Celebrity chef: Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson's advice for entertaining a crowd
When entertaining a crowd, Nigella Lawson, the queen of quick cuisine, likes to keep it simple - really simple. Here are a few of her tried-and-true tricks.

Get excited. "Entertaining doesn't have to be fussy at all. People love the opportunity to come over so that they don't have to cook themselves. If you are excited about chicken, mushroom and bacon pie or cheddar cheese risotto, your guests will love it too!"

Forget about formality. "I don't do formal courses. I fill the table with one type of food and I make lots of it. Too many choices becomes daunting to cook and can be overwhelming to your guests."

Impress. "Choose one dish that you are great at and do it well. It could be a simple roast, or a one-pot meal or pasta. Keep the sides simple and the flavour of your meal will be remembered."

Balance tastes and textures. " The trick to a fabulous meal is balancing tastes and textures. If you are making pasta, make sure it has some kind of crunchy vegetable hiding in there, or if you are serving a roast chicken, offset the moist meat with a crunchy salad. That way you get the perfect balance of textures in your mouth."

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