One of the things I was fortunate enough to receive for Christmas was Nigella Express. I’m a huge fan of the ridiculously beautiful Nigella Lawson, so when I pulled her newest cookbook out of the gift box, I immediately launched myself into the recipes.
In the end, good southern manners prevailed, so I led Nigella to the dining room, seated her at the table, and promised to return when all the presents were given out, opened, and enjoyed. British graciousness ensured that she wouldn’t mind – not in the least.
When I returned for her, I started with the Introduction and read through every single recipe and every single notation. All 378 pages. I even read the Acknowledgement’s Page. It was here that I learned that all of the beautiful dishes, linens, silverware, pans, and other embellishments featured in the book’s photos came from Nigella’s own “…cupboards and an almost dangerous eBay habit.” Her words, not mine.
Nigella Express is an absolutely perfect cookbook. She set out to prove that fabulous food doesn’t have to take hours to prepare. As the inside cover (yes, I read that, too) says, “Nigella Express is her solution to eating well when time is short.”
But don’t think for one second that the recipes aren’t out of this world, because that’s exactly where they are. These recipes are fresh, original, fun to make AND serve, delectable, and….I know you’ll love this…highly do-able. They feature ingredients that won’t be strangers to your favorite grocery store’s shelves. In fact, you probably have the ingredients on hand for many of the recipes.
In addition to (honestly) sone of the best recipes I’ve ever seen, Nigella offers countless ingenious tips, suggestions, and shortcuts. There’s even a chapter, Chapter 13 to be precise, called “Storecupboard SOS: How to Cope When You Haven’t Got Time to Go Shopping.” The recipes in this chapter are to help you out when you have people to feed with little or no warning. Instead of hitting the panic button or punching in the number for Papa John’s Pizza, you can just grab Nigella and let her help you out of a little jam.
If you’re a fan of Nigella Lawson’s Food Network series – and who wouldn’t be – you’ll really love Nigella Express. Nigella writes just as she speaks, so reading the cookbook is like sitting at the table talking to the Domestic Goddess, herself.
For example, in a recipe for Golden Honey Dressing, she instructs, “Put all the ingredients into a jam jar, make sure the lid’s on firmly, and shake like mad.” Vintage Nigella!
I just can’t tell you how much I want you to buy this cookbook. It’s a work of culinary perfection – and, quite frankly, a remarkably entertaining read!
The links I’ve included in this post are to Cooking.com. I checked my favorite online shops to find the best price for this amazing cookbook. After all, if I’m going to recommend it to my online friends, the least I can do is find the best deal for you, right? Cooking.com actually has Nigella Express for about $11 less than other places, including offline bookstores.
I’ve already tried quite a few of the recipes, including a Red Pepper Humus that’ll be made again in a few days – served inside Celery Sticks, I’ll make a total pig out of myself. Again. I also have plans for about 4 other lovelies this week – with Breakfast Tomato Bruschetta and Breakfast Avocado Bruschetta leading the way! Make no mistake about it, I’ll get to each and every recipe this year – and, if they’re like the ones I’ve had so far, they’ll be repeated again and again.
Some of the recipes in the Cookbook are:
MUSTARD PORK CHOPS
QUICK CALAMARI WITH GARLIC MAYONNAISE
BUTTERSCOTCH FRUIT FONDUE
ROAST CORNISH HEN AND SWEET POTATOES
CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD WITH JAPANESE DRESSING (threatening to jump in front of the Breakfast Bruschettas!)
POTATO AND MUSHROOM GRATIN
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE BROWNIES WITH GLAZE
CHERRY CHEESECAKE
MANGO SPLIT
HOMEMADE INSTANT PANCAKE MIX
BREAKFAST BARS
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE SUNDAE
Okay. That’s it. I was going to list some more, but the picture of the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Sundae just derailed my thoughts and intentions. All that chocolate…the caramel spilling over the side… oh man, I’d tell myself, “Be strong!” but it’s too late. My mind has already taken inventory of the ingredients in the pantry and freezer and the ones I’ll need to pick up at Kroger. ASAP.
Get Nigella Express, my foodie friends, you’ll be so glad you did!
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