Former Great British Bake Off contestant, Michelle Fecci-Evans from Tenby has just published her debut cookbook - ‘The Seasonal Baker: Baking All Year Round’.

When she appeared on the show in 2019, Michelle was well known for her flavoursome, colourful bakes and for championing seasonal, locally sourced and homegrown produce.

In her debut cookbook, Michelle brings her favourite recipes straight from her kitchen to yours, from quick-and-easy bakes to stunning showstoppers perfect for special events such as Easter, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Halloween and Christmas.

Michelle is happy to share handy hints and tips on ways of being thrifty and self-sufficient with food, as well as what to plant, when to plant it and when to harvest – whether you have a plant pot, window box, balcony, raised bed or garden veg patch.

Her inspiring, versatile creations will keep you baking through the year with the best produce each season has to offer.

Michelle grew up on a farm and learned from a young age how to grow vegetables and the basics of cooking and baking. She now lives in Tenby with her husband Ben, their teenage son Alfie, little whippet Rosie, and two cheeky hens. As a family they love to be out in the garden where they grow a lot of the fruit, vegetables, and herbs that Michelle uses in her everyday cooking.

“My earliest memory of baking is being stood on a stool with my Mam, in an apron that drowned me, taking everything in with fascination, excitedly waiting to see the end result,” said Michelle in the introduction to her book.

“Growing up on a farm, I learnt the basics of cooking and baking traditional hearty bakes with my Mam and growing veggies with my Dad.

“I’ve always found growing from seed such a magical and rewarding process. It’s relaxing, very easy, cheap and it’s fun planning what to plant, watching seedlings grow, harvesting and adding them to everyday cooking and baking. Being sustainable and self-sufficient is something we love as a family.

“It was my love and passion for baking that made me apply for The Great British Bake Off, a show that I’d watched for years in awe of so many talented bakers. To be chosen to bake in the big white tent was nerve-wracking to say the least, but it was an amazing experience I’ll never forget and gave me memories that I will always treasure.

“The endless baking and intense recipe development made me the baker I am today, as it gave me the confidence to try new flavour combinations, become more adventurous and even gain Star Baker in cake week!

“Since saving up my pocket money to buy my first cookbook from the touring bus library that came to my school, it has been a lifelong dream of mine to write my own. I still have that book; it’s covered in splatters and held together with tape!

“The pages of this book are filled with colourful, flavoursome bakes from my kitchen to yours, for you to enjoy. I hope they will become family favourites in your home as they have in mine. These inspiring creations will keep you baking through the year with the best produce each season has to offer. You can go to your local greengrocer, farmers’ market or supermarket to check the array of seasonal produce on offer. Or consider planting your own – whether you have a small plant pot, window box, balcony, raised bed or garden veg patch, we can all grow our own!

“So, pop on your apron, get baking and watch your loved ones’ faces light up when you give them something that’s made with love,” she added.

‘The Seasonal Baker: Baking All Year Round’ is out now in hardback.