Maison Cupcake

Home Cooking and Baking by Sarah Trivuncic

Introducing Forever Nigella

by

Forever Nigella was a long-running blogging link-up event inspired by the recipes and style of Nigella Lawson. Forever Nigella was launched in December 2010 by Sarah Trivuncic at Maison Cupcake and ran over 25 times until 2013. Each month, a different blogger hosted the event choosing a different theme and inviting others to share their “culinary moments dabbling with the Domestic Goddess.” Forever Nigella celebrated creativity, community and Nigella’s joy of cooking.
This page now serves as a hub for the Forever Nigella series, documenting monthly themes, hosts and available round-ups, alongside a collection of Nigella-inspired resources. Where round-ups are no longer online, the theme, host and badge are still listed for reference.
Sarah Trivuncic, writer of Maison Cupcake meeting Nigella Lawson at the Nigella Express book signing event at John Lewis Oxford Street 2009

 

When Forever Nigella Started

I had been a huge fan of Nigella Lawson ever since she wrote the monthly Vogue Food Column in the 1990s. I bought a signed copy of Nigella’s first book How To Eat but it was the book signing for Nigella Express when I met her in person. By this time Nigella was a hugely popular food writer and TV cookery personality. I’d been a fan for ten years or more, familiar with all of her recipes and owning copies of each of her books. When considering a blogging link-up for Maison Cupcake in 2010, Nigella seemed a natural theme. The name Forever Nigella was inspired by one her earlier books, Forever Summer.

 

How Forever Nigella worked

The monthly Forever Nigella themes were chosen according to the season i.e. Easter, Christmas or something happening at the time – for instance Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Each month the new host would publish an announcement post which was often signposted in the first Maison Cupcake post of the month.
Popular themes that were repeated in subsequent years were Christmas and Chocolate; at its peak Forever Nigella attracted over 50 participants in a month. Forever Nigella also covered themes such as Italian food, picnics and ice creams. Some months simply had an “anything goes” theme to publish any beloved recipe by Nigella. Unfortunately some round-ups are no longer online but all editions in the Forever Nigella series are listed below.
Forever Nigella blogging link-up badge Party party
A notable feature of Forever Nigella was the colourful badge graphic which changed for every event. When participants published their blog posts, they also shared a colourful badge to promote Forever Nigella. This was a bright vector image with text depicting Nigella Lawson eating spaghetti and the background colours and decoration were changed for the season or theme. (Number 26 was never used as the event ended with number 25 in the series.) A full collection of the Forever Nigella badges is shown further down.

Nigella Lawson Resources

No Nigella books yet? Search these resources online:

 

The Forever Nigella Rules were:

Blog checking lines:
Forever Nigella #[number] is being hosted by [name] of [blog]. This month’s challenge is to prepare and blog any Nigella Lawson recipe [describe theme]. Forever Nigella is organised by Sarah at Maison Cupcake.

1. Blog your entry by the date shown displaying:
a) the current Forever Nigella badge
b) a link to this announcement post
c) a link to the Forever Nigella page at Maison Cupcake: https://maisoncupcake.com/forever-nigella

n.b. posts must have been published since the announcement post. Archived posts need to be re-published afresh if you wish to submit.

2. Remember copyright.
You must NOT reproduce Nigella’s recipes verbatim. Tell us which book it is from and/or link to it online. If you’ve adapted the recipe in some way i.e. changed at least two ingredients or amended the method then it’s ok to publish the a recipe in your post but you MUST write directions in your own words.

3. Submit your post
Use the linky tool or email the host cc’ed to sarah AT maisoncupcake DOT com.

The Forever Nigella page shows a list of online Nigella resources, future hosts and links to past themes and round ups.

