Review: The Hedgerow Cookbook

madnad

Wild At Heart is a company that was formed by Caro Willson and Ginny Knox after giving up their corporate careers. Their company provides a range of jams, jellies and chutneys inspired by ingredients that grows wild in our British hedgerows.

The subject matter of this recipe book really appealed to me. I have recently developed an interest in foraging, so it seemed fortuitous that there was a recipe book that contained recipes for my scavenged goodies. I am following in my ancestors footsteps and seeking food that nature gives up freely, with just a little effort required on my part.

The book starts with an introduction from the authors on why they started up their business. The next section is a useful note on the legality of foraging. In the UK, you have a common law right to forage for fruit, flowers, funghi and foliage as long as it is for personal use, not for re-sale and providing it has not been planted as a crop. There is also a very useful seasonal chart showing the availability of the ingredients covered.

The recipes are structured into chapters, each one focusing on a type of foraged ingredient, such as berries, leaves, or fruit. They are a variety of sweet and savoury, from main courses to side dishes.

The pictures are beautifully staged and photographed, and all the dishes look incredibly appealing. The recipes I tried were very easy to follow. I am pleased to note that the measurements are in grams, ounces and cups which I like to see as it makes the book try. My favourite recipes were the Sloe Vodka, Crab Apple Butter and Blackberry and Apple Crumble Cake.

This is the perfect book for this time of year when the trees and hedgerows are bulging with produce. Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy, then head out into the countryside. It has inspired me to open my eyes, and broaden my tastes from the usual blackberries, and seek out foraged foods I would normally walk by.

The Hedgerow Cookbook is available now from Pavilion Books
ISBN: 186205956X

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