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How to Cheat

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We anticipate that many of you will want to comment on the recipes in Delia's new book, share your 'cheat' finds and discuss alternatives if you can't get the exact product Delia recommends. Click on the link below to go to the special cheat's page on the site, with product updates, recipes etc.

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To find out about stockists for Delia's cheat ingredients or where to buy the gadgets shown in the programme, click here

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By Helen
sicilian sausages with tomatoes and fennel  (2 Replies)
Sunday 11 May 20:52

Made this for my very special friend. It was voted absolutely delicious. I have not bought these sausages before and they are just so tasty. For desert we had the creme caraqmel cheats version. All a big success and very easy. I shall definitely be buying the sicilian sausages from sainsburys regularly.

By Biggles
Got my HTC book, YAY  (2 Replies)
Sunday 11 May 12:42

Been horrendously busy of late but the book turned up last week with my lovely brother. I really like the cover and I know I'm going to adore reading and making many of the recipes I saw on the programme. Have vegetarian, but fish eating, friend turning up on Wednesday and I shall be using some of Delia's fish recipes. Biggs

By Jools
Wild Salmon fishcakes  (2 Replies)
Friday 09 May 18:15

Made these yesterday as had friends coming round
What a cheap but stunning dish -tin of salmon only cost 80p. Left out capers cos son would object but it still tasted wonderful
Definately making these again - my friend was very impressed and even had seconds (oh had fourhs!!!)
Also the Watercress mayonnaise that goes with it is to DIE for -one of the most delicious i have ever tried -will be making that again. Had some leftovers so put it in a tuna sandwich for my lunch
Jools

By chesca
FAO Sam  (4 Replies)
Friday 09 May 16:51

Hi Sam re May 3 cheats pork recipe did you increase the amount of chirizo sausage as well? chesca

By cupcake
bonfire rub  (10 Replies)
Wednesday 07 May 23:12

Has anyone been able to locate this? Its supposed to be in Asda but I am yet to find it in mine. Its a shame as they have the steaks and I'd really like to try this one.

By Yummy
American Coconut Cream Pie  (2 Replies)
Wednesday 07 May 13:16

Just in the process of making this, with slight variations as I can't get the Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut so I have made it with a tin of Thai Creamed Coconut and added 3 TBSP of white sugar to the cornflour and lime juice. Can't get double cream so used Creme Fraiche and used a ready rolled pastry which I had to cook blind before hand. The mix and the cream is in the fridge as I type and ready to fill the pastry case. Will let you know how it turns out, friends round tonight, weather is glorious and hubby doing a BBQ so though it would be an ideal dessert.
Yummy

By Jo Hill, Editor
Delia's cheat book now on sale in Australia!  
Wednesday 07 May 09:04

To tie in with Australian Mother's Day, Delia's How to Cheat at Cooking has just been published there and is selling well! Thought our Aussie friends might like to know this, if they don't already.

By oscarthegrouch
Patas Bravas  
Tuesday 06 May 09:30

After eating this at a tapas place last Friday, I decided to recreate it and found that Delia had it in her How to Cheat.
Instead of the McCaim's crispy potato bites, I made my own by parboling potato cubes then tossing them in olive oil and blacl pepper and baking it in the oven for 25-30 mins.
The dip was superb and will definitely be making this again!

By Broomstick
Sea bass and pesto  (4 Replies)
Monday 05 May 18:55

Tried this as it appealed to me. Overall makes a strong tasting dish, which appeals to me as I like gutsy flavours. However, the topping - to my mind - completely killed the taste of the fish. I think it's a case of think tasty dish but don't think seabass!

By jeni_hope
The chocolate cake fell apart  (8 Replies)
Monday 05 May 18:48

Just made it for son's birthday tomorrow - mixture in 2 x 8 inch silicon sandwich cases and left until cold. As I took one cake out of the 'tin' it cracked across the middle, I thought that the icing would stick it together, but quite the opposite. As I piled the icing on top the cake broke into 3 parts that slowly slid apart, and now it looks like the scene of an earthquake. We haven't tasted it yet and fortunately son is so chuffed that I made him a cake he doesn't mind a bit what it looks like. Did anyone else find the cakes fragile or was I too heavy handed ?

By Helen
greek lamb from how to cheat  (6 Replies)
Monday 05 May 17:59

This has to be the easiest and tastiest meal ever.
All ages seem to like it at the family get together we did yesterday. I doubled the mixture and it worked fine. The easiest sunday dinner, i have ever done but so flavoursome. Still cant believe there are only 4 ingredients!!

By ClairW
Stodgy chicken masala  
Sunday 04 May 14:48

Made this last night (admittedly in a bit of a rush) but found it a little stodgy. Has anyone else had this problem? And do you think I could add more creme fraiche than the recipe recommends to create more liquid? The overall flavour was lovely (agree with Rob in earlier thread though that it was too spicy for us and will add less spice next time). Thanks in advance for advice.

