Live webchat with Nigel Slater, TODAY, Wednesday 12 December, 1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted that Nigel Slater is joining us tomorrow lunchtime (Wed 12 December) at 1pm for a live webchat.

Nigel is the author of a collection of bestselling books and presenter of BBC 1's Simple Cooking and has been food columnist for The Observer for 20 years. His award-winning memoir Toast - the Story of a Boy's Hunger won six major awards and is now a BBC film starring Helena Bonham Carter and Freddie Highmore.

Nigel's latest book, Kitchen Diaries Volume II, has just been published.

Join Nigel tomorrow at 1pm or post a question in advance on this thread.

Hello Nigel,
Lots of love coming your way from the craftsonsea household! I've got some chicken thighs defrosting for dinner tonight, what can I make me and DH? I am a bit lazy very busy at the mo and also can't be bothered am too busy to nip to the shops so if you could suggest things I'm likely to have in I will love you forever and ever x

Oh, and can I come and live with you? Your kitchen is nicer than mine and you've mentioned liking smarties before. Sounds ideal to me (worth a try!)

No question from me - just had to express my thanks to Nigel for his amazing food porn cookery writing. Like a previous poster, I learned to cook, and to want to cook, from his books, and DH and I still quote from them... Thank you.

Hello Nigel,

You became my favourite television cookery writer two years ago when my daughter was in hospital, with a serious illness and horrible bland hospital food (think three shades of white on a plate). Your program and delicious food became the not to be missed highlight of her day and your soothing voice was calm and reassuring. We both loved the food you were producing on screen and and little hand written notes. You managed to stimulate her ailing appetite (and mine too)!!!

Could you suggest a seasonal treat which my dairy and egg and nut allergic son could eat too. I often make a crumbly date slice or home made mince pies but would love to be able to offer something new.

Many many thanks......your new book is on my daughter's Christmas list too!!

Hello Nigel.
Love your tv show - it's like a big mug of cocoa and warm fluffy slippers in televisual form :)
My question is: if you were on death row (bear with me!) and had to choose a last meal, what would it be?
Thanks!
Mwah! X

Hi Nigel,

I love the way you write (and how your food tastes) its so calm, soothing and reassuring. Toast is probably my favourite memoirs and my question would be has the huge success of the book ever made you regret or doubt some of the stories you included?

Hello Nigel,

Just wanted to say how much I admire you - your recipes, your writing and the personality that comes across on tv.

I was wondering, what's the worst meal anyone has or could ever cook for you?

Thank you & happy Christmas!

Testing

Hello

Hello - so pleased to be with you! Happy to answer any questions now.

Hello!

@gazzalw

Dear Nigel

For me the memories of food you mulled over in Toast defined my childhood too. I too tend to remember important times of my life by food that I've eaten..

I wonder what your ultimate Christmas food memory is and what you'll be preparing for Christmas Eve this year?

Thanks!

My first Christmas food memory is of the mice eating all our chocolate Christmas decorations n the attic, and making the tinsel into nests.
And for Christmas Eve, I?m doing a salmon wellington ? so like a beef wellington, but with salmon instead.

Hi Nigel,

I love love love all your books and your writing. Toast made me laugh and cry, it's truly wonderful :)

In our house we have a goose/turkey quandry. I am in the goose camp (with legs made into a confit, mmm), though lots of people complain there's not enough meat, and goose just isn't as good!

Please defend the maligned goose, any suggestions or thoughts?

p.s i love you

@TotallyEggFlipped

Hello Nigel,

Just wanted to say how much I admire you - your recipes, your writing and the personality that comes across on tv.

I was wondering, what's the worst meal anyone has or could ever cook for you?

Thank you & happy Christmas!

The worst meal anyone has ever cooked was my father's Sunday morning fried eggs, which were cold and greasy, and I hated them - and still do!

