Delia Smith - live webchat, Friday, 25 November 2011, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted and honoured at MNHQ that Delia, the grande dame of British cookery, is joining us on 25 November, from 1-2pm for a live webchat. Delia's first Christmas book, Delia Smith's Christmas has been the cookery bible since it's publication in 1994 when the shops ran out of cranberries and Delia became known as the Cranberry Queen. In 2009, Delia's Happy Christmas hit the shelves with over 100 new recipes and an invaluable hour-by-hour countdown to the last 36 hours before Christmas dinner is served.

The party season is about to kick off and Delia's kindly allowed us to reproduce her own mulled wine recipe and her non-alcoholic version for designated drivers.

Delia's Classic Christmas Cake box is currently flying off Waitrose shelves. So ahead of Delia's webchat, we're having our very own bake-off: five MNHQ-ers are making the cake and Delia is going to sample a morsel of each. Find out what she thinks and send in your own questions on Christmas cookery to Delia on Friday 25 November at 1pm. If you're unable to join us on the day, send a question in advance to this thread.

[brookeslay]

Hello Delia

Fellow Bexleyheath school survivor here !!

I just recieved yor Christmas book from amazon its looks great..

Can you suggest something to serve to family Boxing day. 1st time hosting for 6 so after cooking a full Christmas Dinner the day before I do want tasty, special but easy !

Many thanks keep up the good work

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

Hello Delia,

Not a Christmas question as such... but bearing in mind that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach what would you recommend as that all important first home-cooked romantic meal to impress a new bf?
and what was the first meal that you cooked for your dh?

[valiumpoptarts]

Hello Delia,
Another one with falling apart and food stained cookery books here Just wondered, do you have an emergency Friday night meal plan at all or do you just get fed up with the whole thing and just get a kebab like I do? (Can't really imagine that you kave a donner but it would make me feel better...)

[champagnesupernova]

Hi Delia
I would like a recipe for a christmassy cake that isn't fruit cake.
Thanks

[Wordsonapage]

Hello Delia

Do you regret the "Where are you ..come on then let's be having you" ?

[GraceK]

Hi Delia

I'm another one with your 'Complete Cookery Course' held together with electrical tape! The Chocolate Squidgy Log recipe is our family's favourite pudding ever.

What's your favourite flavour & is there anything you really can't stand to eat?

(Almond & offal are mine.) Thanks

[ppeatfruit]

Dear Delia,

I have just re - covered your original Cookery Course for the 2nd time !!! I own almost all of your subsequent books too.Thanks to Mumsnet for giving us the opportunity to chat to you.

Iam on the blood type diet for health which means I cook without butter or wheat flour or even eggs sometimes!! As you can imagine it does take some practice to get it right but my brownies are amazing

My question is ; I was wondering why butter is always called for in recipes when i find olive oil or almond oil does the job very well?

A great big thank you for coming on here

[Hulababy]

Hi :)

I was wondering if you could make a suggestion for me. For Christmas lunch my 9y DD would like duck, so I will do something with duck for her and Dh. However I don't eat meat, although I do eat fish. Could you suggest a non meat alternative that I could cook along side the duck which would go with the same sides for us all?

Thank you.

[shouldnotbehere]

Delia,

I have your How to Cheat book, but I don't use your recipes for everyday meals, as the ingredients are too expensive, I'd rather just peel my potatoes. However, to make life easier when entertaining, I do use the beef bourguignon, goulash, and eton mess recipes. They are all delicious, and nobody has ever wised up to this. They work and are delicious, nothing can really go wrong, and I don't mind spending a bit more on ingredients, as it's a one off.

Thank you for your Christmas Cake recipe, I used this recipe to make my wedding cake.

What is your favourite easy to cook, and cheap recipe? We have been affected by the recession, and I am always economising, and don't like to spend long cooking, in the week. I currently do a lot of bulk cooking at weekend (lasagnes, meatballs, ragu sauce, caseroles etc), and then defrost and heat as our ready meals in the week.

Thank you

Jane

P.S. I loved your lets me havin you. I thought it showed that you are a spirited lady, and not the sweet mellow 1950s housewife, you are sometimes portrayed as. Good on you.

[MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll]

I can't think of a question! But just want to say hello!

