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.

@Bobthatsafunnynameforagirl

Love your honesty in your programmes Nigel though always worry about the cameraman in the fridge who pops up sometimes :) Do you do your own calligraphy for the labels?

Hi,

Don't worry about him, he's wearing his thermals.

Yes, absolutely, that's my handwriting. I still have my school fountain pen.

I've another idea for your Christmas cake dilemma thriftymrs - I heard of the tradition of making a half and half light and dark cake to mark both the good and bad times in the year past. I thought that was a lovely idea and you could do that just for the decoration - say trad marzipan and icing and maybe dark choc for the other half? Don't know how well chocolate goes with fruit cake mind you but I'd give it a try!

@Cookingongas

Can I ask a second question? I know it's rule breaking but I can't help myself.

The game pie with parsnip crisps in kitchen diaries 3- pigeon is not readily available where I live- what alternative meat would you advise?

Thank you

Hi again,

The recipe will work very well with chicken or with lamb.

Hello Nigel,

What shall I make for my lunch? In the fridge I have three rashers of bacon, a little piece of hallomi, a parsnip, two carrots and a small potato all of which needs eating soon, I'd like to turn them into something edible.

@Fiderer

Having gushed my thanks about my "Ask Nigel" cooking teens, I do have a question.

Aubergines. Love them. Moussaka, roasted veg, pasta alla norma, have been known to just slice & fry till crunchy & dip in parmesan.

Some recipes can be on the oily side, would love a new not so oily one. Thanks.

Hi Fiderer

To encourage your aubergines to soak up less oil, it's worth steaming them a little first. They'll still be tender when you fry them but not so oily.

Love the sound of your parmesan aubergines.

@LocalEditorMerton

Hi Nigel,

Have been a fan of yours since you used to write the cookery page in Marie Claire back in the 90s (indeed many of our dinner parties were based around your recipes!).

What would be your suggestions for some simple seasonal supper recipes (main course and pudding please) for Christmas Eve, for an extended family get-together?

Many thanks (and Merry Christmas).

Kate

For my Christmas Eve, I always make a fish pie but it is quite a bit of trouble. So, how about roasting a big salmon and serving it with potato dauphinoise.

I've ordered a rack of venison for christmas lunch, should I cook it the same as I would a rack of lamb? Any useful tips to save me from ruining it (apart from not letting my husband near it - he ruined a fillet of beef last year!)

@Bassetfeet

Love your books and television programmes . Like others I so envy your kitchen garden . Can't pin it down but always feel better after reading ,cooking or watching your programmes . My question is ...you seem almost zen like in your approach to cooking and living . Do you have a philosophy or belief that underpins your work and lifestyle ? Thank you .

Hi,

What a lovely thing to say. I must admit I do try very hard to ignore anything negative. I tune out negativity and focus on the positive. It sounds difficult but it becomes easier with practice, I promise.

@WiryElevator

Nigel - I love you. [sigh]

I have all your books. I love losing myself in them. I do also cook with them, promise. A lot.

Every single one of your recipes is a dream and works. You were the first food writer I came across that cooked proper non restaurant food.

What are your favourite canapés for a Christmas party?

Hi,

You can’t beat a good old-fashioned home-made sausage roll.

Good tip for aubergines, I will try that too.
Thanks for answering my book question

@Karenbrind

Hi, have you got any vegan ideas for teens at Christmas? Preferably ones which sit well with the traditional meal which their grandparents are looking forward to. Many thanks! Karen

Hi Karen

To be honest I am not an expert. Have you looked at the brilliant ideas of by Anna Jones?

annajones.co.uk/

@ishouldcocoa

Hello Nigel. Love your recipe books and your general approach to cooking. It fits in with my style perfectly!

I have a cooking conundrum... It's a New Years Day lunch. To feed 10 adults who'll have been with us the day before. I'm cooking pork for NY Eve, and will probably cook something along the lines of a cooked breakfast on NY Day including bacon or sausages.

What shall I do for lunch? It can't be fish and I want to do more than soup. It would be good to get it maybe cooked in advance...There will be lots of hungry teens!

Any ideas?

Hi

How about: a big dish of mushroom and spinach lasagne?

Hi Nigel!

Big fan of yours, used to have all your books until my ex got custody of them. Toast is one of my favourite memoirs ever.

My question is: What is your feeling about slow cookers? About half of what I put in mine comes out as tasteless slop, the other half is hearty and delicious. Do you ever use one? If so, what do you put in it?

@vestandknickers

Hello Nigel (swoon)

Appetite is my go to book for everything. Thank you!

My question is custard based. My children absolutely love the stuff. I've made those little Portuguese tarts for them and they love a good crumble with custard, but do you have any other, interesting ways with custard? They don't like bananas incidentally.

Hi vestandknickers

You can never have too much custard. To be honest I could eat it for breakfast. Have you thought of serving it with toasted panettone?

@TheSpottedZebra

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?

Hi,

Yes I do grow some of my own fruit and veg but I have just re-designed my garden to give a bigger area in which to eat. So, 2016 I will be mostly growing my fruit and veg in big pots. First thing in will be broad beans.

@drivinmecrazy

I've ordered a rack of venison for christmas lunch, should I cook it the same as I would a rack of lamb? Any useful tips to save me from ruining it (apart from not letting my husband near it - he ruined a fillet of beef last year!)

Hi drivinmecrazy

The thing to remember about venison is it is very low in fat. So as it roasts keep basting with the roasting juices to keep it really succulent.

@R0nJ0n

Hello Nigel,

What shall I make for my lunch? In the fridge I have three rashers of bacon, a little piece of hallomi, a parsnip, two carrots and a small potato all of which needs eating soon, I'd like to turn them into something edible.

Hi

I think chop the bacon into small pieces. Fry in a shallow pan with the carrots, the parsnip and the potatoes, all roughly chopped. When they are golden, crumble in the halloumi and cook til it starts to soften. Enjoy!

Good afternoon Nigel X
What do you do to relax other than cooking?

Love your books, beautifully written x

@spingley

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!

I like to cook a pan of grains such as couscous or pearl barley. Toss it in a little olive oil and keep it in the fridge. Then every day add something something to it and take it to work.

@SteamPunkGoth

Good afternoon Nigel X What do you do to relax other than cooking?

Love your books, beautifully written x

Relaxing has always evaded me. I tend to be busy all the time and then when I finally have a chance to relax, I fall asleep. That said, I am a great fan of television whodunnits.

Eee Nigel answered my question! [excited]

What a really lovely chap he is.

with everything that you cook, how do you maintain your slim build?

@CryHavoc

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.

I have never known anybody turn their nose up at steamed treacle sponge. I think that would go down rather well at Christmas.

@imacmum

with everything that you cook, how do you maintain your slim build?

Hi imacmum

Thank you. Actually I'm always eating but just small amounts of everything. And I must admit to seeing my personal trainer twice a week.

Thank you for answering x