Nigella Christmas: Food Family Friends Festivities

by Nigella Lawson

Hardcover, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

641.5686

Genres

Collections

Cookbooks, Christmas Recipes, Baking

Publication

Hyperion (2009), Edition: 1st Edition, 288 pages

Description

Enjoy Nigella's Christmas classic with a vibrant new look as part of the Nigella collection. 'What comes out of your kitchen means more than anything from a shop ever will. The satisfaction of the season can stem from the stove.' With her no-nonsense approach and inspirational ideas, combined with reassuring advice and easy-to-follow, reliable recipes, Nigella Christmas is guaranteed to bring comfort and joy, and make sure the season of good will stays that way. Here is everything you need to make your Christmas easy and enjoyable, from party food ideas and scrumptious cakes and puddings to the main event itself - turkey with all the trimmings, a vegetarian Christmas dinner or a wide range of delicious alternatives. With lusciously warm photography, evocative food writing and a beautiful hardback design, this is a book you will treasure for many years as well as a delicious Christmas present for friends and family. The more the merrier - cocktails, canapés and other scrumptious party food Seasonal support - soups, salads, sauces and serve-later side dishes Come on over - easy dinner ideas for stress-free suppers with friends The main event - from traditional roast turkey to the ultimate Christmas pudding... with all the timings you need for a stress-free Christmas Day. Alternative Christmas dinners - goose, beef, pork and a vegetarian feast Joy to the world - Christmas baking and sweet treats All wrapped up - mouthwatering gift ideas for a personal touch Christmas brunch - recipes to make Boxing Day special… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member gincam
"Nigella Christmas" is such a gorgeous book. It truly is one of those cookbooks that looks good enough to eat! The introduction is interesting, informative, and unexpected--combining ancient holiday customs with modern awareness and sensibility. Being a watcher of TV's "Nigella Feasts", I am
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 familiar with the author's speaking voice and persona. I could distinctly "hear" her speaking the introduction while I read it, and that made the words even more enjoyable. Nigella Lawson's food is sumptuous, even voluptuous, but still "do-able". She never skimps on anything, but nothing is ever elaborate or overly-complex. Simply superb! The very first recipe in the book is a cocktail called "Poinsettia"--pretty, pleasing, and potent. Only three ingredients: Prosecco, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice. Now, that's the spirit! The appetizers run the gamut from savory to sweet. Another simple recipe with only three ingredients: "Party Parma Ham Bundles"--prosciutto is wrapped around bite-sized morsels of goat's cheese and figs. Imagine that trio of flavors in each nibble! Nigella states that while she "can't fashion wreaths or fold napkins", she does have a knack for making relishes and chutneys. How lovely to make a midnight kitchen raid, snag the last homemade roll with a slice of ham or turkey and top it with a dollop of relish or chutney! The "Three Seasonal Salads" with their unique and colorful uses of ravishing red fruits and vegetables make you want to take your fork to the page. Special mention must be made of the cakes. Definitely cakes to give to "the person who has everything". Give them one of these cakes, and they could ask for nothing more. There are many, many more wonderful recipes including main dishes, sides, sweets, and treats that are too tempting to limit just to the holidays. Throughout all, there is a true sense of the author's own belief that festive indulgence is not a bad thing, but a celebration of being alive and an affirmation of what is important in life. A belief in hearth and home and adhering to ritual and tradition when the world around us is so unsettling and uncertain. As Nigella says: "The Christmas rituals of the home are, even if not based around faith, essentially an act of good faith." A well-said and well-represented sentiment presented in a gorgeous gift of a book.

Review Copy Gratis Hyperion Books
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4 more
LibraryThing member Coby
A delightful and festive book certainly, but I don't leave it on the shelf until December. This book gets an airing throughout the year, as the recipes aren't all about the big day recipes. There is a huge variety of recipes, and some great food gift ideas too. Some of the recipes have appeared in
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 other Nigella books, but most of the recipes are new. My Christmas menu comes entirely from this book, and I can't tell you how handy the Christmas schedule is. There is less stress cooking Nigella's recipes anyway, but a list, makes things even more do-able. Brined and Super Juicy Roast Turkey, Bread Sauce, truly THE BEST Perfect Roast Potatoes - and the most gorgeous looking book as well.
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LibraryThing member 3RiversLibrary
In her newest cookbook Nigella Christmas, British-born Nigella Lawson, warms our stomachs and hearts with delicious recipes and anecdotes. Nigella’s introduction boldly states that she didn’t originally plan on writing a Christmas/holiday cookbook – ever; but she goes on to say that she
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 greatly enjoyed writing this book. Nigella looks at Christmas and the holiday season not really as a religious time but more as a time to connect with those around her. That is why the book is subtitled food, family, friends, and festivities.

Nigella is a very down-to-earth cook and writer. She loves to eat and she loves to cook and this shows in her recipes and the anecdotes included with each section and recipe. She prefers to entertain and mingle with her guests, not slave away in the kitchen. Most of her recipes have notes about what can be made ahead of time and what needs to be done last minute.

Gorgeous pictures of food are set alongside easy-to-follow recipes that give the cook of any level the confidence to put on a beautiful holiday spread for just a few or for quite a crowd. This book gives you everything you could wish for when planning your holiday feast: from party canapés and catering for larger groups to menu plans for different sized groups. Even included is a section on quick and easy homemade gifts (chutneys, preserves, and other delectable standbys) and edible tree decorations.

Nigella covers all the bases with her holiday cookbook. Many of her mouthwatering recipes could be used year-round but they make for entertaining family and friends over the holidays with minimal stress and maximum enjoyment. This book will make you want to rush right home to cook up the fantastic feasts and scrumptious treats. This lovely British lady has outdone herself again in urging us to slow down and enjoy the holiday season with food, family, friends and festivities. Reviewed by Kim.
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LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
I might have enjoyed this more if the eBook didn't take forever to load each new recipe. But that still wouldn't have helped the enormous amounts of sugar in each meal. If you were really to follow this, not diabetic going in, you still ought to get your blood sugar levels checked afterwards.

I do
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 intend to try the beet and horseradish sauce with our goose breast tomorrow (at least if I can dig the beet in the garden), and the pumpkin lasagna is available at various sites online, so I'll do that in a week or two.
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LibraryThing member thewestwing
This is a great cookbook, that’s bursting with Nigella’s personality. The recipes are versatile and approachable, while her writing makes you feel as if you are part of the family.

Language

English

Original language

English

Physical description

10.5 inches

ISBN

1401323367 / 9781401323363

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