Webchat with Nigel Slater, Tuesday 1 December, midday - 1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Worried about cooking Christmas dinner this year? Fret not! We've got a couple of great foodie webchats coming up so you can ask the experts for their help. First up we've got NIGEL SLATER joining us on Tuesday (1st December) between midday and 1pm.

Nigel's third instalment of his Kitchen Diaries, A Year of Good Eating has just been published and everyone who joins the discussion on this thread will be entered into a draw to win a SIGNED copy.

Join Nigel on Tuesday at midday or post a question in advance on this thread.

@Badders123

Hello Nigel. I seem to have a virus...I cannot get warm :( what do you make for yourself to eat when you are feeling under the weather? Any tips for filling food that takes little or no effort? Yes to the beard btw :)

Hi Badders123

For me, it just has to be a baked potato. Lots of butter, lots of cheese – that always sorts me out!

Hi Nigel. I am a massive fan, and your books are the ones I reach for when I (frequently) suffer from recipe fatigue.

I'm hosting two Christmases, all in all needing to feed five people for two days and then seven people for three. I am absolutely fine with savoury food, but puddings are not my strong point at all. I'm don't really like dried fruit, and while obviously there will be traditional puddings, I wondered if you could suggest a Christmassy pudding with a difference that is easy for a novice baker like me to make, that I would enjoy? I would be very grateful.

@SunnySomer

Oh Nigel. Disaster has struck: every year since I've owned Kitchen Diaries I've cooked your Christmas cake and it has been loved by all who have eaten it. This year we moved house and I cooked it in an Aga which I don't think I can have had hot enough (although it said it was) as the cake seems (now that it's cool and I've taken it out of the tin) underdone. What can I do with a kilo of slightly underdone Christmas cake???

Hi SunnySomer,

So sorry to hear that. The only thing to do is to eat the good bits and put the bad bits out for the birds.

@Cookingongas

Hello Nigel,

Firstly I love your books- thank you.

Secondly - ( hopefully without sounding too stalkery) what kind soup are you making for New Year's Day?

I think this year probably something with cabbage or Brussels sprouts.

@CheeseEMouse

Nigel - I fairly recently made your plum cake with my toddler, and the instruction to haphazardly put the plums on top of the cake was perfect (and expertly executed by my 2 year old!)

My question is for Christmas dinner everyone else will be having roast beef (but I don't eat it). I'd like to cook something easy as a main course for myself but lacking inspiration for a straightforward vegetarian main course. Have you got any suggestions that might help? Thank you

Hi,

I would roast a pumpkin with butter, thyme and a little of garlic.

Hi Nigel, the first cookbook I ever bought was your Real Food, and now I have hundreds of books, but still make so much from that book - grilled chicken with chilli, lemon and mint;roast chicken with lemon and basil;, pasta with spicy sausage and mustard; onion and Madeira gravy; pork with cashews and lime and mint.

Do you ever make any recipes from that book now?

Happy Christmas! I love the new book by the way. The size is handy too...

@yongnian

Eek just squeezing an actual question in now...what would be the one pan recommendation you have (including a make if you are allowed). I now keep my pans preoiled as you suggest which helps loads but find my heavy cast-iron famous-brand-knock-off-from-an-equally-famous-scandi-furniture-store is still no good for certain things like your polpettine recipe etc. Once again thanks and lots of loves for all the great food you've put my way X

Hi,

Take a look at the new British range of Crane cookware - there might be something there for you.

Hi Nigel, Welcome to Mumsnet
Warmest advent and Christmassy greetings

Baked potato - an excellent answer
Also good to know you look after your garden birds

@MistressoftheYoniverse

and how are your cat/s? You get extra love points for having a cat

Hi,

Sadly, no longer with me, but we had 22 very happy years.

Thanks Nigel! :-)))))

@thriftymrs

Hi Nigel, for the first time I have made my own Christmas cake which seems to be maturing nicely in its tin. With half the family loving the traditional marzipan and icing but the other half picking it off and leaving it, could you please suggest a way to decorate my cake which will leave everyone happy and nothing wasted? (there are no allergies to worry about). Many thanks, and happy Christmas.

