Delia's New Show

[Oola]

Has anyone seen Delia's new cooking programme? I have to say, I'm pretty unimpressed. I'm sure she thinks she's doing people a favour by using oven food and manufactured food (ie processed rostis, etc.) as shortcuts, but I don't like it at all. I think it's just encouraging laziness and using crappy processed food rather than fresher, healthy ingredients.

Sorry Delia, it's a Miss from me.

[Healing Hands]

I have to agree with you Oola I do not know what Delia is thinking about "Cheat's Cooking". I could not believe that she made a shephards pie out of tin meat, now you tell me where is the goodness in that?

Yes I can understand people these days look for quick ways to cook but there are other ways by using fresh food.

My step-sister who is very lazy at cooking has a new man and he likes his food, well she has been able to get away with it in the past by using M&S food but this chap likes good home cooking, well my mother brought her the Delia book as a joke and apparently she thinks it is the best book she has ever had! (how sad), so I suppose with people like my step-sister who does not like cooking I suppose this is the answer to quick cooking.

I also feel that Delia is un-doing all the good with organic and buying local produce with this new book and programme.

sorry Delia me too this is a "miss"

[Oola]

I'm glad it's not just me, I thought I was being a bit of a snob! But you're right, it does seem to be undermining all the 'progress' that has been made by the likes of Jamie Oliver and James Martin, who cook using ingredients from their own gardens.

Mum used to do a sort of lazy cooking when we were kids and she was horribly busy - she'd home cook a big batch of something and then freeze it in portion sizes for later. You still got your homecooked food from fresh ingredients of sorts. Delia's just encouraging people to buy crap and dress it up as something else.

[Crocus]

Of course here in S.A. we haven't seen this programme, but we've seen a lot of her other cooking programmes and like this lady quite a lot. By what I read now on this thread is so not her! It kind of overrides her previous programmes isn't?

[Healing Hands]

I am sure it is not for money that she has done this programme and written the book or is it to sub her football team!

[jazzactivist]

I was totally unimpressed with this 'cookery' programme too. I can't imagine why Delia has chosen to undo all the hard work of others, and her own credibility, by making what looks like horrible food by today's standards, made out of pointless ingredients. What were those frozen mashed potato discs? Yuck!

I can only imagine that the programme, and Delia's considerable fee, is being paid by the companies that manufacture that pre-packaged frozen gloop, so her endorsement is worth a lot to them. I have never been a big fan of Delia as she is usually too boring for me, but I think that she should stop this style of cooking before she does her reputation a lot of damage. Turkey twizzlers with frozen Smash topping and a side order of tinned processed peas anyone?

[Crocus]

No thanks Jazz, I'll pass on that! It's so not her! As you've said, it may be that companies that manuracture these stuff are paying her to do this programme. Must pay her very well too for her to override her reputation I think?

[dinger]

I agree with all the above and think Delia has totally let herself down on this one.

[fife]

Like all your comments not at all impressed i really do feel that she has made a mockery of herself if you look back on her other cookery books you knew that when you started a delia recipe it was going to be time consuming. I think she has tried to do a nigella who recently bought out her qiuck recipe book which i have and it is good, nigella does not compromise on good fresh ingrediants just short cuts to get it to the table quickly.

Did you see delia's cheat on risotto from a packet all the great chefs tell you how you cannot buy a good risotto.

[Crocus]

PPerhaps she has run out of original Delia ideas!

[magic cochin]

I agree Nigella Express wins hands down over Cheating Delia!

Delia's new show made me cringe (I'm not a Delia fan but occasionally use recipes from her web site, usually reducing the cream, butter, sugar content!!). I'm still confused as to exactly who it's aimed at. I suppose some of the cheat's ingredients might be a good cupboard standby for the day when you've got home late because the trains/airport/roads were a nightmare or a family crisis meant you'd spent the day in A&E and all the shops are shut. - I'm clutching at straws trying to justify it - it's lost on me!

C

[Oola]

but surely beans on toast is a much healthier and tasty alternative to some of the stodge she's been cooking up.

nigella express just deep fries everything! ;)

[jazzactivist]

I am also puzzled about who the Delia programme is aimed at, as all that rooting around in the freezer for prepackaged this and that and then cutting open the bags and arranging it all just so, then cooking it conventionally etc. takes more time than throwing together a quick stir fry with fresh ingredients, or making healthy beans on toast!

[Healing Hands]

I have Nigella's Express book also fife and find it very good, she at least uses fresh ingredants.

I have never brought any of delia's book as I find her cooking a little on the boring side, but she is a good cook know doubt about that but this one has really let her down. Sorry Delia NO go on this one! If she has run out of idea's maybe she should retire with Fanny Craddock!

[sunflower]

Do you think she might be suffering from pre menopausal syndrome? A feeling that she's got to rebel!!! go against the grain...just for the fun of it?!!!!