Darina Allen: A cake topped with crisps and why beetroot is a baking superhero  

You've got to try this Parsnip and Maple Syrup Cake with Parsnip Crisps or how about a Beetroot and Walnut cake?

This parsnip cake is a flavoursome delight. 

A few days ago, someone asked me, out of the blue, how we managed for homegrown vegetables in Winter — was there anything in season in the garden or greenhouse? Somehow the perception is that there’s nothing to enjoy during the Winter season. Well, how about all the wonderful winter roots: carrots, parsnips, swede’s, celeriac, Jerusalem artichokes, sweet potatoes and beetroot. They all grow underground and are packed with the vitamins, minerals and trace elements that we need to get us through the winter. And I haven’t even mentioned the greens such as kale, leeks, chard.