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Telly addicts

Just rewatching Nigella's Christmas cookery programme. She really is lovely in it

159 replies

GetOrfOhSodOff · 25/11/2013 22:57

She is charming.

Lovely recipes as well.

I remember reading an interview where Nigella was talking to Julie Burchill about Christmas, Julie had had lovely happy Christmases as a child so she didn't really give a monkeys, yet Nigella had a tense upbringing so as an adult wants all of Christmas to be perfect for her family.

Anyway in light of whAt has happened to her life this year watching the show is a bit bittersweet. I hope she has a happy time with her children this year.

Anyway I recommend the programme, and the Christmas book. It's NEARLY December after all!

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DeadSalmon · 26/11/2013 09:58

I loathe Rick Stein. He always seems like a curmudgeonly old git who is faking geniality for the cameras, not very convincingly. There is one bit in one of his Asian series where he asks a fisherman's wife to cook a particular fish the way she would usually do it, which she does, and then he complains that the way she cooked it was too plain, and that he would have expected something more interesting!

Nigella wouldn't wander around other countries patronising bewildered peasants.

I think it says a lot for how likeable a TV presence she is that you are amused rather than irritated by things like the fake bus to work, and the jump cuts between the exterior of her own house and the studio kitchen, not to mention the 'friends' who come for dinner!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 26/11/2013 10:00

Barbados cream? Sounds wickedly sinful, and therefore something I must make!

I am a Nigella fan too - do you think MN would get her on for a webchat at some point (maybe if we promised just to talk about recipes and style, and not Saatchi)?

I am going to go and look for the ham in red wine recipe - I have bought a huge gammon joint, to have at christmas, and I was going to cook it in ginger ale, but red wine sounds very festive.

I watch her roast potato method with interest, but so far have remained faithful to Delia, who has never let me down on the roastie front. I did do the lemon spaghetti, and I rather liked it.

My favourite Nigella recipes are her bourbon caramel croissant pudding - if you haven't had this, please, please make it - it is so delicious. I don't have bourbon, but it works just as well with Bells whisky (and would be just as good with rum or brandy, or even no alcohol). You do only need a very small portion, though. I was heartbroken when, the last time I made it, dh dished it up, and gave us huge servings, and we neither of us finished ours. If he had served up half the size of portions, we would have had some left for the next day!

My other Nigella favourites are her Parmesan shortbreads - they are so easy to make, and delicious too; and her Clementine cake - both of these are basically throw it all in the food processor recipes (which appeal to the lazy me), and the clementine cake is a moist, dense, almost marmelade-y cake, that is just as good as a cutting cake or as a pudding, with a dollop of cream. And it is gluten free, which is useful.

ppeatfruit · 26/11/2013 10:02

It's Nigellafest on Good Food etc. they're repeating Nigellissima as well in which she 's shrunk by about 4 stone from the look of her. I like her too BTW. Grin

GetOrfOhSodOff · 26/11/2013 10:05

Barbados cream

Pot of double cream
Pot of Greek yoghurt (roughly equal quantities in whatever size tub, a few ml either way doesn't matter).
Soft brown sugar

Mix the cream and you together and beat lightly. Put in in a shallowest bowl. Cover with a layer of sugar, cover in cling film and put it somewhere.

I don't know what happens but it turns to nectar.

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superlambanana · 26/11/2013 10:09

Try layering the Barbados cream over berries (I use one of the frozen summer fruits cartons from tesco) that have been stewed a but in sugar and water to make a kind of compote. Mmmmmmmmm

I love How to be a Domestic Goddess. It's the only cookbook I've ever read cover to cover like a normal book.

I feel like Nigella should irritate me but she really doesn't. I just feel all cosy when I watch her programmes!

GetOrfOhSodOff · 26/11/2013 10:10

ShallowISH bowl. You don't want too much sugar. But you need ENOUGH.

They have had a MN webchat. She was great on that as well.

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WireCat · 26/11/2013 10:11

She is beautiful.
I do love her Christmas series. I've been watching it.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 26/11/2013 10:11
DrankSangriaInThePark · 26/11/2013 10:11

She may be singlehandedly responsible for my electricity bill. What with the fairy lights and all.

DrankSangriaInThePark · 26/11/2013 10:12

A friend of mine was on a plane with her, and she sat breaking huge lumps of cheese off a block of parmesan.

Just like you'd imagine.

GetOrfOhSodOff · 26/11/2013 10:12

I don't like Rick Stein either, I don't like his fish recipes, patronising ways and I don't bloody like Cornwall much either.

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AllThatGlistens · 26/11/2013 10:13

I love her. I don't do the whole 'celeb' thing, never read the gossip rags etc etc but there's just something so infectious about her and her shows are just effortless!

Utterly beautiful, confident and charming, she's lovely Smile

My DH is often to be found commenting on our similarities and how beautifully she aging (ha! We have the same pale skin and colouring, that's about it) Envy

I really do hope she has a great Christmas, I wonder if she's relieved to be away from that odious git.

GetOrfOhSodOff · 26/11/2013 10:14

I remember buying quinces when I was 21, chopping them up and crying at how hard they were.

Hello sangria! Now I want to go to a warm park and drink sangria!

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GetOrfOhSodOff · 26/11/2013 10:16

Has anyone done the frozen berries in the white chocolate and limoncello sauce?

I long to try it but a big spooked about serving frozen fruit.

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chartreuse · 26/11/2013 10:17

I feel like turning on all the fairy lights and sitting down with the Barbados Cream right now. In reality I am sitting in a building site with 2 fluey children in bed.

GetOrfOhSodOff · 26/11/2013 10:19

Oh no chartreuse poor you, that sounds grim.

I am eating my breakfast. Fishfingers!

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GetOrfOhSodOff · 26/11/2013 10:22

I know it's utterly ridiculous to admire someone for their beauty (goes against all my feminist credentials) but I can't help doing so, and she really is so very stunning. You could imagine paintings of her in the 17th century.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 26/11/2013 10:23

I really like how she actually eats the food, can explain why the combination works or gives an alternative if you can't find the ingredients. She's less about making it look all fancy and uniform and more about ease and enjoyment and taste.

chartreuse · 26/11/2013 11:02

I am watching a Nigellisima and feeling better already Smile

gaggiagirl · 26/11/2013 11:10

My best most favourite Nigella recipe is her chocolate olive oil cake from nigellisima. Its amazing and comes out perfect every time.

ppeatfruit · 26/11/2013 11:13

Getorf I made quince pate (fr) and you cook them whole!! it's simple an Elizabeth David recipe!

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 26/11/2013 11:14

Bugger - how did I miss that webchat? Sad

Cookethenook · 26/11/2013 11:15

I love Nigella. I want to be her friend (saddo), she just seems so lovely.

My DS (7yo) also has a bit of a crush on her. Whenever she comes on the telly, he goes a bit dreamy. Good taste that boy!

Cookethenook · 26/11/2013 11:15

Also her donut french toast is incredible!

Gileswithachainsaw · 26/11/2013 11:37

Dd2 and I just made her museli muffins , I got the urge to bake after reading this thread :o

Silly me then realised they would be no good for lunch boxes. Damn

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