[linguini]

This is a book by Nigella Lawson, who is a celebrity chef in the UK. I think its quite a good book, with lots of recipes. The emphasis is on making food quickly, hence the word "express".

[beetrootbrain]

Yes its brilliant - i got given it as a birthday present and it really is wondeful. It has a great recipe for a king prawn curry!

I love her style and attitude towards cooking. I love the fact that she has cupboards of branded biscuits and chocolate and doesn´t feel that she must make everything from scratch - its a perfect book for someone like me, whois perhaps a little impatient when it comes to cooking!

[Mezzaluna]

We get her shows in the U.S. too. I admire her cooking skills and her perfect comfort with who she is and that she's zaftig. I also like that she's imminently practical in her approach to judicious use of prepared foods- but she doesn't make them a linchpin of her recipes like Sandra Lee.

[boar_d_laze]

Originally Posted by Mezzaluna

We get her shows in the U.S. too. I admire her cooking skills and her perfect comfort with who she is and that she's zaftig. I also like that she's imminently practical in her approach to judicious use of prepared foods- but she doesn't make them a linchpin of her recipes like Sandra Lee.

Lawson teaches cooking. Lee teaches table setting. Lawson is an attractive woman. Lee thinks she is. The comparison is wholly unfair.

BDL

[RSteve]

Originally Posted by boar_d_laze

Lawson is an attractive woman. Lee thinks she is. BDL

I think they're both beautiful and talented. I think both take full advantage of available resources and researchers. I recall reading that Lawson had a relatively "privileged" upbringing, while Lee was raised in poverty.

[Norma]

Interesting... It's hard to understand how somebody who was brought up in poverty and then later became a "chef", knows only how to mix jars, cans and mostly processed food. Usually that kind of experience (being poor), teaches you how to make the best with the few ingredients that you have.

[MikeLM]

They're both hotties.

I saw the chef-biography of Sandra Lee; according to it her show is one of the most-watched programs on FoodTV. Apparantly there are a lot of time-challenged housewives out there. It also described her charitable contributions and activities, which are very extensive. I can do without the tablescape stuff and in fact don't watch the program very often. I will switch to the PBS "Create" channel if they're cooking, or go to The Military Channel and watch things blow up.

Mike

[Rayjam]

I love Nigella. I wish she was on Food Network more often. She is very soothing, to watch.

[Ishbel]

I've got two or three of her books - but gave up after her 'Summer' TV series. Same old, same old.

It seems to me that her 'Express' book sounds like a riposte to Delia Smith's recent book/tv series using 'cheat' ingredients to speed up the cooking process ('cheat' is HER word, not mine!)

[KYHeirloomer]

Lawson is everything that's been described. She's a truly good looking woman, a self-described "home cook" (she has no formal training), at ease in the kitchen and with the ingredients she uses, and obviously comfortable with her role as cooking teacher. And she's pleasant to watch at work and to listen to. In short, a perfect host.

Nigella cooks the way most housewives do, using a mix of whole and convenience products, without making a big deal of either. Which is why so many millions can relate to her. As a friend described it, "she cooks in the real world."

However, I suspect the only reason she's a food network star is the first one. If she was flat chested and pimply faced we would never see her there, because that seems to be their sole criterium lately---good looking women with free-flowing chests. Talent is secondary---or even irrelevent.

[Rayjam]

She is a good looking woman, who cooks with grace and charm. In an age where sexy can get raunchy, she has my respct. She is proud to be a Mom!!! I admire her a great deal.

[jennyhicks]

She is a really talented cook and I am really disappointed that she has gone down the "express" route. Her cooking is amazingly tasty and quick anyway even when she cooks everything from stratch. Why has she had to result in cooking with shop bought convienence food? The food she is using is high in fat, salt and is over packaged.

[Norma]

I can't believe that with a cooking goddess at home, her husband is doing a nine-eggs-a-day diet.

Nigella's husband cracks obesity thanks to egg-only diet | Mail Online

[amazingrace]

She puts me to sleep. Literally!

[Headless Chicken]

Yes she is sexy and all but I've loved her shows from the start, how she presents and describes the food and the process. Rachel Ray though I thought appealing to the eye, I didn't like her shows and have never watched anywho.

I too was skeptical about her Express show, I have I think 3 of her book (with Baking like a Domestic Goddess being my first) especially after being bored watching her Summer show. I've only seen a few Express episodes and I'm kinda getting back into it. Yes looks do play a pivotal part in making TV but did Martha Steward or Julia Child have the same rack or hour glass figure? The talent still shows and its how that talent is projected. Though I can't say much for Nigella's knife skills, she can cook amazingly.