fully loaded goodness

I know I mentioned this before but Nigella really does rock the delicious-but-not-so-good-for you category of food. Years ago J used to make a loaded potato skins recipe and they were delicious, but that recipe has nothing on Nigella's fully loaded potato skins. It even elicited a compliment from my Dad.

These skins are a bit fussy but well worth the effort. After roasting them for an hour you scoop out the delicious potato centre and mix it with sour cream, cheese, spring onions, salt and pepper and they key ingredient Worcestershire sauce. The final element is crumbly bacon. I had to keep getting new spoons as I kept eating the filling each time I filled a potato skin. Delicious...I think I may have used that word at least 4 times in this post.

What I have been enjoying about Nigella Christmas and Simple Chinese Cooking is that these books are not only beautiful and big but they also offer helpful tips to make your cooking experience easier. This is especially important during the holiday season when I depend on food items that are make aheads. A++ I wish I had saved some filling so I could eat it now as I write.

cheesy macaroni and cheese

I can always count on Nigella for something yummy and indulgent. I was instantly drawn to her Macaroni Cheese De Luxe. I was raised on Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and have found that there was something comforting about the florescent orange tone of the powder cheese and noodles. Nigella offered a make ahead option which I gladly took so that I wouldn't be rushed on the day of the party.

As I strolled through the supermarket there were 3 cheeses the recipe requested. I spent a good portion in the cheese section deciding on what cheeses to use (sharp cheddar, emmental and parmesan). I bought shredded parmesan (I can't handle the smell of parmesan, childhood trauma). Be warned this recipe makes two huge trays. I split it in 2 for 2 separate parties and froze them. What came out was exactly what I expect from Nigella: yummy, warm, indulgent cheesy goodness. It looked as good as it tasted.

Later that night after the kitchen was clean and I was tucked in bed I imagined sneaking down into the kitchen late at night to grab a bite of this decadent treat just like Nigella. Lucky for my waistline I was too exhausted to get out of bed. A+