Clair x

By kengosling
Morello Cherry Crumble + plus  (3 Replies)
Sunday 04 May 14:02

Oh dear that should have read 'heavily soiled with Ragu' --your books are not spoiled

By kengosling
Morello Cherry Crumble  (1 Reply)
Sunday 04 May 14:00

This is a great dish, thank you Delia.
I have also batch made crumble, as it is so easy, so if anyone wants to save yet more time cooking, make up a batch of the crumble and freeze. You can then add this to many crumbles. Delia I have been in and out of so many supermarkets lately buying up ingredients, many which have been sold out. The Morello cherries was a great buy though I have yet to find frozen rhubarb!
I have been a fan since your first TV programme. I like your books as they remind me of one of my first cookbooks by Philip Harben - who told you how to make tea and coffee and why you did certain things. That was wonderful and your books are too. Your early ones are heavily spoiled with Ragu and handling!! ;-))

By kengosling
Mousakka in the Cheat book  (1 Reply)
Sunday 04 May 13:51

Hi there,
Just made the Mousakka again and may well have added too much red wine, as it wasn't easy to measure as I was using it from the freezer in cubes! So having just eaten this, and have another lot left in the dish which I am going to freeze, can you advise how I can thicken the meat mixture up? I know if it wasn't already within the dish with cheese ontop I could thicken with flour or arrowroot, but what would you advise in this case please?

By Sam, worthing west sussex, uk
2 cheats made before and cheated with  (3 Replies)
Saturday 03 May 17:31

1) spainish (i know i can't spell that word) pork and chorizo stew.

2) colomban Chicken Mango and Coconut Curry

By jeni_hope
Bitter Orange Toffee  (2 Replies)
Saturday 03 May 14:40

What can I do with it?

By Debs 3
Fab food from Delia.  (3 Replies)
Saturday 03 May 12:42

Made the caramelised red onion and taleggio cheese tartlets, fab tasting and very easy, creamy chicken masala and Rhubarb Crumble ice cream, WOW. family was very impressed and it all tasted wonderful.Thanks Delia.
Deborah.

By Mrs Sam
Dress Italian tomato sauce help please!  (8 Replies)
Friday 02 May 18:13

I haven't been able to find this product but I have found a substitute. However in the Tuscan bean and pasta soup recipe it says use a jar full of warm water and because I can't find it I've got no idea how many ml it holds. Has anyone found it and if so could you tell me how much liquid in ml a jar holds? Also if you have found it could you tell me where cos I can't find it in my Waitrose. Many thanks!

By ClairW
Letter from Lakeland  (6 Replies)
Friday 02 May 14:11

Have just had a very apologetic letter from Lakeland apologising about the huge delay in my order of a mini-chopper. They say the demand has been phenomenal and they are struggling to keep up. It may be another 6 weeks before they can get any more. May well try some of the other suggestions of good mini choppers which have been recommended on this website.

By Dolly Doodle
Cheat's Quiche  
Friday 02 May 13:23

I finally found ready-lined pastry cases last weekend on a Waitrose trawl - and bought the entire stock; all 3 of them!

Made the cheat's quiche last night - but with really nice bacon from the market and I grated my own Collier's choice cheese. I was astounded at how quick the quiche was to put together, especially as I'd cooked the bacon the evening before and left it in the fridge overnight.

The pastry case was cooked to perfection, the quiche is absolutely delicious - I haven't made quiche for after-work supper for a good many years. Its back on the menu now thanks to Delia!

By Emsp
I took it back :O)  (7 Replies)
Friday 02 May 08:57

My husband bought me HTC for my birthday and I took it back without even opening the cover thinking "I do NOT cheat", however when I started to watch the series I changed my mind as it was not cheating in the way I expected. I have now bought the book again and it's a revelation, I love it. Still good food but nice and easy. I'm thrilled.

By Yummy
An Alternative Mini - Chopper  (1 Reply)
Thursday 01 May 19:30

For anyone interested there is a mini - chopper very similar to the one which Delia uses on this website:-
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
it is in the food preparation and weaning section on (I think page 3 or 4) and priced at £18 ...
funnily enough it is a site for mothers, babies and toddlers.....now I wonder how I came to be reading that during the last fortnight !!!
Yummy

By Debs 3
Taleggio Cheese tartlets  (5 Replies)
Wednesday 30 April 17:01

Hoping someone can help me,am looking to make delias carmelised onions and taleggio cheese tartlets but am having bother sourcing the cheese, anyone know where i can purchase it or of another cheese i could use in its place.Thanks in advance.
Deborah.

By Rob
another convert lol  (2 Replies)
Wednesday 30 April 10:09

had friends round for dinner on Sat....many comments about the chicken I cooked...prompted discussion about HTC...one of the gals works in WHS and said they have sold loads...but she thought it was a book about where to buy easy to use products...I put her straight of course lol...she messaged me yesterday to say she went and bought a copy!!!

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