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 287: stunner
As gorgeous as it is delicious, an all round stunner: Nigella’s Pepper, Anchovy and Egg Salad.
Day 286: maximum crispiness
Maximum crispiness and satisfying chew: Day 286 is Nigella’s butter-roasted Hasselback Potatoes.
Day 285: seriously good stuff
This was so good that I made it three nights in a row! Day 286 is Nigella’s Butternut with Green Tahini Sauce.
Day 282: served with a flourish
Served with a flourish: Day 282 is Nigella’s retrolicious Devilled Eggs.
Day 281: dazzling
Simply dazzling: Day 281 is Nigella’s No-churn Blackcurrant Ice Cream with Liquorice Ripple.
Day 280: express delicious
It’s always a joy to pick up, read and cook from Express. In fact, it’s bible-like in my life at the moment! Day 280 is Nigella’s Chicken Schnitzel with Bacon and White Wine.
Day 279: big treat
Mega treat for lunch earlier in the week: Nigella’s INCREDIBLE Anchovy Elixir, spooned with the biggest smile over a few cold, pink slices of Sunday’s roast beef.
Day 277: a tricoloured beauty
A tricoloured beauty of milky-white buffalo, intensified cherry-red toms and a blitzed grass-green sauce: Day 277 is Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil, Nigella’s Way.
Day 276: a very special 1st birthday
We celebrated our daughter’s birthday this summer, which of course called for cake: Day 276 is Nigella’s Devil’s Food Cake.
Day 275: delicious uplift
A plate of colourful, jolly deliciousness that instantly uplifts: Day 275 is Nigella’s Halloumi with Beetroot and Lime.
Day 274: perfumed beauty
A perfumed beauty, delicately fragrant with cardamom and nubbly with cocoa nibs: Day 274 is Nigella’s Breakfast Banana Bread with Cardamom and Cocoa Nibs.
Day 273: classic, comforting, divinely good
A good cream sauce should always carry with it flashbacks to warm events from your childhood and unbeatable comfort, and this one does just that: Day 272 is Nigella’s Tarragon Chicken.
Day 272: colour palette of dreams
A rambunctiously vibrant little number, sporting one of my favourite colour combos: Day 272 is Nigella’s Butternut and Sweet Potato Curry.
Day 271: caramel umami
Caramelly umami goodness: Day 271 is Nigella’s Spatchcock Chicken with Miso and Sesame Seeds
Day 270: counterpart
The rice counterpart to one of my favourite bowls of food: Day 270 is Nigella’s Chilli Crab Risotto.
Day 269: starting the day right
Every day needs to start with this: Day 269 is Nigella’s Italian Breakfast Banana Bread.
Day 268: colourful nourishment
Colourful nourishment for body and soul: Day 268 is Nigella’s Double Potato and Halloumi Bake.