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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be terrible upset that Delia failed me :O

83 replies

poppycomeshere · 13/10/2011 00:10

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 :(

OP posts:
lovecat · 13/10/2011 07:05

Okay, I've googled and Nigel's recipe only makes a measly 12 brownies. And they look flat. And you have to separate a bloody egg.

Nope, sticking with Nigella - I make them just before I go to bed and leave them in the oven to cool overnight - that seems to cook them just right.

Another adaptation that I ripped off borrowed from the cake stall in Greenwich Market is to make the brownie mixture and put it in the pan, then drizzle dulche de leche over the top and wiggle it about with a skewer. Absolutely gorgeous...:o

lovecat · 13/10/2011 07:07

xposts with MrsS. Yes, I too like the 'industrial quantities' that Nigella provides :)

wonkylegs · 13/10/2011 07:10

Hummingbird bakery cookbook for brownies mmm works everytime even in my temperamental rubbish oven

Chandon · 13/10/2011 07:12

I must say that the entire good Housekeeping Cookery book is my bible. All recipes work, even tricky ones like Bearnaise.

Wish they modernised it a bit though.

Who's Delia?

bigTillyMint · 13/10/2011 07:46

MrsS, I will definitely have to give your improvements a go when I next make the brownies Smile

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 13/10/2011 07:55

Chandon I have a newish GH, about 15 years old. It is my bible, I love it.

Delia is good, but overcooks her cakes etc IMO. Winter collection has the best casserole recipes in the world though.

I hate Nigel slater, but his recipe for pork chops and fennel is divine.

AisforAcorn · 13/10/2011 07:59

Her profiteroles are a disaster too. Came out more like pancakes

valiumredhead · 13/10/2011 08:00

It'll be your oven, Delia NEVER fails...

Try again but get then out sooner, when the still have a real wobble in the middle. Take them out of the oven and rest them on the side with some foil over the tin.

MmeLindor. · 13/10/2011 08:08

I don't rate Delia's recipes at all. Have had a few recipes go wrong.

LydiaWickham · 13/10/2011 08:16

when I first moved out of home, I followed one of Delia's recipes for scones to the T, I did think at one point "this looks like abit more liquid than my mum used to put in." but stuck with it as it was Saint Delia and she's bound to know better than my mum. It was something of a disaster.

She seems to often get quantities wrong in baking, never had this problem with Nigella. You can also look on the BBC website for recipe finder and look for different brownie recipes.

valiumredhead · 13/10/2011 08:18

Nigella's recipes are shite imo -I end up doing tons of tweaking!

Northernlurker · 13/10/2011 08:22

I have very few problems with Nigella. Delia can be a little Hmm sometimes. Her Creme Caramal is excellent though Grin

valiumredhead · 13/10/2011 08:25

I have most of Nigella's books but use them for inspiration.

muddledsheep · 13/10/2011 08:29

Another vote for Nigella's domestic goddess brownies here :) so easy and fabulously squidgy!

VikingBlood · 13/10/2011 08:29

The best recipe for profiteroles I've ever come across is in The Usborne First Cook Book (I've got lots of poncey grownup books too).

NettoSpookerstar · 13/10/2011 08:37

I didn't much like Nigel's recipe, I mainly use Nigella's everyday brownies from Kitchen and one from a blog.

I like Nigel's books, but i can't go him on the telly, he looks like he's about to burst into a performance of the riverdance which I find off putting

vixsatis · 13/10/2011 08:37

Another vote for Nigel Slater

MothershipG · 13/10/2011 08:38

Forget all the other recipes and try this Dan Lepard recipe.

I made a batch last night and I think that they are the best moistly, squidgy chocolaty brownies I have ever eaten...and I've eaten a few brownies in my time! Wink Go on try them, you won't regret it.

bruffin · 13/10/2011 13:59

BigTilly which book was it in. Mine was the cookery course from about 30 years ago.

BikeRunSki · 13/10/2011 14:04

LOL at idea of "Everyday Brownies". Gotta love Nigella.

ScaredBear · 13/10/2011 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DamselInDisarray · 13/10/2011 15:04

I make Jamie oliver's brownies. Just plain though as DH doesn't hold with anything other than chocolate in his brownies. It's easy and there's very little danger of cooking them til they dry out (as they're very gooey and fudgey).

Salmotrutta · 13/10/2011 15:12

I never liked that Delia ever since her days on Swap Shop ....

Mind you, I never liked cooking much either.

Quite like that new girl on TV - Lorraine Pascal. And she knows how to smile - unlike Delia.

startail · 13/10/2011 15:12

Chocolate brownies are horrid anyway!

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 13/10/2011 15:18
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