Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities

This book enters without faltering into the Nigella Classics. I feared it might be a rush, flimsy job, like Forever Summer, or the slightly disappointing Nigella Bites. But I needn't have - this is a beautifully put together (you sort of want to sit there and stroke it) brilliantly written (I read mine cover to cover like a novel, a bit tragic, but there you go) and, needless to say, the essential thing, full of recipes and menus that make you feel crazily Christmassy, and greedy.

The red centre pages, marking the actual Christmas Day menu, are a well though out touch. Nigella is typically luscious and bosomy looking, I just want her to come and cook my Christmas lunch for me. Not least because I am, in an awestruck way, a bit terrified of her Christmas menu. It is so all-encompassing and grand and generous, that I feel daunted by even making the bread sauce - there's just so much to do! She helps the pathetic like me by putting in a very authoritative cooking schedule. But, still.

I'm going to let myself in gently by making goats cheese and pumpkin lasagne this weekend, followed by maple glazed cheesecake. How totally delicious.

Bravo Nigella! Please come and live with me.

Nigella's Espresso Martini-Todka Heaven! (1/1 people found this helpful)

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 (1/5 people found this helpful)

No better than average I'm afraid. Big fan of Ms Lawson but this ain't the best.

Been there, done that (4/8 people found this 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 (1/3 people found this 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.

Nigella Christmas: Food, Family, Friends, Festivities

Nigella Lawson

Reader Reviews:

Nigella does it again (0/0 people found this helpful)

Nigella's Espresso Martini-Todka Heaven! (1/1 people found this helpful)

C M Coot (1/5 people found this helpful)

Been there, done that (4/8 people found this helpful)

A bit disappointing (1/3 people found this helpful)

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