@Jenski

Hi Nigel,

I am loving your show on a Friday night which I watch with my 8 year old daughter, Isobel. She is home from school today poorly, but rather chuffed to be able to ask you a question as she is really interested in food and cooking (regularly helping me make curries). So can I cheekily ask 2 questions, 1 from her and 1 from me.

Isobel's question: What is the best thing to cook to make you feel better when you are full of cold?

My question: I have the in-laws for Christmas, they are not 'into' food (sigh) and would happily finish christmas dinner in 10 minutes. Please can you suggest food that can last longer? (I am thinking interesting picky starters - tasty but not spicey otherwise I will be blamed for causing indigestion!!!)

Thank you, the other question I would like to ask 'Can I have your kitchen?'

When I'm full of cold, it has to be a spicy Thai chicken soup - with lots of chillis.

@CraftsonSea

Hello Nigel, Lots of love coming your way from the craftsonsea household! I've got some chicken thighs defrosting for dinner tonight, what can I make me and DH? I am a bit lazy very busy at the mo and also can't be bothered am too busy to nip to the shops so if you could suggest things I'm likely to have in I will love you forever and ever x

I would roast them with olive oil, lemon juice, basil leaves and serve them with sauteéd potatoes. It's a quick, mid-week roast!

@dinkystinky

Nigel - I'm pleased to say that your cookbooks (particularly Real Cooking) inspired me to cook and convinced me it wasnt that hard - and your Kitchen Diaries book has inspired me to eat seasonally. Your love of food, and appreciation of flavours and creating something truly delicious, shines through in your books.

My question is what's your favourite season and your favourite dish/meal for that season?

My favourite season is, and always has been, winter. And my favourite dish for that season is porridge. With salt, not sugar!

Out of all the myriad recipes you've written and used- is there one recipe or one thing you cook more than anything else- I've got recipes I fall back on at least once a week just wondering if you're the same?
PS, I love your kitchen like everyone else!

@rainand

Hi Nigel,

Its good to see you on mumsnet!

I would like to bake/make a cake but I don't have a functioning oven at present. Do you have any cake recipes that don't require an oven bake?

Without an oven, it has to be a lemon cheesecake with mascarpone cream, lemon zest, on a oat biscuit base.

@poucher

Hi Nigel!

For me, the very best thing about your programmes is your infectious enthusiasm for an experimental dish you haven't tried before. It never feels artificial or 'set up', and is a joy to watch when it all comes together and tastes genuinely good!

My question is - if you could only take 3 basic ingredients to a desert island with you, what would they be?

Thanks so much, and have a lovely Christmas!

Lemons, olive oil, and grated parmesan. With those three, you can pretty much cook anything that you will find in the sea, or on the island.

I'm just wondering what you would cook for a pregnant veggie lady for Christmas dinner? I'd like her meal to be special too (the rest are having goose.)

@Tailtwister

Hi Nigel, another huge fan here. I adore your books and programmes and the recent one on sweets had me in fits of laughter and floods of tears! Simply wonderful.

You have a lovely kitchen garden which seems to be stacked full of herbs. Which herbs do you view as essential for a kitchen garden?

Thank you for your kind words. Essential herbs are basil, thyme and tarragon. I couldn't live without them.

Thank you Nigel! Looking forward to telling DH that you've chosen our dinner tonight, he will be proper impressed!

@maudacious2

Out of all the myriad recipes you've written and used- is there one recipe or one thing you cook more than anything else- I've got recipes I fall back on at least once a week just wondering if you're the same? PS, I love your kitchen like everyone else!

A classic roast chicken with butter and lemon and rosemary - it never fails to please and has all the wonderful leftovers for tomorrow.

@NettoHoHoHoSuperstar

Hi Nigel. I love your writing, and currently have 'Eating foe England', on my bedside tale. I like to try a new stuffing recipe every year, so can I have your favourite please?

How about sausage meat, chickpeas, lemon, with a little bit of garlic? It's wonderful with turkey or goose.