didn't work. Found other recipes that work have a lot more sugar in them.

[plaintabitha]

Oh no :(

Her creme patisserie might as well have no vanilla in it and she has yet to discover garlic

[sunnydelight]

I would imagine it's your oven too tbh. Mine definitely "runs hot" so even with Delia I have to either turn my oven down 10 degrees, or check 10 minutes before time or both if I don't want to overcook things.

[Bellavita]

YABU for not using Mary Berry's brownie recipe.... Works everyntime....foolproof!!

[Bellavita]

Mmmmmm a slight crust on top with squidgy chocolatey goodness inside...

[SlinkingOutsideInSocks]

YABU for not using Nigel Slater's recipe. Divinely obscene.

[notevenamOoOooOoooosie]

Or halve the quantities (and make them more normal) in the Domestic Goddess recipe. Mmmmmm.
Agree about the oven.

[Abgirl]

The only recipes I've used which don't fail ever are from Good Housekeeping.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I've done Delia's 4 nut brownies a hundred times and always been fine but you must be careful not to over cook them.

[Bunbaker]

Buy an oven thermometer and check out the temperature settings. Brownies can be temperamental and a few minutes overcooking can result in disappointment.

The Nigella everyday brownies are fab BTW

[deadka]

Another vote for Nigel Slater's brownies here.

And has anyone tried following Delia's stupid arse method for baking pastry? JUST BAKE IT BLIND WOMAN!!!

[lovecat]

I've made Delia's brownies and they were nice (from the Book of Cakes) but the uber-brownie is the Nigella recipe from Domestic Goddess. Nothing else comes close.

[lovecat]

aargh, pressed enter too soon!

Her Poire Belle Helene cake, however, appears to have an ingredient missing from my edition, because it comes out like a flat crispy pancake. And Delia normally never fails me, so I'm blaming her, not my oven/ability!

[SlinkingOutsideInSocks]

I've made Nigella's and Nigel trumps them.

[ChrissasMissis]

Yup, Nigel rocks the most.

[lovecat]

Ooh, is the recipe available online ?

Nigel Slater irritates every fibre of my being (very irrational I know but I look at him/listen to him/read him and want to give him a slap) and refuse to give him money by buying his books...

[bigTillyMint]

lovecat you are so right
But I've never tried Nigels......

Bruffin I made Delia's lemon curd and it worked OK for me!

[BloodandScumatron]

try the brownie recipe from here, never fails

[MrsSchadenfreude]

Nigel trumps Nigella, but I like her recipe because it makes such industrial quantities. I have improved on it, and made it more Nigel-like by substituting half of the granulated sugar for muscovado and substituting 50g of flour for cocoa powder. Much more depth of flavour.

[MrsSchadenfreude]