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| Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities | 
 enlarge | Author: Nigella Lawson
Publisher: Chatto & Windus
Category: Book
List Price: £25.00
Buy Used: £9.01
You Save: £15.99 (64%)
New (28) from £9.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 14
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.9
Dimensions (in): 10.6 x 9.7 x 1.3
ISBN: 0701183225
EAN: 9780701183226
ASIN: 0701183225
Publication Date: October 2, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Nigella's Espresso Martini-Todka Heaven! November 17, 2008
Delighted to find that Nigella has incorporated the wonderful Todka Toffee Vodka into her Espresso Martini recipe! Many people know Todka is great on its own, but this version is a different kind of delicious! There are some reviews about this book that say it is difficult to find some of the more unusual ingredients.Products such as Todka can easily be sourced on-line from companies like thedrinkshop.com .Internet shopping makes many of these ingredients very accessible. I'm now quite looking forward to Christmas in the kitchen!
 C M Coot November 14, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
No better than average I'm afraid. Big fan of Ms Lawson but this ain't the best.
Been there, done that November 14, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have all Nigella's books and use them constantly but "Christmas" is a big disappointment, in fact, I am returning it. Apart from the fact that a vast number of the recipes are repeats of her other books, I can't come to terms with the amount of alcohol that Nigella uses in practically everything, not a good idea when feeding a large family with grandchildren and older people. Also a lot of the ingredients are unavailable in country shopping centres and I refuse to spend time going from one shop to another trying to source unheard-of spices and sauces, especially at Christmas. How sad, Nigella was my true "Domestic Goddess", but, no longer!
 A bit disappointing November 9, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Like other reviewers I noticed quite a lot of repeat recipes from other Nigella books, but I don't buy her books for the recipes, (though I'll definitely be making some of the cocktail recipes) I buy Nigella's books because I love the way she writes. No one can match her in this department though Nigel Slater probably comes second, her enthusiasm for food and entertaining is infectious. If food photography is your bag you'll love this book.
Festively produced in predominantly red and green November 3, 2008
18 out of 23 found this review helpful
this larger than average width hardback has 277 high quality, shiny pages and represents excellent value for money, at Amazon, today!
From the 5-page intro:-
'I'LL BE HONEST: I NEVER THOUGHT I'D WRITE A CHRISTMAS BOOK.
But then, not so long ago: I never actually thought I'd become a food editor. I hadn't rejected either idea, it just never occurred to me. That's how life works, and so much the better for it. I accept - with gratitude - that what makes one happiest cannot be planned.
This is not to say that I have anything against Christmas. Far from it : almost every book I have written has a chapter on Christmas. I wallow in it. I relish it......'
This statement in itself hints that there are a number of recipes that appear in other Nigella productions, albeit some are further enhanced with that 'Christmassy' tweak!
e.g.
'CHRISTMAS ROCKY ROAD:-
'It is not that I felt my usual 'Rocky Road Crunch Bars' needed any improvement (though fiddling with recipes is one of life's pleasures) but I thought they would benefit from some seasonal adjustment.'
So, out go the 'Rich Tea' biscuits and in comes some festive ingredients and embellishment..........'
BUT, having said that... in fairness....Nigella does openly admit to any duplication, e.g.:-
'ED'S VICTORIOUS TURKEY HASH
This turkey hash recipe, given to me by my friend and agent, Ed Victor, and in charmingly bossy letter form, has been a recurring feature in my books. Why drop it now of all times? Not least, of course, because it is a real winner.........'
From the inside cover flap:-
'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 begin to lose its sparkle....
That's where Nigella comes in. With her no-nonsense approach, her inspirational ideas and 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 goodwill stays that way......'
'Nigella Christmas: food, family friends, festivities' - to give it its full title - is split over 9 chapters:-
(1) THE MORE THE MERRIER: COCKTAILS, CANAPES AND MANAGEABLE MASS CATERING
(2) SEASONAL SUPPORT: SOUPS, SALADS, SAUCES AND SERVE-LATER SIDES
(3) COME ON OVER......STRESS-FREE SUPPERS
(4) THE MAIN EVENT
(5) JOY TO THE WORLD: CHRISTMAS BAKING AND SWEET TREATS
(6) ALL WRAPPED UP: EDIBLE PRESENTS AND PARTY PRESERVES
(7) A CHRISTMAS BRUNCH FOR 6-8
(8) A BEVY OF HOT DRINKS
(9) DR. LAWSON PRESCRIBES
sandwiched between an introduction and a full index. Complete with festive green ribbon bookmark to keep your place! A useful page of stockists, with website addresses, is also included.
