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 267: sweet things (and a touch of soppiness)
This week’s midweek treat came in the form of tea and cake, for lunch: Day 267 is Nigella’s Lemon Tendercake with Blueberry Compote.
Day 266: cherub summer food
This is what I imagine magical, cherubic creatures to snack on in summer: Day 266 is Nigella’s Courgette Fritters.
Day 265: 100 days to go
Marking the start of the 100-day countdown and making leftovers right, Day 265 is Nigella’s Tabbouleh.
Day 264: cosy cupboard comfort
Day 264 is a very cosy cupboard comfort: Nigella’s Chorizo and Chickpea Stew.
Day 263: lovely textures
They are juicy, tender and creamy and sing gloriously on the tongue with the sharp and tangy tomato sauce: Day 263 is Nigella’s Soft and Sharp Involtini.
Day 262: a warm embrace
Little soothes sore throats and comforts aching bodies like the warm, gentle embrace of a hot broth: Day 262 is the last of my Easter turkey soup with Nigella’s Kneidlach.
Day 261: pudding with your cream?
It took longer to clean the children after eating it than it did to make it: Day 261 is Nigella’s Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Day 260: friend
A friend to those spirits in need of lifting: Day 260 is Nigella’s Fried Rice for Norwegian Pork Rib Leftovers
Day 259: heady heaven
That heady, heavenly scent permeating through the home as they roast in a hot oven is utterly divine: Day 259 is Nigella’s Roast Quinces.
Day 258: aromatic, salty, tender, crunchy
The dill, the garlic and the juniper punching through the tender meat like a Viking is just heaven: Day 258 is Nigella’s Norwegian Pork Ribs (rib-out belly, here).
Day 256: checking in
Popping on v quickly to post Day 256: the one-pan joy that is Nigella’s Slow Roasted Garlic and Lemon Chicken.
Day 255: splendid morsels
Splendid morsels of gorgeousness: Day 255 is Garlicky Roast Potatoes with Oregano and Feta
Day 254: gondolas and jewels
A gorgeous display of colour and beauty gleaming deliciously in the evening the sun: Day 254 is Nigella’s Feta and Avocado Salad with Red Onions, Pomegranate and Nigella Seeds.
Day 253: in buff
Tender slices of turkey dressed in the silkiest of beigey/buff-coloured trench coats embellished with the salty powerhouse punch of anchovies and capers: Day 253 is Nigella’s Turkey Tonnato.
Day 252: nigellan delights
Accompanying our 26-pound bronzed beauty this Easter, on Day 252, was an array of Nigellan delights…
Day 251: happy easter
I kept the use of my volatile oven to a minimum over the Easter weekend, delivering the feast’s sweet treats as these little bundles of joy: Day 251 is Nigella’s Easter Nets.
Day 250: slime time
Bright smiles and teeth beaming through green-slimed chops: Day 250 is Nigella’s Pea and Pesto Soup.
Day 249: chicken with jacqui
In all its sticky, rich and deep glory: Day 249 is Nigella’s Chicken Teriyaki.
Day 248: life’s lemons
Day 248 is (or at least it should have been if it weren’t for a dodgy oven) Nigella’s Chocolate and Raspberry Pavlova; with everything folded together into a blissful and beautiful mess instead of assembled in layers.