内容简介
Theodoraisthematriarchofafamilythathasgrownintoabunchoftruculentknuckleheads.Whileshe'sfinallygottenthemalltogetherinSouthCarolinatocelebrate,thisChristmaslooksnothingliketheextravagant,homeyholidaysofherchildhood.WhathappenedtothedayswhenChristmasmeanttablesgroaningwithhome-cookedgoodies,over-the-topdecorations,andlongchatsinfrontofthefirewithPearl,hergrandmother'sbelovedhousekeeperandclosestconfidante?LuckilyforTheodora,aspecialsomeonewhoheardherpleaforhelparrives,withpocketsfullofenoughGullahmagicandcommonsensetomakeTheodora'sChristmasthelove-filledmiracleit'smeanttobe.
作者简介
NigellaLawsonWithherpassionateapproachtofood--bothpreparingandeatingit--andrugged,richrecipes,BritishgourmetgoddessNigellaLawsonhasgivenakicktoAmericankitchenswithherpopulartelevisionshow,NigellaBites,andherseriesofquirkycookbooks.BiographyNigellaLawsonisperhapsthemostmarketableTVchefyet:She'smodel-gorgeousbutnotskinny,reverentwithoutbeingceremonious,amomwithsomepersonaltragedyinherpast,andawomanwhotakesobviouspleasureinherownrecipes.Menlikeherbecauseshe'seasyontheeyes;womenidentifywithherpragmatismandlackofpretension.Lawson,whoisthefirsttopointoutthatsheisnotaprofessionalchef,favorsthehands-onapproachtofood,literally--ifthere'sapointwhereplungingone'shandsinthedishwillworkjustaswellasanythingelseinthepreparing,she'snotgoingtogetfood-safetyishaboutit.Hertacticsarenotjustaboutease.Shewantspeopletoappreciatefood'ssensualandpleasure-givingqualitiesmorethantoachieveculinarygreatness.Herstatedmotto:"Toachievemaximumpleasurethroughminimumeffort."Hercarefreedemeanorcomesthroughmostinhershow,whereshecanbeseensnackingandfinger-lickingherwaythrougharecipe.Here'sapertinentcitationfromHowtoBeaDomesticGoddess:"Perhapsthegreatestjoyofpastry-makingisthatit'smud-pietime;yougetfloury,sticky,whollyinvolved.Idon'tmeanbythisthatyoushouldn'tuseanyequipment....Butyoustillneedtouseyourhandsforthatlastcrucialcombining,therolling,anddrapingintothepan,andthepiecingtogetherofyourpie.Justdoit."AndwhileLawsonisn'texactlytoppingherBBCpredecessorsTwoFatLadiesonbutterandlardconsumption,saveforasinglechapterinHowtoEat,shedoesgenerallyignorecaloriecounts,low-fatsubstitutions,andotherconcessionstothefitnessestablishment.IfthisphilosophymeansventuringforthonhambakedinCoca-Cola,lambshankstew,orchocolatefudgecake,thensobeit."Ifit'ssomethingIdon'twanttocarryoneatingonceI'mfull,thenIdon'twanttherecipe,"thefamouslyvoluptuousLawsonsaidinaGuardianinterviewin2000."I'mquiteruthless.IhavetofeelthatIwanttocookthethingagain,andmorethanonce.IneedtofeelthatIhavetostopmyselffromcookingitallthetime."ThetableofcontentsofNigellaBites--namedfortheBBC-TV/StyleNetworkshowshefilmsatherWestLondonhome--showsthatLawsonismoreconcernedwiththeeverydaythanwithstunningpartiesanddinners.Categoriesinthebookinclude"TVDinners,""Trashy,"and"FamilyFood."Sheisnotadministeringadvicethatisgoingtokeepyourunningtospecialtystoresortrappedinyourkitchen.Shedoesnotturnuphernoseatfrozenpeasorotherstore-boughtingredients.Shealsoacknowledgesthatmistakescanbemadeandtellsyouhowtofixthem(evenifthatjustmeansthrowingthewholethingout).Forthosewhojustwanttomakesomethingdeliciouswithoutalotoffuss,Lawson'skamikazeapproachisrefreshingandshouldkeepherinourkitchensforquitesometime.GoodToKnowLawsonisthedaughterofNigelLawson,whoservedasMargaretThatcher'schancelloroftheExchequer.Lawson'shusband,journalistJohnDiamond,passedawayin2001afterthecouplehadbeenmarriednearlytenyears.Theyhavetwochildren,CosimaandBruno.In2002,LawsonbecamelinkedwithDiamond'sfriend,advertisingtycoonCharlesSaatchi.LawsonbeganhercareerwritingtherestaurantreviewcolumnforBritain'sTheSpectator.ShehasalsobeenfoodeditorofBritishVogueandhadamakeupcolumnfortheU.K.'sTimesmagazine.SheisalsoastapleonABC'sGoodMorningAmerica.Hometown:London,EnglandDateofBirth:一月6,1960PlaceofBirth:London,EnglandEducation:DegreeinModernandMedievalLanguages,OxfordUniversity,1979Website:http://www.stylenetwork.com/Shows/Nigella/
