Even More Nigella Kitchen…

Well, here I am again with another Nigella post. This instalment comes from Kitchen Recipes from the Heart of The Home by Nigella Lawson 2010 published by Chatto and Windus. This is my sixth post from this book, for any new readers click on the Nigella Kitchen line at the bottom of this post or in the ‘Books Cooked from So Far’ on the right hand side to see the previous ones.

I’m not quite finished with trying new recipes from this book, but my mind can’t help wondering onto the new one Nigella is currently working on. It’s to be an Italian one called ‘Nigellissima, Italian Express’ - due out this year, so I’ll look forward to that. In the meantime though here are my latest makes from Kitchen – a bumper helping!

Pork and Apple Hotpot

I’ve made this one a few times now, the first time a lot of the lovely sauce evaporated away, but I’ve been careful since. Pork, bacon, apples and light spicing – think mixed spice rather than curry spice. It’s a lovely warming and comforting oven bound hotpot.

Lemon Polenta Cake

I’m not sure if I would have made this one, but when round at my friend Anna’s one night she produced this fabulous cake for pudding and served it with berries and cream. It was gorgeous, and so I came to make it myself too. Gluten free as well.

Smoked Haddock My Mother’s Way

This was ok, I did bake it for the 10 minutes suggested but my yolk became hard, which was a shame. Might try it again one day.

Coconut and Cherry Banana Bread

I liked this one, not a looker as so many loaf cakes are not, but good spread with butter.

Guinness Gingerbread and Scarlet Plums

A dark delicious gingerbread that gets more moist and sticky if baked a few days before needed. Lovely with a cup of tea or coffee. Also a great hearty pudding accompanied by the scarlet plums. They are plums poached with sugar, cinnamon and cranberry juice, loved both these recipes, together or separately.

Minestrone

I think of this as green minestrone, as there is no tomato in it. I’ve made this one so many times, and have deviated from it as well. It is most definitely at its best with a parmesan rind simmered in with it, then removed, but it is worth making anyhow. There is a tablespoon of wine to add in at the end if you like, so little peoples soup can be dished up first, than the wine added.

Scallops and Thai-scented Pea Puree

Made this for hubby one night, we both liked it, and I was especially taken by what a little Thai Green curry paste did for the pea puree. Again not a looker - but good. We needed pudding after this.

Speedy Seafood Supper

Light and easy, I made this with prawns instead of calamari. Spot of tabasco would be nice too.

Pasta alla Genovese

I liked this one, a good pasta and pesto, wasn’t convinced by the need for the potatoes here, even though it is traditional. Hubbs and little one apparently don’t like pasta and pesto!! Now I know too J

Ed’s Mother’s Meatloaf and BBQ Gravy

I’ve made this one a few times as well. Mine is always crumbly when hot, but is slices well cold and makes a fabulous lunch the next day too. The gravy is good too, though not essential to the yummy meatloaf.

Ham Hocks

I used the smoked ham suggested in the recipe, and they were very smoke-y, little one loved this. I’m not so sure, I’m glad I tried it, but I’ll stick to hams I think!

South Indian Vegetable Curry

This one was good, get your 5 a day in one go and light too!

Quick Brownies

I really didn’t like this one, it just wasn’t what I want and expect a brownie to be.

Japanese Prawns

A warm prawn salad flavoured with Sake and wasabi. I don’t have Sake so I use sherry therefore mine are not quite Japanese. It doesn’t really matter though these are so good, light and flavoursome yum! I’ve made this one loads too, I call them ‘lunch prawns’.

Frangelico Tiramisu

I made half the quantity of this just for us (fortunately) it was way too boozey for our tastes. I have a friend who made it too, and she said the same. If you do make it, I’d say at least halve the liqueur.

Lemony Salmon with Cherry Tomato Couscous

The salmon was great and I’d make it again, wasn’t so taken with the couscous though. To be fair though couscous isn’t my favourite starch.

Brownie Bowls

These are good, I like them just cooled from the oven. You do need to buy a special tin for them, but they make for a cute presentation: your own little edible bowl. Though actually I find them cute to look at even empty. Yummy filled with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce.

Next Up: Fay Ripley’s What’s For Dinner?