A general note to readers is also included:-
all eggs are large, organic
all butter is unsalted
al herbs are fresh, unless stated
all chocolate is dark (min 70% cocoa solids), unless stated
all olive oil is regular (not extra virgin) unless stated
Apart from her menu for the 'Main Event', Nigella shares a number of her menus including:-
'An 'Easy Elegant Dinner for 8', consisting of:-
Effortless Home-Cured Pork
Apple and Onion Gravy
Tiramisu Layer Cake
'A Seductively Simple Supper for 6', consisting of:-
Party Poussins
Festive Couscous
(nick-named 'pous-pous with couscous', in the Lawson household!)
Chestnut Chocolate Pots
'My Christmas Eve Supper for 10-12', consisting of:-
Ginger-glazed Ham
Macaroni Cheese Deluxe
Spruced-up Vanilla Cake
Rhubarb and Strawberry Compote
Getting back to 'THE MAIN EVENT' - Nigella's 'Traditional Christmas Lunch Menu', for 10-16, is easily identified by the red-bordered pages from page 105-169 and is certainly a comprehensive menu, which includes an 'At-a-Glance Christmas Lunch Countdown', an itemised 'Christmas Day' agenda, a guide for how long to cook the turkey, plus some alternative roast dinner options. Also, you can find a VEGETARIAN selection under the section title:-
'You Shall Go To The Ball: The Vegetarian Option Takes Centre Stage', which includes a step-by-step photographic shoot for:-
'Roast Stuffed Pumpkin with Gingery Tomato Sauce'.
For after the 'Big Day', there are some different ideas for 'Turkey Leftovers'.
'THE MAIN EVENT' section precedes the excellent 'JOY TO THE WORLD', which includes recipes for a Traditional Christmas Cake and ideas for icing/topping it, along with alternative cake recipes.
Each chapter opens with the famous Nigella banter, as does each recipe, e.g. :-
'Santa's Little Helper'
an interesting combination of:-
'1 part Brandy
part Amaretto
and
part Cointreau, Grand Marnier or Triple sec.....'
oh .....and some optional ice cubes!
Followed by Nigella's notes:-
'I'm not even going to broach the possibility of a pitcher of this; it would be irresponsible in the extreme. But it's probably just what you need on Christmas Eve, when you've got to fill the stockings, wrap the presents, get out the Christmas china and do everything else on your overburdened plate. Bottoms up!'
The recipes are clearly laid out with an upper case title, the list of ingredients, an easy-to-follow method, the number of servings and.... if applicable - general notes including advice on accompaniments, and/or a 'Make Ahead Tip'/'Freeze Ahead Tip`.
A good balance of vibrant colour photography throughout, with a good few of Nigella, which seems to be the norm with current cookbooks.
A very small taste of the other recipes contained within:-
AMARETTO SOUR
CRAB CROSTINI
SMOKED SALMON SODA BREADS
PARTY PARMA HAM BUNDLES
DRUNKEN DEVILS ON HORSEBACK
AROMATIC CHRISTMAS HAM
PUMPKIN AND GOAT'S CHEESE LASAGNE
CHRISTMAS COLESLAW
CHESTNUT SOUP WITH BACON CRUMBLES
CHRISTMAS SALAD
LAMB AND DATE TAGINE
BOURBON-GLAZED RIBS
GLEAMING MAPLE CHEESECAKE
PARSLEYED FISH GRATIN
SPINACH AND BACON SALAD
GIRDLEBUSTER PIE
YULE LOG
EDIBLE CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS
CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES
WINTER-SPICED VODKA
MULLED CIDER
CHRISTMAS PUDDINI BONBONS
AND.........
not forgetting:-
'CHOCOLATE PUDDING FOR CHRISTMAS PUDDING HATERS WITH HOT CHOCOLATE SAUCE'
A great recipe for any time of the year, not just for Christmas - like many of the recipes in this book are!
I was also happy to find a super recipe I hadn't thought about before:-'GINGERBREAD STUFFING', from page 124......and the chance to make it in 'my old Le Creuset Pate Terrine', just like Nigella does!
'Sometimes, it makes sense to use one's obsessions to advantage. I know that most people don't have trivial light-bulb moments when the notion pops into an already food-filled head to make a stuffing in which crumbled gingerbread cake replaces breadcrumbs, but that's unfathomably, how my mind works............'
Along with trying out the 'POTATO, PARSNIP AND PORCINI GRATIN', from pages 64/65, baked in my
Le Creuset Shallow Casserole, 30 cm, Satin Blue, I am suitably impressed with this book, well ahead of Christmas!
And for my 'Big Day', in my house......I think I will try Nigella`s 'Pancetta Sprouts', (found on page 133, under the recipe title of `Christmas Sprouts')......and maybe they will get eaten, for a change!
Speaking of 'sprouts', I stopped cutting the 'X' in the bottom of mine on advice from Gordon Ramsay, but Nigella suggests still doing that with the largest sprouts so they cook at the same time as the little ones.
What a gem!
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