Finally cover the top of the cake with a double square of parchment paper with a 50p-size hole in the centre (this gives extra protection during the long slow cooking).

In 2010 she appeared in a five-episode series, Delia through the Decades, with each episode exploring a new decade of her cooking. [11] This year my life has been dominated by a book. Not a cookery book, I hasten to add but a reflection on what it means to be human*. Delia fulfilled a long-term dream in March 2001 to be directly in touch with her readers when Delia Online was launched. An archive of over 1400 recipes, Cookery School videos, how to guides, bakeware and equipment, ingredient information, a Q & A column and regular features on what is in season and where to find the very best products. Delia offers an evolving online archive of over 45 years’ work. Smith became a recognisable figure amongst young people in the 1970s and early 1980s when she was an occasional guest on the BBC's Saturday morning children's programme Multicoloured Swap Shop, giving basic cooking demonstrations.The day before you intend to bake the cake, measure out the brandy and port, into a large saucepan. In 1969 Smith was taken on as the cookery writer for the Daily Mirror's newly launched magazine. Their deputy editor was Michael Wynn-Jones, whom she later married. Her first piece featured kipper pâté, beef in beer and cheesecake. She baked the cake that was used on the cover of The Rolling Stones' album Let It Bleed. [9] In 1972 Smith started a column in the Evening Standard. She later defected to the rival Evening News, but she returned to the Standard when that newspaper bought out the News. She wrote for both for 12 years; later she wrote a column for the Radio Times until 1986. She gives lots of unusual ideas for all sorts of Christmas parties from fork buffets to drinks parties, including Roast Goose with Potato, Sage and Apple Stuffing. and Iced Christmas Pudding topped with glace fruits marinated in Madeira. Over 100 new recipes include 5 different kinds of Christmas cake and foolproof ways to ice them, a complete vegetarian Christmas including Cheese Terrine with Apricot Chutney, and recipes for Christmas gifts such as Chocolate Truffles.

I probably won't follow it quite so religiously next time, when I'll hopefully be feeling a bit more confident and willing to experiment, but I suspect it will still be a useful guide.Organisation is the key to success. If you follow Delia's Christmas calendar, you will be sure to create a very special Christmas. And even if you don't, there is always Delia's The Last-Minute Christmas - a chapter for those who leave things to the eleventh hour.

In 2008, Hodder & Stoughton brought out DELIA’S FRUGAL FOOD, a new, updated edition of her earlier FRUGAL FOOD. All income goes to CAFOD. If you want to make individual Christmas puddings for gifts, this quantity makes eight 175ml pudding basins. Steam for 3 hours, then resteam for 1 hour before serving. They look pretty wrapped in baking parchment and muslin and tied with attractive bows and tags. DELIA’S HOW TO CHEAT AT COOKING was published in Spring 2008 by Ebury Press and became the fastest selling title in Random House’s history. Six related programmes appeared on BBC2. Davies, Caroline (2 April 2016). "New faces on Sgt Pepper album cover for artist Peter Blake's 80th birthday". The Guardian.Delia's Happy Christmas will give you 150 recipes, including 100 new recipes and 50 much-loved classics, plus menu plans and shopping lists, illustrated with glorious full-colour photography. There are recipes for all your favourite traditional dishes - Delia's Classic Christmas Cake recipe has been in print for over 40 years and has never been bettered, but Delia has also created a Chestnut Cupcakes recipe to satisfy modern tastes. Of course there is Delia's foolproof recipe for a Traditional Roast Turkey and all the trimmings, and The Only Traditional Christmas Pudding as well as ideas for parties, boxing-day suppers, vegetarian feasts and what to do with leftovers.