Easter Basket

Here we are in the last week of cooking up Nigella Lawson's recipes. Gosh, six months went fast! We had great fun exploring her books and online recipes, and discovering our own inner Domestic Goddesses. For the very last Nigella theme we have Easter Basket.

Easter time means many things to many people around the world, commonly it is seen as a new beginning. End of winter, awakening of the land. And bunnies, lots of bunnies.
What will grace your Easter table? Your Easter basket? A time of giving and sharing, find one of Nigella's recipes online or in one of her books and whip up a dish or goodie that represents the theme to you.
Post it to your blog by Sunday, April 4th and link up with Mr. Linky, below.

'Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Have you had a chance to check out the delicious Potluck dishes yet?

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous Easter Basket creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

As you can see, we have a new cook for April! By popular vote, Mark Bittman will be our foodie focus for the next six months. Stay tuned for a Bittman IHCC overhaul!

Also, a big welcome and thank you to Kim of Stirring the Pot who will be joining Deb, Heather and I as administrators of I Heart Cooking Clubs!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Easter Basket* Participants

1. Tina Marie (Rib Sticking Strir Fry and Minestrone) 2. Kim-Chocolate Fudge

3. DebinHawaii-Crab & Avocado Salad w/ Japanese Dressing 4. Natashya - Hokey Pokey!

5. Couscous & Consciousness

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March Potluck!

It's time for March Potluck! Sadly, it is our last Potluck with our favorite Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson. But fear not, after Potluck we will be spending Easter with Nigella before switching to our new chef for the next six months. (It's still a close race so if you have not yet voted for Bittman, Oliver or Flay, you had better cast your vote for your favorite as voting ends March 27th!)

But now on to the Potluck! This is the time to pull out that Nigella recipe you have been wanting to make because ANYTHING GOES for Potlucks!

You can find any Nigella Lawson recipe online or in one of her many cookbooks.

Then just make it and post it by next Sunday, March 28th.

Don't forget to stop by and take a look to see how It's Easy Being Green as interpreted by your fellow IHCC participants last week.

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous March Potluck creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

See you at the Potluck!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *March Potluck* Participants

1. sarah at i blame mom 2. Chaya - Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins 3. Kim- Rib Sticking Stir Fry

4. DebinHawaii--Thai Roasted Chicken and Lemon, Mint & Spinach Salad 5. Natashya - Nigella's Beetroot Salad 6. The Lab - Green Bean and Lemon Casserole

7. Tina Marie (chocolate Cookies)

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It's Easy Being Green!

It's not that easy being green

Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that

It's not easy being green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're
Not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky

But green's the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like
And green can be big like an ocean, or important
Like a mountain, or tall like a tree

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be

Whether green conjures up pictures of handsome froggie troubadours or idyllic back-to-nature love-your-planet initiatives...

Or the intense need to dress up and celebrate being Irish, no matter who you are or if you can even find Ireland on a map...

Fields of greens like lucky shamrocks that hold the key to luck, treasure and wee forest creatures.

And fields of salad greens that hold the key to health, vitality, and longevity.


We are going Green this week - and it is easy!

Cook up any of Nigella's dishes from cocktails, salads, mains, sides, or desserts - whatever makes you think green - and post it by March 21st.

Green for the planet, for St. Patty's Day, froggies, veggies or tender leaves.. there is lots to celebrate in this green world!

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous It's Easy Being Green creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

And have you had a chance to check out last week's Tea Time creations?
Plus, don't forget to vote for the next IHCC chef! On the side bar. They are neck in neck. Who will we spend the next six months with?
I Heart Cooking Clubs *Its Easy Being Green!* Participants

1. Natashya - Green Pea Bruschetta 2. Kim - Mustard Pork Chops

3. DebinHawaii--Three Fishes with Three Herb Salsa & Braised Little Lettuces 4. The Chef In My Head

5. The Lab - Capery Salad 6. Leana - Chocolate Lime Cheesecake

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Tea Time

It's Tea Time here at IHCC and you are all invited to our virtual tea party. So pour yourself a cuppa for inspiration, and start looking through your Nigella cookbooks or online for a Tea Time recipe to share.

What goes for Tea Time?

• It could be the perfect little sweet treat to enjoy with tea like a slice of cake or quick bread spread with jam or marmalade. Perhaps scones or muffins, cupcakes or "puddings" strike your tea party fancy.

• You might go for something less sweet and more savory like some cute little tea sandwiches, bruschetta or a savory scone or muffin to enjoy.

• Or maybe you have been wanting to cook with tea and it is a Nigella recipe that uses tea as an ingredient.

It's really up to you!

Just find any Nigella Lawson recipe that suits this week's tea theme, cook it up and post it by Sunday, March 14th.

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous Tea Time creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

Be sure to check out the delicious Sustaining Soups and Stews from last week too! And don't forget to vote for our next IHCC chef (on the side bar). It looks like Bobby Flay is in the lead right now but Mark Bittman and Jamie Oliver and neck in neck close behind!

We are looking forward to sharing a cuppa tea, wonderful recipes, Tea Time conversation and fun with you!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Tea Time* frequency - leave at N/A Participants

1. PINeapple upside down cake 2. DebinHawaii--Smoked Trout Pâté 3. Natashya - Go Get 'Em Smoothie 4. Joanna@goaheadandsnicker-Lazy Loaf

5. Chaya - Almond Fruited Cake 6. theBurmeseMom 7. Leana - Chocolate Croissants 8. Tina Marie (Breakfast Bruschetta)

9. Kim-Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Muffins 10. The Lab - Breakfast Bars

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Sustaining Soups and Stews

Can you believe it has already been six months?
Six months of cooking with Nigella Lawson, TV's most sensual cook, we have learned to describe our menus lustily and with great humour and style.
Please visit the sidebar to participate in the vote for our cooking club's next cook. Who do you want to spend the next six months with? These half year terms are perfect for exploring a chef's techniques and repertoire - who do you want to get to know better? Have your say!
We are going boy/girl so the next term will be a fella - whoever wins popular vote. If your fave doesn't get voted in this time.. there is always next time!
March will be our last month of cooking Nigella, we switch over to our new cook/chef March 29th.

Now, we all know the weather has been crazy this season. Rain, snow, wind, earthquakes, tsunamis.. it is enough to make you want to hide under the covers. What we need right now is comfort - a perfect time for Sustaining Soups and Stews. A bowl of comfort in an uncertain world.
Soups, stews, chillis, curries.. all perfect fare for this week's theme.

Just find any of Nigella Lawson's recipes, from her books or online, that suit this week's theme, cook it up and post it by Sunday, March 7th. Link your post to Mr. Linky so we can all share in your delicious dishes.

Somehow I don't look like this when I am bundled up for a Canadian winter. I catch sight of my reflection and realize I am starting to look like a crazy cat lady in my advancing years. Lumpy and pale with wind-burned cheeks and a vaguely confused look on my face. Crazy dog lady? Best if I just stay home..

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous cooking club creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

And have you had a chance to check out last week's Great Grains?


I Heart Cooking Clubs *Sustaining Soups and Stews* Participants

1. Joanna@goaheadandsnicker 2. DebinHawaii--Noodle Soup for Needy People

3. TheBurmeseMom 4. Kim- Noodle Soup for Needy People

5. Natashya - Hot and Sour Soup 6. Sweet Potato, Butternut Squash, Carrot Soup

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