Nigel Slater, Kitchen Diaries - What have you cooked?

[Queenmummy]

I got this a while ago and have cooked quite a few of the recipes now. Here's what I've done and what we thought of them - I'd be interested to hear what others thought of the same dishes? Also - any must-try recipes in the book that I haven't done yet?

*Pork burgers with lime leaves and coriander (March) - really nice and tasty - def. do again
*Chicken salad with watercress, almonds and orange (March) - a big hit and we have made it loads of times - it's something that has well and trully been added to our cooking regulars
*Chickpea and sweet potato curry (March) - nice, but not spectacular. I liked it, but DH not too keen (too 'vegetarian' apparently )
*Chicken with mushrooms and lemon grass (March) - nice, would do again
*Thai fishcakes (April) - Fantastic - DH has done these several times
*Roasted chicken wings with lemon and craked pepper (April) - Fantastic - have done these loads of times now. Also did it with larger chicken pieces for a meal - a successful adaption
*Roast lamb with cumin and fresh mint (June) - lovely - will do again
*Zucchini cakes with dill and feta (July) - nice enough, but a bit stodgy. Might give them another go
*Grilled squid with lime and thyme (September) - really chewy and nasty
*Roast aubergines with tahini (October) - lovely - served this with the lamb (above) - will def. do again
*Sauteed chicken with spices, fennel and cream (December) - very greasy and oily and not spicy enough, plus a hassle to cook - won't bother again
*Grilled pork steaks with vermouth and fennel (December) - nice, but nothing special

Anyone made the lemon and orange cheesecake? I keep meaning to give that a try as it looks gorgeous

ah ha Pruni have found it - that thread confused me somewhat

I is obviously thick innit

well xena, I do try and keep my feminist hat on every now and them but try what may, I did eventually land up with a bloke who, when I first met him, appeared to be known by every take away place that delivered meals in the entire Blackheath area. In fact, even the restaurants in the little village bit seemed to recognise him when we went out for a meal.

i have this book and feast on my ensuite windowsill, terrible place for it i know but only time i get any peace from kids and dh!!
Have cooked the dal and pumpkin soup(jan) about a dozen times its divine and also a couple of the mackeral recipes
Zucchini cakes with dill and feta (July) nice
Roast lamb with cumin and fresh mint (June) divine

elclose - I have been meaning to try that soup recipe out - am going to do it next week now, since you rate it so highly. Do you always bother with the oniony bit on the top?

Pruni, awwwwww. See, I was almost right. Sounds lovely, despite lack of honeysuckle

the double ginger cake is amazing and dead easy

dh does chicken and cheddar mash which is in November I think. The gravy is the best bit - mmmmmmm!

Message withdrawn

Must give that ginger cake a go - almost made it this week but then realised we were out of golden syrup.

Well - the chicken with mustard seed and coconut milk (April) turned out ok last night. Just a few comments - I made it with big chunks of skinned boneless chicken thigh (rather than bone-in skin-on pieces) - I think it was nicer, and easier, my way! He says the recipe serves 3, but I added enough chicken for 4 and left all the sauce ingredients quantities the same - there was plenty of sauce for 4. The weird thing is that the photo in the book looks very different to what I ended up with - mine was far creamier and yellow looking. He says to use a 400g can of coconut milk, which I did, but his photo looks as though it doesn't have any coconut milk in it! I think I would use half the amount of coconut milk next time, as the sauce was rather creamy and rich. Tasty though!

Queenmummy-- i did the onions the first time and have not bothered since not because they werent nice , its just quicker if you dont , also first time was the first ever recipe from that book so wanted to do it exact i nearly always use butternut squash instead!

elclose - I made the dal and pumpkin soup at last (from January). I agree - it is delicious. I was worried it would be a bit powdery or gritty in texture because of the lentils but it isn't at all - very smooth. I used almost twice the amount of pumpkin the recipe calls for though - and I'm glad I did. I'll definitely make it again - even my DH liked it and he's not a great soup or lentil lover.

One thought - it says the recipe serves 4, but it serves at least 6 I reckon!

Anyone tried anything else from this book recently?

Made the chocolate brownies - delicioso!

Great thread! I've got the book but have never cooked anything out of it - this has inspired me to have another look and try a few recipes out of it.

yes, yes, but have you read "Toast"?

Yes, I've read Toast - I thought it was very interesting and quite sad.

I really like Nigel Slater's writing, but I'm never that keen on him on TV - he seems a bit self-absorbed and simpering in the flesh. His recent tv programme chatting with celebs about their past was just cringeworthy and dire! Anyone else think so?

i read toast was a good read, cant imagine him interviewing celebs he always seems a little awkward to me! I love the way he writes though,
Did the aubergines and tahini on sunday (oct) was nice

Made the chicken patties with rosemary and pancetta (February) last night - very tasty and easy - will definitely make these again. Think children will like them too (just made for me and DH last night). Great as you can do all of the preparation ahead of time, then you just need to brown them and finish cooking through in oven when you want to eat them.

Anyone else done any Nigel recipes recently?

I have had this ages and it's been beside my bed but I just haven't got around to reading it so will read this thread with interest.

I have had this ages and it's been beside my bed but I just haven't got around to reading it so will read this thread with interest.

the lemon icecream is delicious and really quick, i love this book

Lovely book-agree that it's more like a memoir to be savoured than a manual- I love his chatty style-if you want no nonsense recipes go to prissy Delia. Must admit that cookery books are my weakness- have a pile of them in my kitchen,love flicking through them imagining I'm cooking elaborate meals then serving up the dreaded pesto pasta again...However have managed the lemon ice-cream tart (Dec)-yummy.