365 Days of Nigella
374 recipes cooked; £6,100 (and rising) raised for FareShareUK; 1 Forever Family forged (2 dads, 3 kids, 2 dogs).
365 Days of Nigella has been devised, by me, to provide a much-needed escape from the worries of living with anxiety and the complexities they can bring to daily life. It’s a 365-day Nigella cookalong that will diversify our household palate and, at the same time, grant me the avenue to express my passion for food and write about the memories it can evoke. One of the best therapies for anxiety is to recall our feelings of love, positivity, serenity, and pleasure, and, for me, these are often - if not always – associated with food and cooking. And, of course, eating.
I define one day as one entry into this blog: it may comprise of multiple recipes, or a single recipe, but will feature my witterings of the day - at the time of posting. I aim to post every other day (3-4 times per week), so this journey will go on for considerably longer than a year - a realisation that makes me very happy indeed. The reason for not posting every day is that we do not waste food in this house and we will need the days between each cookalong to gladly enjoy leftovers.
A few pleasantries before we begin: I am not running for first place in a photo competition, and I am quite guilty of rather ignorantly throwing about punctuation, and for this (and my writing) I apologise. However, I don’t deny that there is great satisfaction to be had in capturing a dish in all its beauty. I don’t have any fancy equipment; just a phone, small windows, and a bread board and cheese board for a backdrop.
Above all, however, it’s a bit of fun and I would love for you to join me. Cooking is a joyous way to spread love and happiness and I hope you enjoy it as much as I am sure I will enjoy creating, writing and eating my way through this journey.
Day 348: express roly poly
It might only just be getting its time in the limelight towards the end of the cookalong, but its shot straight into the Top 10: Day 349 is Nigella’s Roast Red Chicory.
Day 347: paddington would be proud
A sun-soaked vision in amber: Day 347 is Nigella’s (friend’s) Marmalade, from How To Eat.
Day 346: golden carapace
This gold-carapaced vat of spiced meat and beans was a delicious way to end a challenging Saturday: Day 346 is Nigella’s Cornbread Topped Chilli Con Carne.
Day 345: true magic
A truly magical, palate-caressing joy: Day 345 is Nigella’s Pomegranate-Poached Quinces.
Day 343: when beautiful Helene met Eve and her pudding
#PuddingForLunch on Sundays is now officially a thing in our house. In fact, it’s a rule. Day 343 is Nigella’s Chocolate Pear Pudding.
Day 342: cream-drenched carbs
If cream-drenched carbs are your thing, this one is definitely for you. And if they’re not, look away now! Day 342 is Nigella’s Creamy Potato Gratin.
Day 341: the perfect balance
Simply, divine: Day 341 is Nigella’s Hot and Sour Beef Salad.
Day 340: midweek bolster
Mid-week, mid-winter bolster: Day 340 is Nigella’s Rigatoni al Forno.
Day 339: lazy January sunday
Lazy Sundays are for snuggles and movies and eating pudding for lunch: Day 339 is a bowl of double cream-drenched deliciousness inspired and guided by Nigella’s Apple and Walnut Crumble.
Day 338: Sunday breakfasts
Sunday mornings always see us come together as a family, and this was this Sunday’s enabler: Day 338 is Nigella’s Ricotta Hot Cakes.
Day 337: take-you-back-in-time comfort
The voluptuous edition of a comforting classic: Day 337 is Nigella’s Parsley Sauce, with ham, dilly pots and baby leaf greens.
Day 336: a yolky emulsion
A big bowl of crisp lettuce, glazed with a rich, yolky emulsion glistening in the January sun: Day 336 is Nigella’s Caesar Salad.
Day 335: butterscotch beauty
A few miscalculations along the way, but something glorious resulted: Day 335 is Nigella’s Caramel Croissant Pudding.
Day 334: happy birthday, nigella
Happy birthday, Nigella! Day 334 is Nigella’s Galette des Rois.
Day 333: creamed spinach (sort of), the nigellisima way
Re-introducing a childhood favourite - here with a Nigellissima twist - into our lives and onto our plates: Day 333 is Nigella’s Baked Spinach with Ricotta and Nutmeg.
Day 332: twixmas treat
I could eat turkey dinner leftovers forever, but this was a refreshing - and v delicious - #twixmas treat: Day 332 is Nigella’s Ruby Noodles.
Day 331: snowballs in heaven
Heavenly in every way we needed them to be: Day 331 is Nigella’s Snowball in Heaven.
Day 330: a new favourite (since 2017)
Stewed, purple sweetness, lively with the face-clenching sharpness of cranberries: Day 330 is Nigella’s Red Cabbage with Cranberries.
Day 329: slabs of deep pleasure
knock-your-eyes-into-the-back-of-your-head-good slabs of deep pleasure: Day 329 is Nigella’s Black Forest Brownies.