Nigella bites

I'm getting a tad pissed off with Nigella. Too many recipes recently have had problems. I think I mentioned that the muffin recipes in How to be a Domestic Goddess invariably make less than they say they will. In addition, the banana muffin recipe makes horrible tasting muffins - tough and tasteless. I tried them this morning and they were nasty. I think it may be the lack of egg. I've been googling for all I'm worth and I have yet to find a non-egg containing muffin recipe, even if it specifies egg whites or egg substitute. I have made these before but I think I must have added an egg without thinking as they were quite edible, if not actually delicious.

So the first batch went in the bin, and after extensive googling I found a recipe that had been rated highly by others, and was incredibly simple, so I decided to go for it. They are delicious. Lovely and crispy on the outside, warm and lightly chewy and banana-y on the inside. H. is very happy.

It's a beautiful day but I need to work. H. is not happy about that but is taking it well. But as usual I'm finding it hard to get going. Once I've posted this I have no more excuses as H. has now settled down to a long afternoon of watching live Moto GP. He rides bikes whenever he can, and loves to dream that he is Valentino Rossi. I think Valentino Rossi is cute, but looks a bit babyish. I'd rather have H.

Comments

[Julianna]

I love Nigella but I've never tried any of her recipes. I just think she looks fab so I enjoy watching her. No, I'm not gay.

[MsPrufrock]

Congrats to you for actually baking. I have a crap job that requires no effort outside work hours, yet I still don't bake. I have a nice mixer, but that's about as far as it goes.

[Kinneret]

OK, here is the best and most completely fattening and chocolately cookie recipe you will *ever* love. Assuming you love chocolate as I do. It is not for the dietetically (sp?) inclined. It is also easily double-able and I recommend doing that because they go fast. I lurrrve these cookies.

Chocolate Truffle Cookies

Ingredients:

4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped.
6 Tbl unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2c. semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks (chunks are better)
1/2 c. all purpose flour
2 Tbl unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch processed)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1c sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Melt unsweetened choc, butter and 1c of semisweet choc chips in heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, and cool.

Mix together flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Beat together sugar, eggs and vanilla until pale and frothy. Mix (slowly)in melted chocolate til blended, then flour mixture slowly until well combined. Add in remaining chips and stir. Cover and chill for 2 hours until firm.

Preheat oven to 350F. Roll heaping tsps of dough with damp hands into 1 inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in batches in middle of oven until puffy - about 10 minutes - the cookies will be soft in the centre. Transfer to racks to cool.

Let me know if you try them and like em. Or not :)

[Orodemniades]

I've used vinegar as an egg substitute for pancakes, and they came out fine. Love Nigella too, although I don't have any of her books.

[Jen]

I adore Nigella, too (I have more than a little girl-crush on her, I must admit). But no eggs in your muffins? That's crazy! I made some banana oatmeal muffins last night (from Cooking Light) that were quite good--e-mail me if you'd like the recipe...also have a great, highly indulgent banana-chocolate-chip muffin recipe. Mmm....muffins...

[Jamie]

If you get soya flour from the health food store, you can replace an egg with a heaping tablespoon of that plus a tablespoon of water. It doesn't work well in recipes without added fat, but it works fine most of the time.