Masterchef winner NATALIE COLEMAN: webchat Monday 2 December between 1 and 2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Winner of Masterchef 2013 Natalie Coleman is joining us for our second webchat to celebrate the launch of Mumsnet's new-look food section on MONDAY 2 DECEMBER between 1 and 2pm. Natalie won BBC ONE?s MasterChef 2013 with lobster tail starter and a ?pimped? roast pork belly served with a quail scotch egg proving to 6.5 million viewers ?the girl from Hackney done good!?. The former credit controller / techno DJ has ditched the 9 to 5, hung up the headphones and has started a journey into the world of refined dining with her trademark down to earth twist.

Find out what Natalie has been up to since winning Masterchef, quiz her about what it's really like to be under the scrutiny of John and Gregg and pick her brains about how to make the most of your cooking and baking on Monday between 1 and 2pm. If you're unable to make it, post a question to Natalie in advance on this thread.


A new cookbook MasterChef: The Finalists which includes a range of Natalie?s dishes from the series as well recipes from some of the other finalists (remember Larkin?) and some brand new recipes to inspire your cooking, has just been published by Absolute Press. We've got three copies to giveaway in a prize draw and all you have to do is join the webchat to be entered.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Ooh - thank you for answering, and for the link. My son will find it under the tree!

[SpecificRim]

Thanks Natalie for answering my question. I too missed the web chat live as I was at work. But Im looking forward to smoked salmon omelette tonight!

[Indith]

Thanks Natalie . missed the chat coming home from uni.

glad that the experience does open doors and sounds like you've been making the most of it. good luck for the future!

[RachelMumsnet]

@christmasmum

Do you get to use recipe books when you do the invention tests on Masterchef??

Natalie says: no you don't get to use anything - it's all in your head and I think that's where my strength is cos I've got a bit of a photographic memory.

[RachelMumsnet]

@christmasmum

Do you get to use recipe books when you do the invention tests on Masterchef??

She's just doing a bit of filming but I'll see if I can find out for you Christmasmum...

[RachelMumsnet]

Thanks so much for joining us today Natalie. The three winners of MasterChef: The Finalist are....thegraduand, NigellaPleaseComeDineWithMe and Indith. We'll be in touch via PM to let you know how to claim your prizes. Thanks to everyone who joined the webchat today.

[NatalieColeman]

Thanks so much for having me down today been lovely chatting with you guys/girls :) x

[christmasmum]

Do you get to use recipe books when you do the invention tests on Masterchef??

[NatalieColeman]

@Calypso2

Ooh and another question: are you getting lots of requests for Djing now?

no i'm not djing anymore :( i dj-ed for a friend the other month but i need to concentrate on cooking now. however i do still drive my poor neighbours mad from time to time as i have decks at home :)

[NatalieColeman]

@Calypso2

Hi Natalie, Do you have a recipe for a good stuffing I can make for Christmas? I'm so bored of the one I make ever year. Something that will impress? Thanks

my mum makes the best stuffing, i would sweat down shallots/onions in butter then allow to cook. Also fry off some bacon lardons and mix packet stuffing mixture with the onion and add in sausage meat and i like to add fresh herbs like parsley and thyme as they go well with sausage :)

[NatalieColeman]

@Choccheesecake

I watched you on Masterchef and was delighted you won - hugely impressed. Please can you give me ideas on how to make a fantastic gluten free desert for Christmas day. They don't like cream which scuppers all my ideas!

in the masterchef the finalists book i have a recipe for rosemary and chocolate fondant there is also a video online of me making this recipe, its really easy to do and you can swap in the plain flour with gluten free flour :)

[NatalieColeman]

@RachelMumsnet

I've just been browsing through the book and came across one of Natalie's recipes; Braised pig cheek with celariac puree, crackling and blackberries. Looking down the ingredients I also spot a liquorice root stick in there. I'm intrigued by this - how did this recipe come about and how did you discover that pig's cheek goes well with blackberries and liquorice??

