Love Delia Smith

We love Delia's Haggis Pie, which is in her Christmas book. We don't just have it on New Year's Eve either. Another sure-fire success is her twice-baked cheese souffles which are foolproof and delicious and her Moussaka (from her Cookery Course) which is perfect.

Yes, the thing about Delia's recipes is that they work.

I have made a few of the Hairy Bikers' recipes and they're good; better than Nigella's or Jamie's

If you follow them exactly, her recipes always turn out well. Which is more than you can say for some other writers/cookery books.

A special one of hers I’ve used on and off for years is this - a bit of a faff but worth it. However I don’t recommend making it for 16 people - as a dd and I once did when staying at a BiL’s place in France! A faff too far, but it went down very well.

It’s vegetarian too, not that I ever made it for that reason - just because it’s nice.

I make Delia’s Creole Christmas cake every year. I throw in whatever booze I happen to have, so it’s different every time, but it always goes down well. We all like the last-minute, light Christmas puddings as well, and her traditional bread sauce. Outside of Christmas, the Eliza Acton rice pudding recipe is probably my favourite.

We have a Delia Christmas dinner every year! Totally reliable and tasty.

I have made her Christmas cake and Christmas pudding for years. I also make her beef bourguignon recipe too and all in one roux sauce. Probably several others but I’m still in bed and can’t remember!

Delia's Parmesan Parsnips are a family must every Christmas.
I did once make her oven-baked rissotto with butternut squash which I enjoyed very much, and no standing stirring!

I do remember her early programmes with great affection, I think they were my cookery building blocks following on from the basics I'd acquired at school. I bought all her books to accompany whatever series she was doing so as well as the Complete Cookery course first ones, I have various Christmas/Winter and Summer books. I think my stand out memory of using one particular recipe from one of those books, would be her incredibly rich Chocolate Torte which never failed me and would be the pudding I'd serve at dinner parties, when we gave those a long time ago. I remember having to go searching for something called liquid glucose which I'd never heard of before.

Smoked bacon and lentil soup, haven’t made it for ages.

We used to have Swiss Baked eggs a lot Minimoon so thank you for reminding me.

My favourite recipe is the all in one sponge - I use it all the time. The redcurrant, orange and mint sauce is fabulous too.

I find Delia recipes a bit too precise for my style of cooking. I like Nigel Slater and Nigella better.

The thing I like about her recipes is that if you follow them properly they are successful. I still like recipe books although I know you can look up so much on line but the books do not require you to make a list of ingredients or keep refreshing the screen!

Delia S Smiths Complete Cookery Course.
Ive had it for years and still turn to it regularly.

My only Delia book is the complete cookery course, as a newly wed it was my bible.
My mother was a grim cook and took no pleasure in feeding us, Delia gave me the confidence to cook, food is now my passion, I have a lot to thank Delia for.

I don't think I have a favourite, but I came across one recipe when looking for something to make for my tea with what I had in the fridge. Swiss Baked Eggs. I can recommend them, very tasty.
www.deliaonline.com/recipes/meals-and-courses/lunch-and-snacks/swiss-baked-eggs

That sounds nice-which book is it on? I have most of them and you can tell which ones I use most- greasy, stained, pages falling out!