"edible christmas tree decorations" news and stories

Nigella Lawson has a new cookbook out, just in time for the holidays, called "Nigella Christmas," and it's full of recipes that exemplify her easy, no-stress style. She spoke with Nicki Gostin, Slashfood contributor, from her home in London, which she shares with her husband, Charles Saatchi, and two children.

Slashfood: Talk to me about children and Christmas baking.
NL: Children love baking. It's not difficult getting them involved in things that are quick and easy. I've always done these edible Christmas tree decorations -- the children can make the dough, and it's a very forgiving dough. You can't explain to a 3-year-old, "Excuse me; can you handle that dough carefully," because they are rolling it out endlessly and pressing their fat little hands all over it. Also expect a mess.

Any recipe that had only one egg always caused major upset [in my family] because everything else you can tell children to take it in turns but when there's one egg you have to remember from last time who did the egg and that's difficult. Remember that they have upsets and they may shove each other out of the way and there's usually more flour going on the floor than in the bowl. When I used to bake and decorate, I used to give each of them their own little bowl of frosting and decorations so they're focused on their own creative work; otherwise they're copying each other and saying, "I want the silver balls."

Read the rest of our exclusive interview with Nigella Lawson after the jump. Plus, a recipe for an edible Christmas tree decoration.