Tweet your post: #forevernigella 

Forever Nigella was hosted by:

#25: Elizabeth A Girl in Her Kitchen – Colourful

Forever Nigella blogging link-up Easter

#24: Jen at Blue Kitchen Bakes – Easter (page offline)

Forever Nigella blogging link-up Nostalgia

#23: Urvashi at Botanical Baker – Nostalgia (page now offline)

Forever Nigella blogging link-up badge Food for loved ones

#22: Sally Recipe Junkie Food to Cherish Loved Ones  – round up to follow

#21: Laura Laura Loves Cakes Christmas

Forever Nigella blogging link-up badge Thanksgiving

#20: um 20? what happened to 20? We were supposed to do Thanksgiving but took a break and my husband got confused numbering next badge. *shrug* There was never a Forever Nigella Thanksgiving edition but for completeness here is the lovely badge, complete with incorrect number!

Forever Nigella blogging link-up Packed Lunch Stars

#19: Nazima Working London Mummy Packed Lunches (now offline)

Forever Nigella blogging link-up Fridge Raider Snacks

#18: Karen Lavender and Lovage Fridge Raid Snacks

Forever Nigella blogging link-up badge Barbecue Sizzling Summer

#17: Amy Cooking, Cakes & Children (round up offline) Barbecue

Forever Nigella Afternoon Tea blogging link-up badge

#16: Fleur Homemade by Fleur Afternoon Tea (site now offline)

Forever Nigella blogging link-up badge Diamond Jubilee

#15: Nelly Nelly’s Cupcakes (site now offline) Jubilee

#14: Lucy Vanilla Frost Spring

Forever Nigella blogging link-up badge

#13: oops! There’s a badge but there wasn’t an event for unlucky 13!

#12: Sarah Maison Cupcake Free for all

#11: Sarah Maison Cupcake Free for all

#10 Christmas Presence hosted by Sarah at Maison Cupcake

#9 Halloween Horrors hosted by Sarah at Maison Cupcake

#8 Picnic Pleasures hosted by Helen at Fuss Free Flavours

#7 Iced Dreams hosted by Arthi at Soul Curry

#6 Sea Fish and Eat It hosted by Kat at Housewife Confidential

#5 Salad Days hosted by Dom at Belleau Kitchen (site live, round up offline)

#4 Street Party hosted by Mardi at Eat Live Travel Write

#3 Ciao Italia hosted by Maison Cupcake

#2 Seduced by Chocolate hosted by Maison Cupcake

#1 Seasonal Sensations hosted by Maison Cupcake

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. How exciting. I have just started a cooking blog following on from the success of my other blog. Count me in!

    • I am very behind with the current series… got them all stacked up on my V+ box to enjoy over Christmas.

    • Feast is a mighty tome isn’t it, I think it’s a really great idea for a recipe collection too and I enjoy reading recipes about other people’s customs. Having said that, it’s probably the book I’ve cooked from the least so I must rectify that this festive season. Something I really loved about feast was that after 2-3 books in a row where she’d done less prose, there was plenty of Nigella chit-chat to linger over.

  5. I’m in! In fact I was planning to make Nigella’s mince pies this week anyway.. 😛

    As someone who bought Kitchen the moment it was released, I can happily say that none of the recipes have dissapointed me yet! Yet another example of Nigella’s brilliant-ness.

    Am looking forward to the round ups!

    • Ah yes but which mince pies as she has done several versions…. I have only cooked my pumpkin scones from Kitchen yet but it is a very satisfying book which I am still digesting!

  6. i’m in… love me some Nigella and i’m planning to cook a couple of her recipes anyway over the Christmas period, so it’ll be a breeze!

    • Well Christmas isn’t Christmas without at least one Nigella recipe is it. Great to hear you are taking part!

    • Try Nigella.com if you can’t get a book near you – although I’m sure you can buy her stuff in Canada?

  9. I’m in Sarah! What a fabulous idea. I’m very fond of Nigella’s books but have gone off her series over time! I’m waiting for Kitchen to come through – got it for free for subscribing to Delicious!

    I already know what I’m making, and it wont be too much of a surprise but I promise I’ll deviate from the obvious as the competition goes on!

    • You er… wouldn’t be thinking of doing C U P C A K E S would you? Nigella has done many many varieties of cupcake before they were such a big thing in the UK so go on right ahead, I will allow you to present cupcakes EVERY month if you like – as you well know, cupcakes are sooo adaptable to mirror any cuisine or style.