[worldgonecrazy]

It's not strictly Christmas related but I'd like to know what you think you're greatest contribution to British food has been?

p.s. You are regarded as close to sainthood in our family and we are already teaching my daughter how to cook - she's not even 2 yet. The Delia books will be handed to her with much reverence when she's old enough to use them.

[d0gsbody]

@senua - I can answer your unsalted butter question (you don't even need to wait until Friday!): unsalted butter is generally better quality (i.e. lower water content) than salted, so it's generally recommend it for cooking.

[noeggspleasewerebritish]

Hello Delia

My two year old son has a severe egg allergy. I have no problems with this in terms of his everyday diet but I really struggle when it comes to the traditional celebration foods - Christmas cake, pancakes, Welsh cakes etc. I do have an egg free baking book but it is very hit and miss. Since you are the queen of reliable recipes do you have any tips for replacing eggs in your recipes so that he can feel part of the occasion? Thank you

[senua]

Thanks, d0gsbody. Interesting to know. That will explain why it is more expensive too.
Double thanks - it means that I am back to my regulation one question now.

[LadyMontdore]

Hello Delia. Why do you often use unsalted butter and then add salt? Does it make a difference if one just uses salted butter instead?

[theressomethingaboutmarie]

Hi Delia. Is there any substitute for suet in Christmas Puddings? I use vegetarian suet right now (I'm a veggie myself). Does butter do the trick?

[Mammonite]

Hello Delia. Another thank you for the Christmas roast turkey timings and instructions in the Complete Cookery course, it has not let me down.

I don't have an oven at the moment due to renovations, just a microwave. Can you suggest anything Christmassy I can "bake" so we feel more in the mood in the run-up? (We are decamping for the day itself).

[DirtyChips]

Hi Delia, I love your idea for the Christmas Cake Kit. I was thinking of pitching a similar kit to Waitrose myself, but for boiled egg and soldiers in a box. Everything you need to make the perfect boiled egg and soldiers. Except the egg, because it might break. Or butter, for obvious reasons. Do you think I'm on to something?

[Solo]

Oooh! To me Delia is the modern Mrs Beeton I just love watching her cook.

I want to know how you have always stayed so slim? is there a magic ingredient or additive that helps?
Thank you! and more of you on telly please

[Lilymaid]

Hello Delia
I've been following you and your recipes all my grown up life and have just finished making the cake/pudding/chutney and mincemeat for Christmas so feel very virtuous!
My question is - what would you choose as your "last meal" ... and would you cook it yourself?
Thanks
Lil

[Checkmate]

Thank you for coming Delia.

I want to thank you for the Cheese and Parsnip Roulade recipe. My mother started making this for me in my teens when I became a vegetarian, and nearly twenty years on, I now make 2, as all the meat eaters like to have a slice too. Its absolutely delicious and the flavour is the defining one of Christmas for me. (I now put a handful of cranberries into the stuffing mix as they look so festive when its rolled up.)

My question is; Do you manage to get to Church on Christmas day, and if so, how do you fit it in with all the cooking? We're trying to teach our children the real significance of Christmas, but haven't yet made it to Church with them on the actual day, as we get so bogged down in cooking and putting batteries in new toys. Midnight mass on Christmas Eve is not an option while they are so young.

[TeWihara]

Hi Delia,

I'm due to have our second child more or less exactly at Christmas! Husband is a great cook, but what would you suggest as a low fuss starter for our Christmas dinner in case we have to abandon it all and rush to the hospital?

We are having roast duck as the main and pavalova as dessert (New Zealand family).

PS I have got into the habit on buying your 'how to cook' books for all new dads that don't normally cook, they're still going down very well!

[liveinazoo]

is it possible to make mincemeat withourt alcohol and if so is it poss to freeze it instead storing in jars?p.s the kids love the plum and oat slice from how to cook book,even my fussy teen!many thanks

[SuckItAndSee]

Hi Delia,
Another big fan here. Chicken Basque is my dinner party standby.
I've got your Christmas Book and this year have made your Christmas Cake for the first time. You mention feeding the cake, but nothing specific. What do you feed yours, how much, and how often.

[bookymcbook]

Hi Delia
Christmas doesn't happen in our house without the Bible that is 'Delia Smith's Christmas Book'!

I've just made the Walnut and Raisin loaf and it tastes wonderful. However all of the fruit and walnuts are in the middle of the loaf, rather than being distributed throughout. I did the swiss roll-ing and rekneaded it before putting it in the oven. What did I do wrong?