Webchat with GBBO winner Nadiya Hussain - Wednesday 15 June, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

We’re thrilled to announce that Nadiya Hussain is joining us for a webchat on Wednesday (15 June) between 1 and 2pm when she’ll be taking your questions and telling us about her first book, Nadiya's Kitchen.

Over 15 million people tuned in to see Nadiya win 2015’s Great British Bake Off. Since then, she has captured the heart of the nation and is now a columnist for The Times and Essentials and a regular reporter for The One Show. Nadiya was commissioned to bake the Queen’s 90th birthday cake, which she presented to the Queen in person on the 21st April. In her first cookbook, Nadiya’s Kitchen, her focus is to deliver tasty meals quickly and she shares over 100 delicious recipes for all the family, from her famous bakes to simple suppers and snacks.

We have a SIGNED copy of Nadiya’s Kitchen up for grabs and everyone who joins the webchat will be entered into a draw. We’ll announce the winner at the end of the webchat. Do come and chat to Nadiya on Wednesday between 1 and 2pm or if you can’t join in then, post up your questions in advance on this discussion thread.

@slightlyglitterbrained

Hi Nadiya,

I noticed on Amazon that you have TWO books out this year. Could you say a little bit about Bake Me a Story? DS (4 yrs) likes reading In The Night Kitchen and has demanded that we make cake afterwards so thinking this might be a nice one for him.

(I have an ulterior motive - I have grand dreams here of him bringing me daily cake by the time he's ten. OTOH, I might need a "how to clean flour off the kitchen ceiling" book for him too.)

It's a book that combines cooking baking and storytelling, making time in the kitchen more interactive.

Hi Nadia!!
Last year was actually the first year I watched bake off and I enjoyed it so much, I had to save it for a Thursday after my weight watchers class as it made me hungry haha!
Would you consider bringing out some healthy low cal recipes? Obviously bake off is very much packed with beautiful calorie packed food as it should be!

@DetestableHerytike

Oh yay, I loved that you Won! I cried!

What are your five desert island ingredients? Flour, sugar, eggs already provided.

Marmite, raspberry powder, chocolate, salt, nuts

@Brokenbiscuit

I cried too! :) We all absolutely loved you in our house (and loved how proud your dad was when you won!)

It seemed during the series that you gained a lot of confidence as a result of doing the bake-off. I'd like to know if you have continued on that journey. I'd also like to know what your lovely kids think of their mum's new-found fame?!

My boys are quite territorial and don't like it very much, whereas my daughter loves it and welcomes people coming over and talking to me.

@Baconyum

Ohhh yay!!

My dd and I both actually screamed when you won! Goodness knows what neighbours thought .

I know we know you for your desserts, but as a mum you must make all sorts. Do you have any fabulous vegetarian meals you recommend? I LOVE spicy food dd not a big fan of heat though so which are best spices for flavour rather than heat?

There's a great kale macaroni cheese recipe in the book. Smoked paprika is a great way of adding flavour without any heat and it adds loads of colour.

@TheDailyWail

Hello Nadiya, I loved you in GBBO. If ever you have a vacancy which needs to be filled in your group of friends, pick me!

What recipe would you suggest we all try first from your new book?

The parsley and mango pavlova - I can vouch for that, it's pretty good!

@FeelingSmurfy

I love baking but I also don't want everyone I know to end up the size of houses

How do you keep up with enjoying baking while not overdosing everyone on treats?

I only ever taste my cakes, very rarely eat a whole slice unless it has salted caramel on it!

@Misspapia

Sorry, I have another question;

Would you ever consider doing a Sylheti cookbook (in English of course) for your British-Bengali fans? xx

Absolutely, why not! It would be great to write a book that really magnifies how beautiful Bangladeshi cooking really is.

@Goldenbuzzer

Hi Nadiya,

As a stay at home mum who is looking forward to my kids being older so I can do all the things that just seem impossible at the moment, your a great inspiration.

I'd love to know what your biggest / funniest baking disaster was.

A huge congratulations on all your successes, they are very much deserved. You come across as such an incredibly lovely person.

I made a liquid cake in a loose bottomed tin and all the cake ran out and baked at the bottom of the oven, leaving me with a very empty cake tin.

@DivaDroid

Hi Nadiya, we were so pleased when you won GBBO. I'm define to going to be buying your book! My question is, how did you manage to come up with the interesting & different ideas for GBBO?

I often took my inspiration from candy and always tested them out on my kids and if the kids didn't like them they didn't go in. If they did, then I always put them through although I don't think Mary Berry was impressed with my bubblegum eclairs.

@BeanyGodkin

hi!

