To be honest, not every cooking experience can be a pleasant one...sad, but true...
Last night I attempted to make quiche, and must have added too much of something, and it didn't turn out as expected.  Luckily, Michael is always a trooper, and we ate the food anyway.  I guess we have to make mistakes sometimes to learn more about food.  So if you ever find yourself happily cooking away, and it does not turn out as expected, just don't lose hope!  See it as a learning curve!  :)

My psychology tip for all you home chefs out there!

One can always use such simple ingredients to make something really special.  Last night I made some chicken (bone and skin on), covered it in all spice, wrapped the pieces of chicken in bacon, then baked it in a moderate oven for 30 minutes.  The chicken comes out succulent, and the bacon is crispy...so weird, but true.  Also, I served the chicken and bacon with rice, studded with flaked almonds and some turmeric.  Very nice indeed.  :)

Again, thanks to learning all I have from the queen of the kitchen - Nigella Lawson!  :)  

I have to say that I am really learning so much from Nigella!  Last night, I made a salad of note for Michael and I.  The list of ingredients were:

Salad leaves
Beef strips
Peach halves (tinned or fresh)
Salad onions
Cherry tomatoes
Roasted cashew nuts
Dressing

Here is a pic...

Delicious!  :)

Then, for an adult late night treat, I made Nigella's favorite ..hot chocolate with rum...it can be found in the Nigella Feasts book and dvd.

What a day...what a night...what a pleasure!  :)

I have always been a fan of a good stew, and when Michael mentioned to me last night that he was in the mood for a stew, it got my chef juices flowing...I simply used Nigella Kitchen to check for the ingredients of a stew (no matter which one), and threw a few things together, some beef cubes, and a few wok vegetables, with tumeric, all spice and bbq sauce!  What an amazing result.  Michael even added some hot english mustard to his...such an amazing skill Nigella has taught me...to "think" in cooking!

Thanks Nigella!!

So last night I had to throw caution to the wind, and prepare a chicken and pumpkin lasagna ..reason I say that I had to throw caution to the wind is because I did not use a Nigella recipe for this!!  I know...shocking! BUT, I must say, due to learning as much as I have from Nigella about flavors and textures and so on, I managed to pull it off!  Michael told me that it was one of the best lasagnas he has ever had!  I mean, really, what greater compliment could one want than that?  I used chicken breasts (even though Nigella hates that cut of meat), diced pumpkin, some sweet and sour sauce, and spinach lasagna.  Wow.

I think I would have made Nigella proud!  :)

I thought I would share some of my cupcake successes with you all...I saw Nigella making cupcakes on the "Nigella Feasts" series, and I fell in love with these little babies...

Here are two pics of the cupcakes I have made...

I also have my own website for the cupcakes I make, have a look:  http://garyscupcakes.wix.com/ultimate#! 

Last night I had the pleasure of making Nigella's banofee cheesecake...I have never made cheesecake before, but the recipe is so easy to follow!  :)
I am happy to report that the cake turned out SO well, and I cannot wait to try it again!  What a pleasure Nigella makes any experience!