Delia's Classic Christmas; BBC2 Tuesday 9pm

mollythewestie

Haven't watched this yet as I have Sky+ it. I am looking forward to it now, as I too thought it was going to be another "cheats" series. I have the cheats cookbook (I was bought it as a gift) but I rarely use it.

I have to bow down to "St Delia" though, as her Yorkshire pudding recipe (from the Winter Collection book) has never failed me yet!...Well, it did once, but that was 'cause DH opened the oven door too much...!

NualaBuala

I missed it but will try to catch it next week.

I quite liked the idea of the Cheats book/series - I don't think it was aimed at the likes of you guys who can cook, more at people who aren't confident in the kitchen. And I think her plan may have been to "trick" people into gradually giving up convenience foods as they gain more confidence - luring them towards "hardcore" Delia recipes.

I really like Delia in general, I think there's something reassuring about her and she's got more substance than some of the TV chefs.

angeltreats

What sort of thing does she do in the Cheat book? Is it like using ready made bits and pieces?

I've never had a Delia book but always liked her on telly. Might stalk the Book People site to see if I can get her Christmas book for a tenner.

katholicos

I watched it on IPlayer this morning as i forgot it was on last night. I really enjoyed it, the only thing i could have done without was Terry Wogan's radio chat between recipes.

I tend to think that the reason they didn't give ingredient measurements in the programme is because they want to encourage people to buy Delia's Christmas book.

angeltreats

The Christmas book is a tenner on Amazon too at the moment.

mollythewestie

angeltreats wrote: »

What sort of thing does she do in the Cheat book? Is it like using ready made bits and pieces?

I'.

Yes it is. She uses things like readymade frozen mash potato to put on the top of fish pie, tins of ready fried onions and jars of sauces etc.

There are recipes for soups, quiches, oriental foods, bolognese, desserts, shepards pie, chilli, risotto, pasta and lots more. Its the basics, with some unusual recipes too, but all quick and easy to prepare.

I bought a tin of the recommended "Easy fried onions" at the time, but it is still sat in the cupboard

THIRZAH

Thanks for the link ellemm-it's a pity we don't have a Waitrose here but I expect they'll sell out like the liquid glucose after her last Christmas series.

I remember it took me months to find dried coconut milk after her series on "Summer food".

I did buy "How to Cheat at Cooking" even though I cook virtually everything from scratch.I enjoy reading her recipes and it struck me that it would be a useful book to take on a self catering holiday.

maryb

I thought it was all a bit too rich and 'smothered'. Loads of cream and cheese and chocolate. I used to love her cooking but I like lighter stuff these days. BBC Good Food magazine did a makeover for trifle a few months ago which involved using a mixture of reduced fat marscapone and Greek yogurt sweetened with a little bit of sugar instead of whipped cream. I couldn't go back to using whipped double cream on a trifle after trying that, it was to die for and half the calories. Plus you can make delicious custard without using five (!!!) egg yolks.

I read somehwere that to make her luxury fish pie exactly as she suggests (with fresh halibut etc) would cost over £60. Real world, please!!

Butterfly_Brain

The recipes from the show are on the BBC/Food website

Gigervamp

NualaBuala wrote: »

I missed it but will try to catch it next week.

I'm not certain, but I got the impression that it was a one off programme.