Delia says cheating is ok.

Horasio

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

I watched the programme tonight and thought that it was just "odd" - I usually like watching her TV programmes because she is very relaxing to watch and gives precise instructions but tonight I thought it was all too staged. I have bought Aunt Bessies Mashed potato once when it was on offer and it isn't very nice at all - it is too watery and I can't imagine it would have been nice on the top of those dishes. The grated cheese was ridiculous and I noticed that she was using freshy chopped herbs so I would personnally grate my own cheese or peel my own potatoes and used dried or bought herbs! That dish with the potato wedges looked rank - and those McCain wedges she used have a really chemically taste as DD1 sometimes gets me to buy them as she likes them. I bet it is a popular programme though and expect to see on the news that shops can't get enough stocks of Aunt Bessies mash!

I did find some grated mozzarella on deal and it worked out cheaper than a block. It is useful to sprinkle on things straight from the freezer.

If I feel really lazy or had a long day, I put a home made ready meal in the oven or microwave. Either I do it all from scratch or pop it in the oven all done.

juliettet

I agree with Recovering spendaholic that it is odd. I must say that when I started to cook I used her books the most and still do if I need a reliable easy recipe. Last night I watched this with my student nephew whom has never cooked anything but toast and he telephoned me this morning to say that he couldn't get frozen mash and how many 'real potatoes' should he get as he is going to try the leek mash thingy?
I might buy the book for him and hope this is the start of getting him away from fast food.

moneysavinmonkey

i was sceptical at first to watch the program and delias motives for doing it... after watching the first five mins I was on board though- maybe this would be a good idea for people on the move or who have never cooked before - induct them into cooking slowly I suppose....

then five minutes later she has opened about 10 packets of prepared stuff make some awfully complicated and IMO rank looking pie!! She had everything all to hand and ready to go too so in reality it would take a lot longer to make - why not just make something a bit less complicated and then you would have time to do it from scratch!! Also I would love for someone to 'cost up' that pie - how much would it cost to buy all those ingredients - got to be getting on for 15 quid I would guess!

The shepherds pie looked rank and given that she sweated some Swede and carrots in a pan to add to it, I was just thinking couldn't she have just cooked some mince in the same pan???

I work full time and am all for 'cheating' every now and again during the week if it speeds things up but to me this reeked of cheating for the sake of cheating in order to use some specific product... (the programme might as well have been sponsored by aunt Bessies frozen mash!)

not impressed but will probably watch it again as I found it quite entertaining to point out the idiocy of the whole thing!

moanymoany

I watched the programme and I found it quite confusing. I did wonder who it was aimed at.

I thought that the recipe with chopped swede and carrot had to be planned. That ready prepared fresh veg has a really short life. Also, I buy Tesco frozen swede and carrot, and that is more useful as it sits in the freezer waiting for me.

I also thought that the fish pie looked very expensive. I love capers and chopped gerkins and I think it would have been nice with the oily fish, ready made sauces - not that I've tried many - are bland. Ready grated cheese is ok, but I agree that the little 'cakes' of mash aren't nice.

I didn't get the bread. Those rostis looked strange, though I haven't had any.

I think that rather than make the strange dishes made by Delia on this programme, I would go and buy the 'finest' range or an M&S ready meal. It would be quicker and I think cheaper. The contents are going to be processed anyway and I don't have to plan ahead. It also means I don't have to make sure my storecupboard and freezer has all this stuff in it. What you get after all that faffing about is not going to be much different.

I think that the programme falls between two stools - not the make from scratch or the ready made brigade.

When she brought out the cooked fish pie and said it would serve four - dh snorted with laughter.

Telute

I thought the programs saving grace was Nigel Slaters attempt to commend her for saying 'it's ok to cheat' without laughing - he looked like he fell about the minute the camera stopped.

I don't see why she didn't just do a series based on quick and easy meals using from scratch ingredients. The use of potato wedges smacked of desperation - especially since once she'd finished dousing them in olive oil the only step she'd really skipped was cutting up a potato.

MiniLaura

Havent read whole thread but I do buy diced swede and carrots on a regular basis from Tesco/Asda, find it saves me ages in preparation time and very easy just to throw in a pot of soup or boil up for mash. Once had a sticker on it saying one of delias cheats.

I find swede terrible to prepare so this really helps and figure theres less wastage, price isnt bad either. Use veggie stock cubes as well for convience.

I make a lot of homemade veggie chilli, too expensive to buy in shops and not enough choice for veggies - but find using colmans sauce is great, saves trying to get taste right with spices/chillis etc.

All comes down to what you are comfortable with?

skintscotslass

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Suppose, from the above replies, that'll be no and no

Penny. x

Definately no and definately no!!! Save your time and money

Gingernutmeg

I watched this last night and found it really weird ... Anyone else feel that Delia just looked a bit uncomfortable throughout the whole thing? (It could have just been the way it was filmed though, can't say I found it particularly believable when she was 'chatting like a normal person' to the footballers lol - or having a marital - and the music was annoying). I didn't really fancy any of the recipes either - heaven alone knows how much that fish pie would cost (got to be at least £10 - £12 for the ingredients) and why, why, why put extra oil on McCain wedges, or use ready made rosti in that bread/scone thingy - why not just grate a potato?

Found it funny though when she was sitting with Nigel Slater while he was eating the cake - couldn't help but notice that Delia's slice of 'frozen mash' cake remained completely untouched ...

jjef

I also watched last night and was very disappointed. Delia books and programmes have been my god send over the years but this was a big let down - surely someone of delia's standing wouldnt serve any dish in her house which contained froxen or tinned ingredients so why should we. I would be very interested in the cost of these dishes should anyone come across other threads/blogs where the cost has been calculated. Will be giving this a miss next week.

maypole

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

I watched the programme tonight and thought that it was just "odd" - I usually like watching her TV programmes because she is very relaxing to watch and gives precise instructions but tonight I thought it was all too staged. I have bought Aunt Bessies Mashed potato once when it was on offer and it isn't very nice at all - it is too watery and I can't imagine it would have been nice on the top of those dishes. The grated cheese was ridiculous and I noticed that she was using freshy chopped herbs so I would personnally grate my own cheese or peel my own potatoes and used dried or bought herbs! That dish with the potato wedges looked rank - and those McCain wedges she used have a really chemically taste as DD1 sometimes gets me to buy them as she likes them. I bet it is a popular programme though and expect to see on the news that shops can't get enough stocks of Aunt Bessies mash!

I agree, I like Delia to be the way she was, informative and I liked her old format, she was relaxing to watch. She should leave this lifestyle type thing to those that it suits, such as Jamie and Nigella. As for the recipes, I will not be following them, they looked disgusting.