United Cakedom: fresh food

A long long time ago a young 26 year old wished for a juicer for her birthday. Her desire for such a kitchen appliance came from the thought that store bought apple juice had too much added sugar. Her wish was granted and she was gifted a juicer.

The first juice she made was apple juice. She soon realised that apple juice needed no added sugar as it was super super sweet and needed to be diluted with water.

After that the juicer lived on a shelf, forgotten, and eventually covered in dust.

Fast forward to present day and with a new slow juicer sitting on her counter 24/7 juicing has become away to drink more then water. See I don't like squash nor do I drink much soda so to add something besides water I am experimenting with freshly squeezed juice and smoothies.

That's right the girl in the story is me! As if you didn't know..... Anyhow here are couple of juice recipes I have made recently. I have also included several juices and smoothies from other bloggers that I just have to try out soon!

Apple & Carrot Juice:

4 large carrots
2 apple
1 lime
1 small piece of ginger about an inch
1/4 cucumber

- Chop the vegetables and fruit into chunks that fit your juicers chute before juicing them. Then pour into your favorite class with a few ice cubes!

Pineapple Fizz

1 small pineapple
sparkling water

- Cut the pineapple length wise and juice. Pour into your favorite glass with a few ice cubes and top up with sparkling water.

I love carrot juice and I was very pleased with the Apple & Carrot Juice the lime and ginger counter acts the sweetness of the carrots and apples with a sharp twist. Pineapple Fizz is the simplest juice ever! Pineapple juice plus sparkling water and done. I found it refreshing and light. Definitely recommend it as a mocktail for the upcoming spring and summer seasons!

I am always looking for excuses to use my juicer and here are some great recipes from fellow bloggers!

The Petite Cook - Vegan Apple Pie Smoothie & Carrot Berry Smoothie & Wonderland Smoothie (pictured below)

From Plate to Pen - Simple Banana Smoothie with Ginger

Made with Pink - Ultimate Healthy Green Mojito Smoothie

Fab Food - 5-a-Day Fruit Smoothie

Foodie Quine - Strawberry, Blackcurrant & Coconut Water Smoothie, (pictured below) Sparkling Mojito Cocktail Juice, Purple Power Juice - Blackberries, Plums, Beetroot, Apples & Fig, Caipirinha Mocktail Juice

Baking Queen 74 - Blackcurrent and Blueberry Smoothie

Tin and Thyme - Cucumber and Celery Smoothie (pictured below) & Berry and Rose Kefir Smoothie

Kavey Eats - 3 Ingredient Smoothie | Banana, Matcha & Prune & Golden Banana, Turmeric & Maple Syrup Smoothie (pictured below)

*images are owned by the respective bloggers listed and linked above

"Finally, although there is no scientific way of proving it, the satisfaction of eating something you have grown yourself makes it taste 10 times better." - Holly Farrell Grow Your Own Cake

There might not be any scientific proof, but I believe this is 100% true not only when you've grown your own food, but when you've used that grown food in something tasty like a cake or biscuit or pie!

I should start with stating that I am not much of a gardner myself so, the information in the chapter 'In the Garden' was very inspiring and makes me want to get out some pots and soil and plant my own garden! Since I have yet to start gardening I'll have to hit up my father-in-law or the local farmers market for my ingredients!

The 'In the Kitchen' chapter was a nice refresher, but stated a lot of baking things I already knew. It's still worth a read through as it's particular to how our author Holly Farrell bakes and therefore essential to know when you try out her recipes. If this is the part you have less experience in give it a read though it's very informative.

The rest of the book is broken down into seasons, events, puddings, and savoury bakes. These cakes still have sugar, butter, and flour so can't claim to be healthy, but as they are full of fresh ingredients from a garden I'd say they were better then mass produced cakes.

When I first saw the title I was like here we go carrot cakes and beetroot brownies and though there are recipes for both of those there is so much more! I like how the recipes are basic, practical, and use fresh ingredients. These recipes are a refreshing change from the other baking books I own.

Overall, as I already said I found this book different from other baking books out there and if you're looking for something a little different then look no further! It's full of lovely full page coloured pictures of plants and baked goods!

Here are a few of the recipes I can't wait to try - just need to get gardening first!

Gooseberry & Elderflower Cake

Rhubarb Crumble and Custard Cake

Beetroot Cake (Because there isn't any chocolate!)

Sweet Potato & Marshmallow Cake

Toffee Apple Cupcakes (we have an apple tree)

Strawberry & Basil Cupcakes

Mint Choc-Chip Cupcakes

Chilli Chocolate Mudcake

Fig Tart (I'd love a fig plant!)
Pumpkin Soda Bread

Spinach & Cheese Muffins

Oh I forgot to mention that in-between the recipes are tidbits about different ingredients and how to grow them. So, right in front of the Gooseberry & Elderflower Cake recipe is a bit on growing gooseberries. Same for the Spinach & Cheese Muffins just before we learn how to make the muffins we learn all about spinach - the best varieties, planting (the when and where), maintaining the plant, and harvesting it. Which I think is great! If all that information was in the intro we the readers would have been overwhelmed!

Who I would recommend this book too: those with gardens, allotments, green grocers, those who shop at green grocers/farm shops, and those who want to start gardening or baking!

notes: Grown Your Own Cake by Holly Farrell, photographs by Jason Ingram is available now online, from any good booksellers or from the publishers. A copy was provided for me to review by the said publishers Frances Lincoln Ltd. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own. Please see my contact/policy page above for more information.