      • Not sure how you guessed 😉
        I got my Kitchen book – it’s HUGE! Still working my way through it. Hoping to get my Nigella item done next week – once I get the secret ingredient!
        And yay to cupcakes every month 🙂

  10. Yay, this sounds fabulous!!

    I’ve had an idea rolling around in my ‘one day’ folder that may just be perfect! It’s old school as it’s from ‘How to be a Domestic Goddess’ but it’s one of my favorites :-D!

    • I would be delighted for you to join us Juls! I just know your entry would be Nigella-tastic!

  16. Will these Nigella Measuring cups make me as sexy as Nigella? ha ha, Oh well never mind a girl can dream

  17. Well, this does sound like a good idea. I have a confession: I have never cooked a Nigella recipe. But I have watched her on TV occasionally. I think her website will be my first step towards my training as a domestic goddess. Great idea, Sarah, and I look forward to seeing what everyone does. 🙂

    • You haven’t?! How?! Mind you, I have a load of Nigel Slater books and rarely use them. Maybe we can convert you?

      • Yes, you may convert me yet. I made my recipe this week and photographed it. So soon you will see it! Thanks for the push to try her out.

        (And I love my Nigel books. But I don’t cook out of them too regularly either.)

  21. Definitely count me in – my blog is dedicated to all things Nigella. Trying to make a recipe a day at the moment but have been struggling to find the time lately but this has given me impetus to get going again! Am currently working my way through Nigella’s Christmas so should be able to enter quite a few posts, if allowed??

    Thanks for commenting on my blog. If you could direct people my way too that would be great but I will definitely share the news on the event today.

    Exciting!!

    • Yes of course – the more the merrier. And I have visited your blog, what a wonderful challenge to be taking on!

  23. Hey Sarah. Sounds like a great idea. Now I saw your comment on my mince pie post but wondering if it will work now. For one the mincemeat is not Nigella’s. Just the pastry. Also the recipe is printed out on the post. So might need to do a new one. What do you think?

  26. Ohh.. Am so thrilled to have found your blog.. Am a BIG Nigella fan, so you can totally count me in.. I have all her recipe books, except Kitchen..However, am not much of a cook, so will probably be linking to her recipes on Nigella.com.

  27. Oh im a biggg Nigella fan too and this is a fantastic way to get going with kitchen every month!
    I like ur rules and its all super cool here , will definately try to send ya something by 16th ,please add me to ur blogroll too!
    I love her cook along on the blog too everymonth but there aint muc activity happening there 🙁
    Ahh +theres a prize , how exciting!
    Happy to have found ur wonderful blog!

  28. I really like Nigella’s style – say what you might about some of the excess cream and butter….Nigella Express in fact is a favourite cookbook now and seems to be a very moderate Nigella, and quite close to my style of cooking. In fact I have cooked many recipes from this book and posted quite a few of them as well. This event will be a welcome addition since it will make me explore more of her recipes!
    This is where I have posted some news of your event.http://peppermill-miri.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-chocolate-oatmeal-and-macadamia.html
    Good luck!

    Miri

  31. I am also a big Nigella fan and have been hoping someone would start something using her recipes. I am in.

    Love your rules. I am off to figure out some seasonal recipes from Nigella.

  35. I’m just boiling up some clementines for clementine cake. Is that Christmassy enough? Not made anything else Nigella except the choccy cake, which I didn’t deem Christmassy really!

  37. Added to my sidebar too,pleasseeeeee add me to the giveaway too 🙂
    those melamine measuring cups are sooooo cuteeee!

  52. you are hosting a lovely event dear….

    I welcome you to Follow my news site.
    I will be very Delighited to have you over there.
    You can watch daily news on your fellow bloggers and know about daily blog marathons.

    If you wish to see ur post in my blog plz mail me / leave a comment in my blog.

    Happy Blogging!!!!
    Food Blog News Daily
    Good Food Recipes

  54. I have just entered your forever nigella # 7 ” iced dreams ” with my chocolate, cherry kirsch mousse with flaked almonds.
    Hope you like it!

    • It will be up in a couple of days…. I’ve been a bit busy to organise but it’s still happening!