Rating: 
Summary: I just love love love her.
Review: I would love to find more cookbook authors like Nigella. She is just so chatty and funny and real. Her recipes are yummy - the pictures are lovely, and the book is so reassuringly simple. Pistachio macaroons, anyone?
Rating: 
Summary: Hugely Disappointing
Review: There is not one photograph of the majorly saucy Nigella (except on the back of the dust jacket.) The publisher just doesn't get it. Who cares about the food? The male reader wants to see Nigella in all her cashmere twin-set glory slapping the meat around, licking her fingers, etc. This reader has ordered "Nigella Bites" which he hopes will be more to his taste.
Rating: 
Summary: A Beautiful book to look at but.........
Review: I wanted this cookbook from the minute I saw it. The writing is great and the pictures are beautiful and inspiring. I placed it high on my Christmas wish list, and was lucky enough (or so I thoght)to receive it.
Looking for a cake to bake for my daughter-in-laws birthday, I came upon the butterscotch layer cake.It looked so good that I had to try it.
I followed the recipe to the letter, even using the food processor as she had suggested. I placed it in the oven to bake and watched as the cake failed to rise even a quarter of an inch. So it was a second trip to the grocery store, and after re-reading the recipe and the substitutions ( re: self rising cake flour vs all purpose self rising flour) I gave it another shot, using the all purpose flour instead of the cake flour and using my mixer and following the method for the victoria sponge, as she suggests in the recipe itself.
Into the oven again, and as I made the frosting I watched...as the cake again went nowhere. Maybe it isn't supposed to rise,I thought, so I cooled it and assembled it. It looked beautiful, and it tasted like..well for lack of a nicer word ..cardboard, and had the consistency of a brick with caramel poured over it. So, a whole Saturday spent, with nothing to show for it except a a heavy garbage bag. ( which is where the cake went ) The frosting was not even that good. Does anyone know if there were some ingredients left out in the printing of this recipe? I am not a novice as far as the kitchen goes, so this not coming out has been a frustrating experience for me.
I may give another recipe a try, but for the meantime I'll stick with my Gale Grand.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful and entertaining
Review: Nigella Lawson has a wonderful writing style. She is straightforward, while also being reassuring. How can that be? She is not afraid of substituting canned vegs. or frozen peas, and makes no apologies for using them. The narrative is entertaining and helpful. Nigella is the sort of writer and cook who is fun to read. The recipes are wonderful! Yum. Highly recommend this book. Fairy cupcakes are great, and so is the chocolate pudding cups.
Rating:
Summary: Who SHOULD buy this, Who SHOULDN'T
Review: First of all, do yourself a favor and try to catch at least one show of Nigella Bites before buying this book. Just like fingerprints, every cook's dishes look and taste different and her show will give you a feel for her cooking "personality", style and techniques If you relate to that ( I do), read on...
Next, keep in mind that Lawson creates dishes for those who are willing to expand their cooking repertoires, to be a bit experimental and even daring. If you don't like to use spices or have kids who hate them, you might want to avoid this book. But if you like a bit of snap and zing to your meals and think of cooking as akin to creating visual delights and new feasts for the palate, this book may be just what you need to broaden your horizons. I love the show; I love this book!
Rating:
Summary: An inspiration to bake..
Review: I love to bake.. however it is always a chore and always the same old stuff.. since I've purchased this book "Boxing Day" is now Super Bowl Day here..!! I find this book to be exoctic/european yet simple and inspiring.. (a southern girl description). I usually find most books to be too sofisticated for my family cooking. And I usually find that ingredient items are too difficult to find ;everything just too much trouble to fool with.. However, I found that the recipes here are easy to follow, with suggestive remarks and recommendations for variations. Always something that the "average mom":.. or cook.. would try. I found the recipes to be insteresting, not far fetched. The book is very close to home.. and I plan to purchare a copy for each of my sister in laws. . I love it..
V. L. Hause
Canton, Georgia
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Gusto
Review: Nigella Lawson's program on the Style Channel is what got me hooked on her cooking as well as her cooking style. She have a lust and way of savoring not only the taste of good food but the preparation which is an art form. I can see where some my feel intimidated or even see the recipes and lay out as intimidating. But get your ingredients together, organized. and then put some awesome music on and simply have fun. That's what her cooking style is all about. It is also nice that she has recipes for every taste. Not just meat eaters or what I would call western tastes.
Rating:
Summary: Easy as - Cake!
Review: Lawson has infused recipes with her wit and straightforward cooking style. She reveals that she often 'messes up' a recipe, and yet her error does not affect the final product. She is a steady guide for young cooks or, those tired of cooking for perfection. Lawson is a comfort in the cooking world - however small or large that world might be to you. Her book is easy to read and her recipes are intriguing. They are simple and beg to be tried - over again. This is a great book for a first timer who is intimidated by baking, and for a well seasoned cook.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: Ok, I'll give this book a five star rating for pictures and style. But the two star rating is for the recipes I've tried to date...the culmination being the "Snickerdoodles." I've made snickerdoodles for 25 years and thought it would be fun to try a different recipe. These were the worst cookies I've ever made! Wasted a sunday aftenoon. I'll keep trying to come up with some favorites from the book, but so far, it's none too promising. Are these really her favorite recipes?
Rating:
Summary: ~~Absolutely Fabulous~~
Review: This is the most beautiful cookbook I have ever owned! The coconut cake on page 23 is wonderful as well as the recipe for Mulled Wine on page 269. I have a cookbook library and this is by far the prettiest to look at inside and out. The recipes are easy to follow and superb. Thank you Nigella! Bon Apetite!
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