My lovely sister bought me Nigellissima: Instant Italian Inspiration for Christmas – my first Nigella cookbook, and most pleased I was too. I enjoy watching her on TV, her passion for food flows through her words and I know some people find her irritating but I just love watching her programmes.
The recipes are broken up throughout the book by gorgeous full page photographs. Even though a lot of Nigella’s recipes are very easy and simple, the photos make them look soooo appetizing!
The idea is to make Italian cooking simple and she certainly does this. Most of the recipes are very simple to make, even if the ingredients list is long. Chapters cover Pasta, Flesh, Fish & Fowl, Vegetables & Sides, Sweet things and An Italian Inspired Christmas. Unfortunately I was too late to use the final chapter this year but I’ll certainly be trying some of the recipes out next year.
Turkey breast stuffed with Italian sausage & marsala steeped cranberries, Struffoli (sweet little dough balls) and Papardelle with chestnuts and pancetta all sound delicious and a far cry from the drab dried out turkey and roasties we’re so used to.
So far I’ve only tried one recipe from the book – shortcut sausage meatballs – and for me, it turned out to be more of a shortcut than Nigella said as I used some mini sausages left over from Christmas. They are the perfect size for the meatballs. You can see the recipe on the BBC Good Food website here.
I substituted the garlic oil for chilli oil and the finished result was rich, warming and very filling. Great for a weeknight supper.
Next on agenda are:
- Chicken under a brick
- Cod with broccoli and chilli
- Pork Belly Slices with chilli and fennel seeds.
I will, of course, report back!
great
greaat thankss