Made At Home: Vegetables by Dick and James Strawbridge

If you live in the UK — or follow British television — you’re probably familiar with Dick and James Strawbridge, the father-and-son team who shared their eco-friendly lifestyle in the program “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Vegetables is the third book in their Made At Home series, a collection focused on growing, harvesting, preserving, and cooking your own food. It’s a great handbook for those who want to start a kitchen garden and eat seasonally.

• Who wrote it: Dick and James Strawbridge

• Who published it: Mitchell Beazley

• Number of recipes: 31

• Recipes for right now: Sweetcorn Fritters with Salsa and Lime Mayo, Super-Healthy Halloumi Salad, Onion Bhaji with Onion Salsa, Griddled Aubergines with Chicken & Chickpea Tagine, Butternut Squash Gnocchi, Baked Sweet Potato & Goats’ Cheese Pie

• Other highlights: In this photo-rich handbookDick and James Strawbridge guide readers from garden to plate. The pair draw upon their experience living on a small farm in Cornwall in southwest England, so naturally their advice is most relevant to those who live in similar climates.

The first chapter focuses on preparing to grow vegetables with information on gardening tools and soil basics. The book is then divided by season and further by vegetable (31 in all). From peas in the spring to cucumbers in summer, squashes in autumn, and kale in winter, the authors share how to sow, grow, and harvest each vegetable along with tips for companion planting, seed saving, and dealing with pests and diseases.

The authors then provide one recipe per vegetable, plus additional suggestions for eating and storage. Recipes include British comfort food favorites like bangers and mash and cauliflower cheese, as well as unique ideas like tempura asparagus and dishes with Greek, Indian, and Moroccan elements. Measurements are given in metric and imperial units.

• Who would enjoy this book? gardeners, people interested in self-sufficiency and/or eating seasonally, fans of Dick and James Strawbridge

Find the book at your local library, independent bookstore, or Amazon: Made At Home: Vegetables by Dick and James Strawbridge

• Visit the authors’ websites: Dick Strawbridge and James Strawbridge

Apartment Therapy Media makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are the personal views of the reviewer and this particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer or an agent working on their behalf. However, the manufacturer did give us the product for testing and review purposes.

(Images: Emily Han)