When is it acceptable to use 'Stork' or other cheap cooking margerine instead of butter in baking when baking for sales/friends? Do you think it matters?

Thanks :-)

I always use unsalted butter and I think using margarine can make a difference to your baking but as with baking, it's all trial and error. So if you feel it works for you, it might be OK.

It's been great to see what you have done post gbbo so well done.

I'm intrigued what would you make with
Marmite, raspberry powder, chocolate, salt, nuts??!

Thanks

@cathymumof3

What is your favourite thing to bake

One of my favourite things to bake is carrot cake but I have a recipe in the book that is parsnip and orange, that is equally as tasty as a carrot cake. I generally love baking cakes which have some sort of root vegetable in, even beetroot!

@getlostdailyfail

Hi Nadiya,

Well done and very proud of you. You've shown the world that Muslim women are completely normal :)

We are a household of cake lovers. My daughter is allergic to egg. Can you recommend any egg-less tasty cake recipes please?

Also, I'm in love with pistachios. Do you have any pistachio cake recipes please? Thanks!

I don't have a pistachio cake recipe, but I do have a recipe for some rose pistachio white chocolate meringue kisses.

@icklekid

It's been great to see what you have done post gbbo so well done.

I'm intrigued what would you make with
Marmite, raspberry powder, chocolate, salt, nuts??!

Thanks

I'd make five different recipes - I wouldn't put them all in one! I'd make cheese and Marmite biscuits with the Marmite.

@MsMims

Hi Nadiya,

I loved what you said after winning bake off, it was brilliant to see you so confident in yourself.

My question is, what do you prefer cooking or baking? Is baking your passion, or are you just an all round foodie?

I'm definitely an all-round foodie! I love cooking because it's something that's instinctive but I love baking because it's such a precise science. So depending on my mood, I may cook or bake or do none of the above!

@Reebs123

Hi Nadiya. I was so pleased that you won. You were my favourite baker!

I would like to ask do you find being in the media / public spotlight hard? I'm super shy and find its stops me from speaking in public so what you do terrifies me. What tips can you give about gaining confidence.

You are an absolute inspiration.

I used to be super shy once upon a time. But the one thing I never did before now was challenge myself or take risks. I think sometimes putting yourself out there and taking a risk allows you to see what you're really afraid of or if what you're afraid of is really nothing to be afraid of at all! Take your time - I know you'll find your confidence too.

!

Nadia, you really seem to touch people's hearts. Apart from your obvious loveliness, what do you think people see in you that they instinctively respond to?

and if I can have another question: I'm obsessed with flatbreads at the moment and am trying lots of different recipes. Do you have a favourite? I'm after something I can make in half an hour or so, ideally.

@UpOnDown

Hi Nadiya.

What's your go to quick to make snack?

One of my favourite things to snack on is a crisp green apple dipped in peanut butter. And I love making popcorn and flavouring it. I've got a cheese and chive popcorn recipe in Nadiya's Kitchen.

Hi everyone - apologies, slight problem with Nadia's answers not matching the quoted posts. We're fixing it now!

@KimmySchmidtsSmile

Hi Nadiya How many orange drizzle cakes did you make before presenting her maj's? Who's your favourite Loose woman? Are you still in touch with the very lovely Tamal? Did you realise you had a beautifully expressive face (the gift that just kept gif-ing) until you saw the show? Very pleased you won btw. Much deserved. of the bake off. with the books. x

I made twelve cakes for the Queen's cake, which made up three tiers.

I really like Nadia Sawalha (but she does have a great name!).

I am still very much in touch with Tamal.

No I didn't realise my face did that til I watched it back! Slight facial acrobatics

@Cookingongas

Hi nadiya,

Well done winning gbbo- much deserved. Can't wait for your book.

Id like to know who your favourite chef/ food author is and what is your favourite / most used cookbook?

Nigel Slater's probably one of my favourite chefs. Although I do have many, many more that I love. I have a very old cook book that I got when I was 16. The book doesn't have an author on it but it's a great book because it gives me all the basic recipes that I still use today.

hello Nadiya! we are sooo proud of you. are you a foodie?

A quick pic of Nadiya at MNHQ answering your Qs

@WhispersOfWickedness

Oh my goodness, how exciting, I love you Nadiya! Along with everyone else on this thread, I cried when you won You are truly inspiring, an amazing woman Anyway, I can't be there tomorrow, so my question is: will you be watching Bake Off this year and will you be wishing it was you on there all over again, or will you be glad that you've been there and done that and that you don't have to do it again?!

I've watched every series up until our series 6. And I'll definitely be watching series 7. It's a great show and as much as I would love to be back in that tent, I know how hard it is to be in there, so I will be cheering them on and wiling them to do well.