I’ve always loved Delia Smith; she used to feel rather like a benevolent big sister, and since time began, she hasn’t lied to me and promised that something I create from her recipe is going to be a stupendous thing that can do no wrong, as have some of her younger – and arguably, less likely to enjoy such TV longevity – rivals.

She’s never tried to get me to make something with an enormous French name for which I have to scour the Western hemisphere for the one main ingredient either. She just shows a body how to make a decent shepherd’s pie and a palatable pudding for afters.

And though her series a while back about cheating was greeted with horror by some TV critics, I nearly cried, I was so relieved. She made it ok for me to admit to giving my family stuff that’s pre-prepared and from the freezer. It felt like being let out of prison to me. Read more & comment »

For the first time since 1990, Delia Smith is back on our screens this Christmas. In this 60-minute special she will unveil a celebration feast packed with indulgent, scrumptious recipes.

Delia is a firm believer that the festive period of cooking and feasting should be cherished, not feared. But, in a season which can be fraught with panic, Delia is here to allay people’s worries. She’ll steer them through the minefield of timings and planning in the hectic weeks ahead; the key, of course, being to prepare as much as possible in advance … and take time to make sure you enjoy yourself.

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TV’s celebrity chefs have been very busy this year bringing out lots of books, but which of them might find their way into your Christmas stocking this year?

Well, we’ve had a look at various book retailer websites and found that most have a different top ten, but Jamie Oliver’s new book is at the top of the list for the majority of them.

So let’s take a look at our choice of the top ten of celeb chef cookbooks. Follow the links for more information.

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Celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsay, has blasted fellow chef Delia Smith, for her use of pre packaged food in a recent TV show and cookery book.

Speaking to the BBC, Ramsay said:

“I would expect students struggling on £15 a week to survive eating from a can but the nation’s favourite, all-time icon reducing us down to using frozen, canned food. It’s an insult,” he remarked.

Ramsay also hit out at restaurants who serve up food out of season and fail to use local produce. Read more & comment »

Delia Smith new ‘cheat’ cookery book has been slammed by experts for featuring recipes which contain too much salt.

In ‘How To Cheat At Cooking’ Delia recommends various processed and ready made foods for use in her recipes however Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) said a single serving of one of the recipes, carbonara real quick, contained more than a whole day’s salt.

Delia’s publisher said the cookery writer “absolutely supported” people keeping check on how much salt they ate.
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Raymond Blanc, celebrity chef and star of BBC’s The Restaurant has slammed fellow chef, Delia Smith and accused her of “betraying” her home cookery values.

The French chef told the Daily Express: “Suddenly the great lady who helped us all to connect with our food has published a book which undermines her credibility.

“Just at the point where people were beginning to connect with their food and become aware of the joys of seasonal food, she suddenly gives us the opposite message and that’s sad.”

Delia started last night on BBC 2. Did you see it? What did you think?

It’s been six years, but Delia Smith is back on our screens with a new series. This time she breaks a few of the rules she herself created to explore a new way of cooking which tackles, head on, one of the realities of 21st-century cooking – ready-made ingredients.

Tonight’s episode puts the humble potato under the spotlight. Forget peeling and scrubbing – frozen mash can do the hard work for much-loved favourites such as shepherd’s pie and fish pie, plus a chilled summer soup. Frozen rosti are used in an easy-to-make loaf of bread. And a more adventurous Peruvian dish, Patatas Arequipo, is made with oven-ready potato wedges.

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In a recent interview with The Radio Times magazine, queen of the kitchen, Delia Smith spilt the beans on what she realy thinks of her fellow celebrity chefs.

She revealed that she doesn’t entirely approve of Gordon Brown’s frequent bad language, saying “That’s not teaching. I like him when he does his recipes, but I’m not keen on his swearing.”

But Smith had only good things to say about Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver:

“Jamie is brilliant and has done more than anyone. I enjoy Nigella – she has such a passion for food. Read more & comment »

Delia Smith’s newest cookery book looks set to outsell her rival celebrity chefs, Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver, according to the Daily Star.

The book titled Delia’s How to Cheat at Cooking has received more pre release sales on Amazon.co.uk than both Nigella Express and Jamie at Home and is said to be flying off the shelves of Asda, WH Smith and other major retailers.

An Asda spokesman said: “Delia’s accessible and realistic approach is a recipe for success. So much so we are confident that it will put Jamie Oliver sales on the backburner.”

The first lady of on screen cooking, Delia Smith has spoke out against Celebrity chefs and their arrogant attitudes in an interview with the Daily Mail.

Smith made a sly dig at kitchen based reality TV shows saying:

“I do not think I am a great cook. I get satisfaction if people can watch something on TV or pick up a book and say ‘I can do that’, she said.

“You have all these programmes with amateurs cooking and the chefs looking down their noses saying, ‘No dear, that isn’t good enough’.

” People are watching saying, ‘I’m not good enough either.’

“Cooking should not be exclusive or ‘cheffy’. It’s about sitting down around the table and having a nice meal.

“I think it is great to have lots of cooking on TV, enabling people to learn about different food and ingredients. But what I do not like is amateurs being made to feel like they are being ridiculed,” said added. Read more & comment »

Kitchen goddess, Delia Smith will be returning to our TV screens early in the New Year. Delia was last seen in BBC TV series ‘How To Cook’ in 2002, but at that point announced that she wouldn’t be making anymore TV shows.

Thankfully she appears to have had a change of heart and will be filming a new series for BBC Two, which will give viewers a closer look into her home life. Delia’s new recipes will use ready-made products and Delia will be showing budding cooks how to keep it quick and easy in the kitchen.