Hi this is ME...on Thursday, 2nd January, 2014 - on Cookery Books...

I've just been given two cookery books, to add to my collection, which is excellent.  They're not new books, as such, but new to me and, in between brisk bouts of tidying up yesterday, with a cup of coffee to hand, I trawled through the pages of both books, becoming delighted with the recipes, the presentation and the glorious photographs.

Photographs are totally not to be under-estimated for the weight of conviction the bring to publications of all kinds, families of foods, types, national and international, historic, modernistic, contemporary. They stimulate interest, inspire research and experimentation and colour our imagination with feasts for all occasions.

They're instant, confirmatory and hard copy we can physically hold on to; keep in our wallets, handbags or even use as book markers.  Kept in a scrap book, they're a wonderful reminder of past feasts and feasts yet to be imagined and enjoyed.

Just think of all those glorious cookery books, absolutely stuffed to bursting, with beautiful colour photo's of various kinds and types of foods; indeed the whole range of food stuff is there for you to enjoy and remember, you eat with your eyes before ever a morsel touches your lips.

I've owned books by this cook-author before and loved the presentation, sophistication and unique blend of food, fun and fulsome glamour.  I can't wait to try her recipe for cabbage and Nigella seeds, although I might substitute cumin seeds, as suggested, as my kitchen, currently, does not possess these.  How shocking you might well say, however, Amazon is very able to supple such things, so all is not lost!

Yes, of course, I'm talking about two of Nigella Lawson's books - "Nigella Express" and "Nigella Bites".   One of her books previously kept on my book shelves, was her Christmas book, containing a gingerbread recipe which, I must admit, did not come up to expectation but, such things do happen from time to time, and the lack of success could have come about thru' a variety of reasons.  Actually, it was quite funny, when we tried to slice up the gingerbread, and it wouldn't!  It just happens.

I could tell you about a cheesecake, whose creamy top, slid off as I tried to carry it to the table, of wholesome food, the flavour of which sent my family running from the table and of a Christmas cake's royal icing which had to be chipped away, all because somebody had not added any glycerine to the mix.

It just happens, little food mishaps, which bring a touch of humour to the proceedings.

I'm looking forward to trying out the recipes contained within.....

I will let you know how I get on.........

Daisy