Nigella Christmas: Food Family Friends Festivities Review
First let me say that I was fortunate to be able to meet the wonderful Ms. Lawson on December 9, 2009 when she visited Houston:
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I already had all of her other books and immediately loved her casual style and easy take on cooking. Nigella Express I think is my favorite, particularly the Pollo alla Cacciatore, but I love all of the books. I made the Christmas Chocolate Cookies on page 206 twice, once on Christmas Eve, shortly before the yeast-free diet on January 4th. They really are easy to make and delicious to eat. I didn't have those holiday sprinkles, but ended up getting two containers of colored sugar sprinkles and mixing them--hey, it worked!
I also want a cup that says "Keep Calm And Carry On." I've got the sign posted on my desk at work.
Ms. Lawson's lecture stated that while she enjoys meeting fans and talking about food, it's simply out of a love of cooking and frequently, wanting to eat now. She doesn't like stressed out holidays, either--but who does? Read the book ahead of time, do a little planning, and you too can have a fantastic holiday that you can enjoy as well as your guests.
Now, is there any of that Choco-Chili left???
Nigella Christmas: Food Family Friends Festivities Overview
"Nigella covers just about all the quick bases in Express . . . this is a recipe collection that could get you through the holidays."
--The Washington Post
"The recipes are a mix of dishes that are quick to prepare and cook--so you can have your dinner out of the grocery bag and on to the table in half an hour or so--and dishes that are easy to prepare early in the day and then are simply left to simmer slowly."
--Good Housekeeping
"Nigella Lawson has conjured up a voluptuous volume of what she called `fast food for those who love eating.' . . . it's a Nigella-style feast . . . A perfect choice for cooks who would rather sip wine than labor over a hot stove, Nigella Express is, as the British say, brilliant."
--People
"A fast feast may seem like a concept at odds with itself, but the goddess of easy extravagance, Nigella Lawson, has figured out how to put together a lavish party menu in ultrashort order . . . That's what her latest cookbook, Nigella Express, is all about--time savers that don't compromise on flavor but are so effective you'll feel you got away with something."
--O at Home
Christmas is a time for family and friends, for tradition and treats. But, let's face it, when the pressure to feed and entertain builds up, the festive season can start to lose its sparkle . . .
That's where Nigella comes in. With her no-nonsense approach, her inspirational ideas, and her empathy for the practical realities of the season--combined here with reliable, easy-to-follow recipes and reassuring advice about planning and cooking ahead--Nigella Christmas is guaranteed to bring comfort and joy and make sure the season of good will stays that way.
Here is everything you could wish for to make your life and your Christmas easy and enjoyable: from party canapés, cocktails, and manageable mass catering, to scrumptious Christmas cakes and puddings; from no-fuss brunches to quick-and-easy homemade presents (chutneys, preserves, and other delectable standbys) and edible tree decorations. There are mouth-watering recipes with a seasonal twist, and simple menus for feeding friends and family over the extended holiday season with minimum stress and maximum enjoyment.
And, of course, exciting and inspiring variations for the Main Event itself--from her traditional super-juicy turkey with all the trimmings, to festive ginger-glazed ham and the Ultimate Christmas Pudding; from goose, rib of beef, and stuffed rolled pork, all the way to a special vegetarian Christmas feast, a chocolate pudding, a French Yule Log, an Australian Christmas Pudding, and The Boozy British Trifle.
Nigella's cakes, as always, gladden the heart--and, like many of the recipes here, are at home all year round--but her At-a-Glance Christmas Lunch Countdown, together with make-ahead and freeze-ahead tips throughout, can help take the stress and strain out of the season. With its glorious illustrations, Nigella Christmas will surely be a perennial favorite--the book we will all reach for, for inspiration and reassurance, when Christmas comes around each year.
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Related Products
- Nigella Fresh: Delicious Flavors on Your Plate All Year Round
- Feast: Food to Celebrate Life
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- How to Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food
Customer Reviews
A cook book for life - not just for Christmas. - Danielle Raine - North Yorkshire, UK
Like all my Nigella books, I have read this word-for-word, cover-to-cover. (I find them so readable and enticing - rare among my cookery books. The only other cookery writer I've come across who inspires similar devouring is Nigel Slater).
There are some beautiful Christmas-centric pages but I find that much of this book is useful all year. I keep returning to certain favourites on a regular basis. Trouble is, the calorific options are excusable in the midst of festive excess but a recipe for unwanted curvature when eaten all year. My waistline rues the day I discovered the Girdlebuster Pie. (Unlike my family and friends, who love it!)
If you love food, Christmas and serving up sumptuous delights, I'd certainly recommend this book.
Another Nigella triumph.
Gift Giving - Ginevera - San Francisco, CA
I gave this as a gift to a friend whom I know is a fan of Nigella's, as am I. What surprised me about this title was how tacky the cover is (I ordered it on Amazon, then saw it in a store). Nigella is a wonderful writer and a good chef, and the other cookbooks of hers that I own (How to Eat, Domestic Goddess, Feast) are either designed in an understated fashion or very tasteful. I was a little embarrassed to have sent this.
How can you not love Nigella? - D. Alden - Inver Grove Heights, MN United States
Even though I bought this way too late in the season to try much of anything, I think Nigella Lawson really knows how to write a lovely cookbook. I own several books by her, including the immensely interesting and enjoyable "How To Eat." The production values are very high for "Nigella Christmas": beautiful photos on expensive looking (and feeling) paper. I'm a big fan of hers, so my review is not the most objective one out there. But if you enjoy opening your home and sharing yourself with others through entertaining and cooking, Nigella remains a terrific inspiration for us. Domestic Goddess, indeed.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 26, 2010 06:28:04
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