I Bake Nature-Inspired Cakes, And Here Are My 15 Best Ones

I have a genetic health condition that makes it difficult to be on my feet for very long, so I'm often sitting on counters or in my "kitchen chair" while I prepare recipes. Part of my baking process also usually includes foraging, so it comes after I've had the chance to get out in the woods for some wild food foraging  (on a good health day) or in my wheelchair for some urban foraging (if my symptoms are worse) to find tasty wild treats to include in my bakes.

The time that it takes to finish depends a lot on the cake! Some of the more simple ones, I can easily make in a couple of hours. Others, I break down into steps and work on a little bit over a couple of days, since I don't always have a lot of energy on any given day due to health conditions.

My personal favorite cake is the Magnolia Caramel Bundt Cake because it's both really simple to make and absolutely delicious! Magnolias give it such a unique, almost gingery flavor... it's really special. My most popular cake is my Stinging Nettle Moss Cake - a lot of people don't realize that stinging nettles are edible (and delicious!) and that the spines that sting disappear when you cook them. This is a great way to introduce people to the wonders of eating wild foods.

I love baking these cakes so much that I usually struggle more with too much inspiration and not enough time/energy to do it all! As I learn more about wild foods and edible flowers, I am constantly awash with ideas about how to use them in my creations. I also love researching historical recipes or reading about food traditions from all over the world!

A weird fact about me is that I can't eat any of my bakes anymore! Over the years, my digestive system has become paralyzed due to the neurological condition I have, and I get all of my nutrition pumped directly into my jugular vein.

Because of this, I really rely on my taste testers (usually my fiance and family, sometimes lucky neighbors or friends) to tell me how something tastes. My sense of smell has gotten stronger so I am pretty good at balancing flavors, but sometimes I need feedback like "it could use a little more salt" or "this one might be too sour".

As for my future goals, I'd really love to become a published author. I have so many book ideas, and so much drive to create them. I love being able to share my recipes with others and see what they've baked, and knowing I could reach even more people eager to try baking with foraged ingredients and a bit of magic would make me so happy!