Review Me

Farm Fresh Recipes from the Missing Goat Farm

I was quite excited to receive my first recipe book to review so when the postie shoved it through the letterbox the glorious thud of potential culinary inspiration arriving got me as excited as a child on Christmas Eve.

Written by Heather Cameron, the preface of the book tells her story of taking on a run down farm in Vancouver, her work as a stylist and her experiences of cooking for and with her young daughter.

The natural and homely photographic style throughout is engaging while the recipes are set out by seasons with ideas for breakfasts, snacks, main meals, desserts and options for preserving seasonal fruits and vegetables. With a similar climate here in the UK many of the ingredients are readily available so recipes are achievable and accessible.

The recipes are simple and maybe a little pedestrian for the experienced cook but there are some lovely ideas to encourage children to try new foods and help in the kitchen. I loved the ‘Breakfast to Go’ recipe, a savoury cheese and bacon muffin (I used a gluten free bread roll cut into cubes). My slight niggle about this recipe was a lack of seasoning listed, it did need a grind or two of black pepper and additional salt but that was for my own personal tastes. I know parents cooking for their children may omit additional seasoning in many recipes.

Many recipes are very sweet and while full of fruit I can’t quite bring myself to agree that the recipes are healthy, perhaps better for children than over-processed shop bought treats but too sugary for everyday fare.

In conclusion a great book for novice cooks, particularly if you are lucky enough to have space to grow your own fruit and vegetables, or live close to a good farm shop or market. I have bookmarked several of the preserving recipes for the summer when I hope my dwarf fruit trees provide abundant harvests.

Retail price £18.99
Published by CICO BOOKS