As only bestselling author Nigella Lawson can, SIMPLY NIGELLA: Feel Good Food (Flatiron Books; November 2015) taps into the rhythms of our cooking lives, with recipes that are uncomplicated, relaxed, and always satisfying. Offering easy-to-prepare everyday meals and indulgent dishes for special occasions, the message is simple: great food with zest can be celebrated without stress.
“This book tells the broader story of how I live: how I feed my friends and family, the aesthetic pleasure I derive from food, and my belief that what and how we cook can make our lives easier, make us feel better and more alive,” says Nigella.
“Part of the balance of life lies in understanding that different days require different ways of eating…” Food—in the making and in the eating—should always be pleasurable.
Here is food to make everyone feel good. Containing 125 new recipes, Simply Nigella includes strength-giving “Beginnings”—breakfast and brunch recipes Nigella calls her “kitchen carpe diem”—including Breakfast Banana Bread with Cardamom and Cocoa Nibs. You’ll find “Quick & Calm” work-day suppers like Crunchy Chicken Cutlets, Miso Salmon, Shrimp and Avocado Lettuce Wraps, and Cauliflower and Cashew Nut Curry; tasty “Sides” like Criss-Cross Potatoes, Quick-Pickled Carrots, and Cucumber, Chili and Avocado Salad; a “Dine” chapter with offerings like Tamarind-Marinated Flank Steak; recipes that allow you to “Breathe” at the end of a long week, including Pork Buns, Malaysian Red-Cooked Chicken, Leek Pasta Bake, and Asian-Flavored Short Ribs; and the joy of “Bowlfood” for cozy nights on the sofa (Thai Noodles with Cinnamon and Shrimp, and Sweet Potato, Ginger and Orange Soup). There are stress-free recipes for entertaining a crowd like Sake-Sticky Chicken Drumsticks and an array of “Sweet” treats such as Lemon Pavlova and Dark and Sumptuous Chocolate Cake, plus fabulous dairy-free and gluten-free recipes.