On line chat with Tana Ramsay on Monday 13th October between 1-2pm

[rachel(mumsnet)]

Tana Ramsay will be joining us on Mumsnet between 1 -2pm on Monday 13th October for a lunchtime chat about her latest book 'Home Made' and all things culinary. If you can't join us on Monday, please post your advance questions for Tana on this thread. Hope to see you Monday.

I'd like to ask her about this actually. How did she feel about not having her DH around? Was it something that upset her or did she feel glad/relieved that she had that privacy.

Well said Ghosty!

Urgh please tell me that Gordon - with all of those choice obscenities at his disposal - does not use the word "ninny" for your vagina.

Is it really true that you have a Nanny look after your children every Sunday morning so you can spend it in bed performing indecent acts?

I bought Real Family Food in Sainsbury's one week as I am sick to death of the food I've been cooking for years now.

I'm afraid there was a grading system out of ten as we went through the book! Three children. You may be interested to know that the Paella got the highest mark and the roasted butternut squash spaghetti lasagne the LOWEST mark EVER.

Lots of the recipes were a bit ambitious I thought, for the end of the day after work and a bit ambitious. Does your new book have simpler fare?

Ok now i'll admit i'm jealous. How I would love to be able to spend every Sunday morning being indecent.

Oh no sorry, the paella wasn't yours! It was the honey and mustard and sticky chicken that romped home.

MP - I'm sure he would more likely use a term like "yer rat"

[lowering the tone emoticon]

I will stay away on the day Ghosty, but I think that in this particular instance, some people are rather upset because they feel that she is neither a cook nor a writer, and yet she is selling a cookery book. I don't think that it is unreasonable to question someone's credentials. I think the objections to TP were more along the lines of the comments he has made in the past being regarded as mysoginist (sp) by some MNs.

I think that it's fair enough to have her on, take the cash, and expect people to be polite to her on the day. There is a difference between being polite and not asking difficult questions though, and I hope that these will be allowed.

This thread is more of a venting opportunity than anything else. Hopefully MN will start a fresh thread for the actual chat.

I want a sunday morning nanny

I wouldn't need one if my hubby called mine a ninny though!

Why did you (Tana) decide to write cook books?

The high marking paella belonged to Karmel's After School Meal Planner.

Next question - do you think it odd I allow my children to grade the food with marks out of ten? [Though it is usually a mixed bag as grandma's bones got a whopping 10 from ds1 but a miserly 2 from dd]

I also think that on a parenting site it is fair to ask about her child rearing experiences, including asking about her DH's publicly stated views.

Tana, how quick are you at chopping veg?

Cos I get annoyed when Gordy and other sleb chefs say cooking from scratch is quick and easy, it takes me ages to chop a load of veg!

So being a single parent...2 min microwave rice...done!

It will be only a matter of time before Jool's appears to share all her expertise with us amateurs!

Hi Tana, I would really like to know whether Gordon swears around the children like he does on TV.

(Thanks to ledodgy for reminding me of the question I've long wanted to ask )

Yes, I think we need to start a thread with a list of all the people MN would be most unwise to invite for a chatlet.

It gets easier with practice. Very sharp knives help. In the meantime go 'rustic'- cut bigger lumps!

It's a complete and utter joke that that woman makes money from cookery books. Years ago Gordon used to make constant jokes about what a rubbish cook she was. I find it amazing how gullible the public are.

Who says she isn't a writer? Who says she isn't a cook? People have to start somewhere don't they and why should she spend her life being her husband's side kick? Good on her for doing something for herself I say ... Why shouldn't she just settle for the money her husband has earned. And if she has done it on the coat tails of GR then why not? And who bloody cares anyway??
Ok, so people want to question her credentials but the bitchiness is appalling.
I need an MN break.

The thing is, some MNs would hate to have Jamie Oliver on. Some (including me) really like his recipes. You can't please everyone, unless Justine et al install mind control devices on all our 'puters.

The book is quite good though. I've liked cooking from it - except that it is too ambitious to be an every day cookery book in my opinion. It's family food, but not for every day - which slightly undermines it's function. Which is why I want to know whether the next one is a bit more every day before I subject it to the rigorous testing system chez 100.

I don't cook from Jamie Oliver, or find him very exciting - but I do respect his professional accomplishments.

Ghosty, what is the TP thing?

NINNY?

I have to admit, Anna, that I'm rather cynical about her book. As for JO, baked sweet potatoes, topped with a squeeze of lemon juice, shredded basil leaves, a little olive oil, buffola mozzarella and chopped red and green chillis are yummy.