A major dive into the Italian life again last night...made some pasta with a tomato and chili sauce...then, for a slight difference, some vegan "chicken" patties on the side.  Weird I know, but as always inspired by Nigella.  I know I keep threatening to take pics...and I will, but want to amaze you with the writing first!  :)

Going to fly to Cape Town tonight, so no time for cooking...:(

Last night was potato time...I made the mushroom gratin which is found in the Nigella Express book!  Turned out SO well...if you do not have any garlic oil around the house, you can use the crushed garlic (as I did)...:)
I made some vegan sausages to go with, and it was very nice.  Not sure how it keeps, but I have some for lunch today.  I'm sure it will be fine.
Now, I still have more potatoes at home, will have to find something to do with them too, but luckily Nigella always has a plan.  :)

Hello everyone!  Time for my update on last night's feast!  I went the italian route as planned, and even added my own brand of panache to the mix!  :)  Pasta came out awesome, and the sauce was something to behold.  I found myself having more helpings than I should have had, but hey, you only live once right?  So the key for me is to make pasta with boiling water from the start...it cooks faster,and also makes the pasta less sticky...:)
I used tineed tomatoes (horrifying as that may sound to the purists), but they were delicious!  Add a little chilli sauce to the mix and the result is incredible!  I, like Nigella, am  huge fan of chilli, so I added some dry chilli flakes as well (one can never have enough chilli)...
Oh and I also added some oreganum...which always makes things taste like pizza.  :)

YUM!

Plans for tonight...I was thinking of making something Italian (inspired my Nigella's new Italian drive with Nigelissima)...so how about pasta with vegan mince and tomoatoes.  I am not a vegetarian right now, but I feel better about my health and the health of animals if I keep the meat consumption low.  Not sure if Nigella would approve, but at least I follow the recipe as closely as I can!  :)

I know I have promised pics, and again, I promise you, I am getting there...

So...the weekend turned out to be more savoury than sweet (much to my dismay).  I ended up making one of Nigella's famous bakes with brown bread, ham, cheese and mustard.  Turned out very well, and there was even enough to take for lunch the next day!  :)  I like the idea of baking things, and I have a load of potatoes at home that I need to do something with!  Luckily, Nigella has a bake for potatoes and mushrooms, so will be trying that very soon.  A handy tip that I can give you is searching the index of any Nigella cook book...there you can find the ingredient that you want to use, and there will be a list of recipies for you to try!        :)  Don't go looking for eel or anything now...

My plan for this weekend is to make something sweet and sinful...and who better to assist with that than Nigella?  Not sure if I should go the cheescake or trifle route...both equally sweet and sinful.  :)
Then again, I am a major cupcake guru (according to Michael, my extremely close friends and family), so I could whip up a batch of those.  I am always inspired to make something sweet when I watch the Nigella Feasts series on DVD.  You sure know how to talk a potential chef into anything Nigella!
So let's see.  I will wake on Saturday morning and allow the inspiration gods to guide me as I tinker about the kitchen...will add pics soon!

To those of you who have been following the blog, firstly...thank you!  Secondly...I will be adding some pics of the meals I cook very soon!  So keep following and try some of the recipes too.  :)

Last night, I decided to attempt the Nigella version of a chef's salad...and boy oh boy...what a super salad it turned out to be.  I couldn't find a can of sweetcorn (as amazing as that sounds), but I used baby corn instead...and it was super duper!  :)  And for a vegetarian alternative, just leave out the ham.  :)  Another tip, it keeps very well for lunch the next day...

So, I started the journey off with a brandy bacon chicken roast!  Turned out very well, but I decided (thinking I was a little chef boffen) to add baby potatoes into the mix...they turned out horrible!  So, note to self, stick to the recipe!  :)

The beginning of a journey...

I have always had a fascination with food.  Not only does food provide pleasure, but it also keeps us alive - now how could one not love all that?  :)  In my quest for pleasure (and staying alive), I came across the goddess of cooking...Nigella Lawson.  Her love affair with food has always been an inspiration to me, and I have decided to try every recipe she has ever suggested!  Looking through all of her glorious cookbooks, I intend to work my way through all the recipes, giving first-hand accounts of my experiences with each dish, and also the pleasures that obviously come with it all!  So much like the Meryl Streep film, Julie and Julia, I will be embarking on a quest of flavors, experience and a full stomach, to bring those of you out there who are willing to read this, a place to join me, and my partner, Michael Coffen, on this journey through the heart and soul of Nigella Lawson's food.  :)

Here we go...:)