Nigella Lawson ~ Book Signing

 The Book: A big, compendious, comfortable, informative and utterly engaging book, Kitchen brings us feel-good food for cooks and eaters, whether Express-style and exotic-easy during the week, or leisurely and luxuriating (in the spirit of How to be a Domestic Goddess and Feast) at weekends or for occasions. Divided into two parts -- Kitchen Quandaries and Kitchen Comforts -- Nigella gives us the wherewithal to tackle any situation and satisfy all nourishment needs. But real cooking is often about leftovers, too, so here one recipe can lead to another… from ham hocks to pea soup and pasties, from chicken to Chinatown salad. This isn’t just about being thrifty but about demonstrating how recipes come about, and giving new inspiration for last-minute meals and souped-up store cupboard suppers. As well as offering the reader a mouthwatering array of new recipes, both comforting and exciting – from clams with chorizo to Guinness gingerbread, from Asian braised beef to flourless chocolate lime cake, from Pasta alla Genovese to Venetian carrot cake – Nigella rounds up her kitchen kit must-haves (telling us, too, what equipment we don’t need) and highlights individual ingredients – both basic essentials and modern-day life-savers. But above all, she reminds the reader how much pleasure there is to be had in real food, and in reclaiming the traditional rhythms of the kitchen, as she cooks to the beat of the heart of the home, creating simple recipes to make life less complicated.

About the Author: Nigella Lawson is the author of bestselling books - How to Eat ('may just be the best cookery book ever' Daily Telegraph), How to be a Domestic Goddess (British Book Awards 2001), Nigella Bites (WHSmith Award 2002) Forever Summer ('images of warmth and Mediterranean climes' Time Out), Feast, ('a voluptuous and delicious piece of food writing' Guardian), Nigella Express (no. 1 bestseller with over 1 million sales) and Nigella Christmas ('everything to make your Christmas sparkle' Independent) - which, together with her successful TV series and her recent iPhone App, Nigella Quick Collection, have made hers a household name around the world. She lives in London with her family.

To Lisa, a peanut-butter lover, Love, Nigella

Tuesday 23rd of November at WH Smith in Reading town centre Nigella Lawson was signing copies of her new book Kitchen. I was second in line to get the TV chef's signature!

I have only recently been introduced to Nigella by watching her re-runs of Nigella Bites on the Good Food Channel. So, when I saw she had a new book out I wanted it....also because there was a recipe for peanut butter cheesecake. Yes, I really am a peanut butter lover! I held off buying it and thought I'd ask for it for Christmas, but then when in town with my friend Lauren I saw the sign posted in WH Smith's window announcing her arrival the following week. Well, I had to be there!

Nigella turning off her phone. I was second in line!!

When I arrived I was the first one there! I was like um.....I don't know where to line up, but I didn't have to wait very long before a very nice girl came up and asked me if I was in line and I was like well, sorta? So, we waited and talked and in the end exchanged email addresses! Then before Nigella was due to arrive a WH Smith employee handed us pencils and post it notes and told us to write what we wanted her to write. I had been thinking about this for a while but still wasn't sure what I wanted her to write. I thought you know it's peanut butter that drew me to her and the fact that so far most of the British people I've met do not like peanut butter and she does it has to be about peanut butter! So, it was!

Looking back after I had my book signed...the body guard with the blue tie thought my daughter was really cute! :0)

I then walked up to her and it was at this point that daughter, 9 months, decided she wanted to cry a little and my 3 year old decided to walk around in circles which she does when she's really bored...like a caged animal in the zoo that is going crazy. So, I said a few things about peanut butter and then moved on! I didn't even stop to get a picture I should have.....ah well it was still fun and I'm glad I went...I'm now addicted and have been looking for more local book signings!! ;0)

I've only begun to read the book as I am in the middle of another book. But what I've read I am excited about and hope to use a recipe or too soon! Catch the show that accompanies the book on Thursday nights at 8 on the BBC2!! :0)