Hi thriftymrs

That is a bit of a challenge. Tempted to suggest covering it with crystallised fruits and some marzipan fruits, some of which you have iced.

Hi Nigel. I've just got into growing fruit and veg, and have spent many a happy hour reading the Tender books and getting loads of ideas. Are you still growing fruit and veg? What are you growing new for 2016?

@Allalonenow

Hello Nigel! How very nice to have you back on Mumsnet.

I really enjoy Kitchen Diaries, reading it is like sitting chatting to a friend. And my heart went out to you while watching Life is Sweets.

My question is, what could I have as a change from smoked salmon for a Christmas Day starter?

Oh yes! Do keep the beard.

Hi,

I would suggest a lovely platter of thinly sliced meats, salamis and cheeses.

@CREATIVZ

Woo would just like to say: "keep the beard" and loving the locks, can I come and live in your garden too, please ?! [santa]

Yes of course you can. And thank you for your kind words.

@prettybird

I've always enjoyed Nigel's books (I have 5 bookshelves full of cook books so I'm a bit of an addict )

My question is, "Who would you say was your cooking guru, if you have one at all?"

Unfortunately I can't make the webchat but I'm looking forward to reading the thread.

(My own Christmas cake is made from a blend of Mary Berry's recipe, a Good Housekeeping recipe and my own combination of fruits: raisins, sultanas, currants, dried blueberries, cranberries and sour cherries plus glacé cherries and mixed candied peel, plus extra cinnamon you can never have too much cinnamon )

Hi,

Not so much a guru, but a huge fan of Margaret Costa. She's no longer with us.

Oops sorry for the crafty second question but could you ever see. Yourself writing a 'growing for cooking' book for veg-growing novices like me...grow all fresh herbs etc for cooking but anything more is beyond...

@Mrswinkler

Actually, just thought of one. What's your Desert Island cookbook - only one, not one of yours and you'd have all the ingredients (not just coconuts)

Hi Mrswinkler,

If it had to be just one book, it would be Nigella's How to Eat.

@LadyFuchsiaGroan

My partner works nights and most nights I really cant be bothered to cook just for myself. I enjoy cooking family meals but when it's just for me I lack inspiration!

Just wondering if your making a meal just for yourself what would you make?

Hi,

I love cooking for myself, but always something very simple such as wonderful bowl of home-made soup, something that will last for a couple of days.

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that Nigel but she/he had a good innings ... I bet you miss her/him take care x

@clare8allthepies

Hello! I'm hoping Santa brings me your new book to add to my already large collection.

My question: do you have any recommendation for family meals for the period between Christmas and new year when we're all a bit turkeyed out but feel we should have something a bit more special than the usual pasta?

Hi,

Well, I look forward to using up all the bits left from Christmas and getting quite imaginative with them. I think it's the right of year to make the best ever toasted sandwiches full of Christmas cheer. Bacon, turkey, lots of stuffing - that's my favourite sandwich.

Ooh a sneaky other question from me.

Nigel, I salute your tidiness and minimalist aesthetic. But tell me, was the decanting of the treacle into a kilner jar just for the telly box, or do you really do that at home ?

Hi Nigel,

Very sorry to hear about your cat.

I recently returned from a trip to Whitby with rather a lot of Fortunes smoked sausages and bacon....

We've been having them just as they are, but would like to do something extra special with them- can you suggest a recipe?

Hi Nigel,

I'm a huge fan of yours, I love that your recipes are so delicious but full of easy-to-source ingredients.

What would you recommend for an easy yet satisfying lunch to take to work? I'm always on the look out for tasty ideas!

@JugglingFromHereToThere

Hi Nigel, Which of your books shall I ask someone to get me for Christmas? I like simple and veggie friendly And then I can say you suggested it!

Hi JugglingFromHereToThere,

A Year of Good Eating has the most veggie friendly recipes of all of my books. But do take a look at Tender, Volume 1, it's all veg.

Oh yes, that's an excellent idea, easy to do too, I could add some fresh figs!

I'm a huge fan of salami/ham, so thank you!

Have a lovely Christmas Nigel [santa]