Delia Smith: live webchat, TODAY, Thursday 28 February, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

To mark the end of #FoodFeb, our month long celebration of great food, we're delighted that Delia Smith is joining us tomorrow (Thursday 28 Feb) between 1 and 2pm for a webchat.

Delia last joined us in late November 2011 where she talked about everything from perfect gravy to Christmas pud. She's back this time to celebrate the launch of her latest book Delia's Cakes. Delia's Book of Cakes was first published in 1977, and has never been out of print. To celebrate its success it has undergone a complete contemporary makeover. Delia's Cakes includes timeless classics like coffee and walnut sponge and old-fashioned cherry cake as well as new recipes such as iced hidden strawberry cup cakes and chunky marmalade muffins.

The Delia Online Cookery School also launches this Thursday 28th at www.deliaonline.com.

Delia will be announcing the winners of our cake decorating competition and answering your questions between 1 and 2pm on Thursday. As ever, if you're unable to make that time, do post your question in advance to this thread.

@Calypso2

Hi Delia. My children have just started cooking and I want to make sure they are equipped with basic skills before they leave home. My thoughts are: Pastry, roux sauce, pasta sauce, basic cakes, omelettes (and other egg dishes) and roast dinner. Is there anything else you think I should teach them? They are 14, 13 and 10.

I think that all sounds pretty good, and I hope you will visit the Delia Online cookery school, and watch it with your family, and let me know how they get on!

Delia we're going to need the receipt for the stylist please

@CMOTDibbler

Hi Delia, I've cooked from your books all my life, and are still my 'go to' books.

In your career, what media reports have made you laugh most? I enjoyed the storm over your runny eggs !

And its brilliant you tested all your new cake recipes for gf - is this noted in the book?

A lot of the reports are annoying, not factually correct, and untrue! A journalist approached me the other day to ask for a comment on something and Mel, who works with me, recognised him, so we were able to ask him face to face, why he was photographed throwing my seafood risotto into the dustbin! And it was just a wonderful moment!

And yes, the gluten-free explanations are very clear in the book.

Can I sneak in with a quick one ?

What's your favourite (easy !) vegetarian recipe ?

Many thanks !

Thank you all at Mumsnet, I've really enjoyed all the questions and all the lovely kind comments I've received.

Lots of love, Delia

Thank you Delia!

I remember mum making your Chicken with 30 cloves of garlic. It was delish! (She was a really good cook - French background - just not good with cakes!). Am looking at your cookery school now....

And finally, I know you've all been waiting for it, here are the winners of the Food Feb cake decorating competition!

Stealthsquiggle for her asparagus cake

Blatherskite for her teddy-bear's picnic

And bebejones for her grandma cake

Each of you will get a signed copy of the new Delia's Cakes book

Thank you Delia. I'm looking forward to catching up with the thread.

Me too, I've only just spotted it but will go and have a catch up ....

Thank you - better get the recipe books out! Love the sound of Marmalade Cake!

I'd like to thank......

Maybe not

I am unbelievably excited to have won, though.

Thank you very much

I'm really looking forward to trying out some more of Delia's recipes.

Congratulations stealthsquiggle, your asparagus cake was incredible. I'm off to have a look at the others now :)

Wow!!! Two of my favourite part planners won!!

Well done stealth and blathers! (And bebe too! ) i know how much angst goes into the cakes. Xxx

Ooooooh thanks for answering my question Delia!

Thank you so much!

Have been out for ages so I'm just about to read through the web chat! Can't wait to try out so e new recipes!

*party

Excellent webchat. I didn't ask a question even though dp is Delia's biggest fan. We have so many of her books and use them almost daily. Dp will read this through though and enjoy it as much as me

Well done all the winners of the cake decorating competition

I'm glad you cleared that up TDW46, had me wondering

Well done you 3! I think I saw the same asparagus cake as you did, stealth. Unlike you, it never occurred to me to try to do it! So glad you did though, it's stunning. Mind you, I am useless at that sort of thing anyway, and decorate my Xmas cake with meringue so I can avoid it even then!

Delia is so lovely

Wow Delia answered my question, and with a recipe that i think we're going to love, thank you! I'm feeling rather starstruck.

She is so lovely that I think all of you who love her should start supporting Norwich City. OTBC!

Thank you Delia :) - I've looked up & found that recipe & got quite excited as it reminded me of something from my childhood I'd forgotten all about - my great aunt was a baker, cooked on an amazing huge old black cast iron range & she always kept bread flour in a big metal barrel by the fire to keep it warm & she was famous locally for her baking, so it reminded me if her - really looking forward to giving it ago & moving on from bread to build houses with :)

Congratulations to the cake winners too - I knew the asparagus would win, well deserved, I've never seen another like it in my life, well done xx