I was out shopping with my best mate Ed and we were in a vintage sweet shop and there were twiggs in a jar by the counter. i asked the lady why she was selling twiggs and she said it was liquorice. so i bought a few and this was the start of this recipe. i then knew liquorice and pork went together so i thought this could be the basis for a sauce. pig cheeks can be very rich so it needs something to cut through that and this is where the blackberries come into it i always used my bible "flavour thesaurus" as a reference

[Calypso2]

Ooh and another question: are you getting lots of requests for Djing now?

[NatalieColeman]

@thegraduand

And another one if I'm allowed, there is one good cook in the family, do you have any foodie christmas present recommendations?

ooohhhh this is hard... i think a good set of japanese knives is essential. but i couldn't live without my food processor it is my ultimate gadget in the kitchen :)

[NatalieColeman]

@thegraduand

Hello, I loved watching you on the show. Do you have any tips for someone who is an un-masterchef. I burn most things, even when following instructions I go wrong, I don't seem to have the knack for cooking, are there any basic tips?

Simplicity is the best. Dont try to over complicate things as that's when things go wrong and people get into a flap. at home i cook very rustic style and always experimenting, this is how i grew confidence. also youtube and cooking shows are the best things for teaching yourself to cook :)

[Calypso2]

Hi Natalie, Do you have a recipe for a good stuffing I can make for Christmas? I'm so bored of the one I make ever year. Something that will impress? Thanks

[NatalieColeman]

@alicethecactus

Hello Natalie! On a scale of 1 - terrifying, how bad is it when you take your food up to be judged?

Its VERY VERY scary so maybe 11 outta 10. You have to wait for about 20 odd minutes to hear feedback as we all get sent out of the kitchen so they can take close up shots of the food. Then we get called back in and yes... the food is stone cold john and gregg start the feedback . When i did my pigeon dish i waited 2.5hours so by that time i was a blubbing mess.

[Choccheesecake]

I watched you on Masterchef and was delighted you won - hugely impressed. Please can you give me ideas on how to make a fantastic gluten free desert for Christmas day. They don't like cream which scuppers all my ideas!

[NatalieColeman]

@SpecificRim

Hi Natalie. I have some smoked salmon to use up. What can I make with it tonight that's quick and easy please? I'm thinking maybe pasta?
Many thanks

I would make a smoked salmon omelette with roasted cherry tomatoes. make the omelette in the usual way and then mix in the smoked salmon. Put the cherry tomatoes in the oven at 180c for 15mins. drizzle with a little olive oil and finish with either some freshly chopped dill or basil and a wedge of lemon and serve on the side :)

[RachelMumsnet]

I've just been browsing through the book and came across one of Natalie's recipes; Braised pig cheek with celariac puree, crackling and blackberries. Looking down the ingredients I also spot a liquorice root stick in there. I'm intrigued by this - how did this recipe come about and how did you discover that pig's cheek goes well with blackberries and liquorice??

[NatalieColeman]

[/quote]

@Doublemuvver

What have you been doing since winning?

On Friday i'll be doing some cooking demo's with children and adults at Borough market and before that i've been asked to switch on the christmas lights at borough market which i feel very lucky and grateful for.

[NatalieColeman]

@poppy673

What is your favourite thing to eat?

At the moment i'm having a massive cheese phase, so been chomping my way through all the different varieties. I picked up some ash smoked goats cheese which was pretty tasty the other week from Broadway Market. I love scotch eggs... guilty pleasure is haribo sweets!

[NatalieColeman]

@pootlebug

Hi Natalie

My nearly-6-year-old daughter is a big Masterchef fan and thinks you are wonderful! She'd like to know what you love most about cooking, and why you wanted to go on Masterchef.

Aww bless her :) I love cooking as it makes you think about nothing else other than what your doing at that point in time as your 100% focused. it always reminds me too of being a kid in the kitchen with my nan making potato cakes or fairy cakes, corned beef pies and alsorts. i think food is something that brings people together and when you cook and make someone smile from what you have made, nothing beats that!

[thegraduand]

And another one if I'm allowed, there is one good cook in the family, do you have any foodie christmas present recommendations?