This is my review of Not Quite Nigella, a book by blogger Lorraine Elliot.
I am so glad that life conspired to make Lorraine a full time blogger and that I stumbled upon her blog one day. When Lorraine’s book about her path to happiness through baking and blogging was published I asked my sister who lives in Sydney if she would get it for me for my birthday. Lorraine sent Kerry a signed copy and this was brought back to South Africa by my mom #luckyme. Hopefully one day I will get to Sydney to meet Lorraine.
This book is more than a recipe book, it is an extension of the blog and by reading it, I know where Lorraine started in her blogging life and how she got to be a full time blogger. She shares story’s we have not read on her blog as well as some amazing recipes. I did not know you could keep a master stock and I was quite upset on one hand to read I could, but so excited on the other hand that I could make Lorraine’s Kevin (page 130/131). Her recipe for master stock will appear on the blog in some future post, but in the meantime I want you all to know that it has such a great depth of flavour and I cannot wait to use it again. I used it for the first time to poach some hake in.
Lorraine has the most amazing writing style and shares so many things about her life. I have never once questioned the names she uses on her blog for her family members so I was quite surprised to see their real names in her list of gratitude at the end of the book. I am not sure if you can get a hard copy where you live but if you can, I suggest you rush right out and buy yourself one! If you cannot find a hard copy then download the eBook here.
The book contains 22 recipes, all of which I would like to try and also tips on how to blog, and how not to blog. These are worth reading, no matter what stage you are in your blogging career, whether it is right at the beginning or like me, over 4 years in.
What I blogged:
- two years ago – Croissant And Blueberry Pudding
- four years ago – Pear and Almond Tart
What a lovely post about Lorraine – I love her blog and almost can’t do anything until I have read it each morning – thankfully I usually get about 9am each day. I am now off to buy her book – have been tossing up for months and now you have convinced me – thanks Tandy.
I hope that you enjoy the book as much as I did Rachel 🙂
That master stock sounds like a great idea, I had never considered it. I guess it’s like a starter dough in a way? Look forward to reading that post
It is easier than a starter as it needs no feeding!
Hi….Reading Lorraine’s blog each morning is so enjoyable. I love it and her recipes, and hearing about her family. I too live in Sydney and so through Lorraine (with no calories) I get to sample lots of new restaurants.
She has a great writing style and recently I went to Vietnam (on a food tour) so read her blogs on when she visited her.
Some of her recipes are ones I return to day after day.
It is great to have a foodie blogging ‘friend’!!
How amazing that you went to Vietnam! That is something I would love to do 🙂
Vaguely remember someone mentioning Not Quite Nigella but I haven’t checked out her blog yet. Thanks for spreading the word xx
I hope you enjoy reading her blog as much as I do 🙂
Love these stories! Brave girl.
Good for you, you got the book…
ela h.
I was very lucky 🙂
Aww shucks thank you so much Tandy! You are too kind and I hope that one day we will actually get to meet. You never know about these things! And NQK is looking very good! 😀 xxx
I am sure that one day we will be able to sit down and have a good chat! I shall bring the wine 🙂
Lorraine is my blogging hero. I shall get on purchasing her book asap. Like you, I totally love the way she shares her personal life amongst the recipes, reviews and adventures, it’s nice to feel you ‘know’ someone. 🙂 I’m grateful NQN came into my world all those years ago too.
I am sure Lorraine will be so happy to read this!
That is such a cool, unique name for a blog! I always enjoy reading how big time bloggers started out. Very inspiring!
Lorraine is so inspiring Mel 🙂
A wonderful book written by one of my favourite people! Lovely review, Tandy! xx
One day, the three of us will sit down for a good chat!
I absolutely love Lorraine’s blog a lot! She was & is my blog Hero! She was there in the very beginning of my blog, she rocks! Xx
This special dark stock looks good & her book must be something very special, like a big jewel!.
You should download her book Sophie as I am sure you will love it 🙂