Love Delia Smith

Christmas chutney
Mincemeat
Christmas cake

The w hole Christmas dinner
Her stuffed roast chicken

All those without fail.

Then I dip in and out depending on what I fancy
Oh! And yes her dark marmalade. I have two jars left until next winters make.

I can’t think of one particular favourite recipe, have most of her books. I use CCC and her summer and winter collection the most I suppose. The ragu from winter collection I make a lot and freeze also every year her mincemeat and her Christmas turkey.

Callistemon

Delia Smith is not a journalist.

She is a cook (rather than a chef) and erstwhile TV presenter.
Her recipes and instructions are clear and precise.

And she’s the owner of a Football Club!
She’s never claimed to be a chef but, as a cook, her recipes and methods are foolproof. I defy anyone to fail to cook well when using her recipes.

She never writes excessively or woffles. There’s only so many times that I can read endless flowery language or about a recipe ‘oozing oilily down’, hear constantly about someone’s greed and watch endless simpering and eyelash fluttering (Nigella). Everyone, cook or chef has to be a personality now, whether promoting their latest book or appearing on tv. It’s soon not about the recipes. That’s never been the case with Delia - alongside all the flamboyance and ‘celebrity’, she can seem quite the reverse, but for years has just cooked and clearly demonstrates what’s needed to create fabulous food without fuss, every time.

And her world famous Christmas pudding recipe? The very best.

I make her baked red peppers with garlic, tomato wedges and olive oil every time we have a BBQ or buffet style lunch for all the family. Absolutely delicious with good bread to soak up the juices, never any left over.

Christmas cake and her moussaka recipe always a favourite with me and mine.

Delia Smith is not a journalist.

She is a cook (rather than a chef) and erstwhile TV presenter.
Her recipes and instructions are clear and precise.

eazybee

I don't like Delia Smith's recipes because there is far too much writing. She is a journalist, not a trained cook.

I like a list of ingredients, utensils and clear instructions set out as bullet points, easy to follow for the first time.

Nigella is the one I associate with journalism!
For quite a while before the cookery shows, she had a regular column in The Times.

Delias recipe for marmalade, the one that's slow cooked for hours. Intense flavour, dark and delicious. I've won prizes for it! (Winter cookbook)

I hang on to my copy of her cookery course for checking timings and temperatures. My two go to recipes are blueberry muffins and chicken basque, both from her summer cookery book.

Real as Beef in red wine for a family dinner and always use her Xmas cake every year. Have to make that soon.

I always use her Pancake recipe. It’s the butter she uses in them that makes them so delicious.

Stuffed yellow peppers with pilao rice.

eazybee if you think Delia's recipes are too waffly, then try one of Felicity Cloake's.

Nobody waffles on like Felicity!

I don't like Delia Smith's recipes because there is far too much writing. She is a journalist, not a trained cook.

I like a list of ingredients, utensils and clear instructions set out as bullet points, easy to follow for the first time.

MawBe

That sounds nice-which book is it on? I have most of them and you can tell which ones I use most- greasy, stained, pages falling out!

same here

I wonder where I go wrong ?

Her beef stroganoff.

Always use Delia's Moussaka recipe.

Nigella’s the one for me.

Her recipes never turn out for me ?

Her Christmas pudding. Been making it for nearly 10 years.
Kept one for 2 years. Delicious. I do put Murphys and whisky in it.

Delia Smith's recipes for rissoles was delicious. This was often tea on Monday evening, using up the leftover meat from Sunday lunch. Very popular in our house.

I've got one of her books with Moroccan Baked Chicken with chick peas and rice which I've made a few times. From Delia Smith's Winter Collection.
Callistemon I watch Hairy Bikers too and just like their whole presentation. And their recipes. But with 2 of them working on the 'prep' they're a bit heavy on the labour involved for an elderly person working on her own.

Oh Terri the chocolate Torte! So so rich you can only eat a tiny piece - I remember buying the liquid glucose in Boots chemist and it was a nice light consistency - I bought some subsequently in a supermarket but it was sooooo thick it was difficult to use.
I liked her Green Thai curry and the rice on the next page - you could make them almost to the finish and take two minutes to finish off when people arrived - I must look at that one again.

Forgot to add, her Christmas mincemeat recipe is a winner, too, and very easy.
Memo to self, must start saving a few jars - it’ll be September all too soon and I usually leave these things rather late.