Love Crumbs Cookbook (pre-order)

‘A book like no other, beautifully braiding the poetry and practicalities of baking.’ Nigella Lawson

What Love Crumbs means to me

Love Crumbs is our memoir of cake. It is the poetry between you and me since the beginning of our romance.

The botanicals of this story are an expression of our intentions for one another and our extraordinary conversations- Orange blossom for loveliness, Calendula petals for healing, Yuzu for truth: all imbued into the layers as a witness to our days together.

The places these botanicals grow are a metaphor for our life’s journey and the way I see cake within nature. BUSH for home, FOREST for community, ORCHARD for self expression, MEADOW for dreaming and SEA for our light.

I believe there is an honesty perceived when a cake is made with its nature close to heart. I’ve asked many times “If this cake existed in nature where would it be found?”. On the forest floor? As a rockpool beside the sea? Nestling amongst the boughs of a quince tree?

Where the nature of these cakes meet the nature of our humanness is where you will find Love Crumbs.

Nadine x

FOREWORD by Annie Smithers
I cannot remember if I have ever sat and felt the tears run down my face while reading a cookbook. Tears of loss, tears of joy. Of longing, of lessons learnt. Of realising there is someone else out there who has seen the beauty of the ordinary, felt similar anguishes and slights, to know that through her eyes and words, we are not alone. Baking is not a ritual that exists to appease oneself. Its nature is to create something that is to be shared, something that represents love, care and solidarity.

Love Crumbs is something of a rarity in this cluttered world of recipe books. It breaks new ground, as Nadine’s use of poetry and prose transforms each and every recipe into a sensory experience that begins long before you assemble the ingredients and fossick around in your kitchen for a bowl and wooden spoon. The recipes themselves speak of love and life. Flavour combinations that range from the familiar and comforting to new, exciting and innovative. The clever notations in many recipes to make cakes of differing sizes and shapes. The excellent glossary of ingredients and terms that have already answered some questions for me. And above all, the kindness with which she writes, noting that some things may be a step too far for some cooks and it’s okay if you want to take an easier road.

Like all great books, this book exudes the skill of many. Nadine’s work and words are brought to life by an incredibly talented team. The blending of illustration, perfectly styled photography and clever design create a book that you will want to come back to year after year. As I return to Nadine’s words over and again, I feel and know those same pre-dawn hours we have shared in our time in separate kitchens, where sometimes the questions seem bigger and harder than they ought to be. And know that when those challenges arise, to immerse oneself in the time-honoured rituals of creating beautiful things to share, that speak of love for others, can be all the salve one needs. The true beauty of Love Crumbs is that even if you can’t find the time to bake, simply by sitting and immersing yourself in Nadine’s exquisite turn of phrase your life will be a richer, sweeter place.

Nadine Ingram’s latest book features 50 utterly original, natural and romantic cakes that belong at the heart of every celebration. Her reliable cake recipes are written with the precision of a world-class pastry chef and the warm encouragement of a countrywoman.

Publisher Simon and Schuster
Photography by Alan Benson
Styling by Emma Knowles
Illustrations by Samantha Denmark
Design by Evi O studio

Note that it will be dispatched for arrival on October 4th, 2024.
Pre order on the website is for mail delivery only (price includes shipping) – please pop in the shop for pick up.