Since capturing our hearts on her way to winning the Great British Bake Off last year, Nadiya Hussain has ridden a rollercoaster that has seen her fronting her own TV series, writing for The Times and even making the Queen’s 90th birthday cake.

Now has written a book, Bake Me A Story, which combines children’s tales with recipes.

Ahead of a signing at Bluewater, Nadiya chatted to us about her book, the Bake Off and the Queen.

What are you looking forward to most about meeting fans?

I just love meeting people who love baking and cooking as much as I do so I’m looking forward to meeting everyone who comes along.

I’m really interested to see what people think about Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story because it is a bit different from your usual cookbook. It’s aimed at families and each recipe has a story to go with it that grown-ups and kids can read together as they wait for their creations to bake.

The book sounds delightful, why did you want to combine children’s stories with recipes?

My kids are massive readers, they’ve always got a book in their hands and they love being read to.

And they pester me in the kitchen while I’m cooking and that’s when the idea came to me - what if I wrote a book that stays in the kitchen with stories that are matched with recipes.

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How much is the book a reflection of your personality?

As much as I love cooking and baking, writing is one of my very first loves. It’s the way I express myself and I encourage my kids to express themselves that way as well.

I really wanted to play with fairy tales; I didn’t want long stories because when you’re choosing stories in the kitchen they need to be short and quick.

When I first started I was sat there on my laptop not knowing how I was going to do this, and then I literally did a story a day for 15 days including recipes and it just worked. I was on a roll and just carried on.

What’s your favourite recipe from the book?

The blueberry and orange soda bread. It’s simple, delicious and lots of fun for children to make.

How has your life changed since winning the Bake Off?

When I came off Bake Off, I thought that was it! I’d fly under the radar and I’ll just go back home and go back to normal life and actually I’ve done quite the opposite.

I’ve been able to do everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I’m shaping my future every single day and seeing where it takes me.

What has been your proudest moment since winning?

Baking the Queen’s 90th birthday cake was amazing. I was so anxious about the whole experience.

How can you make the Queen’s cake?! When I got the email from my agent I thought someone was pranking me.

Do you find everyone you know asks you to bake for them or give them recipes now?

Quite a bit! But I don’t mind at all. It’s lovely that people are so interested in baking. At the moment, it’s just finding the time!

What’s your favourite crowd-pleasing recipe at home?

I love baking things I can make with the kids. That’s what we all love – being together in the kitchen, cooking, sharing stories.

The cookie mallows in my book are great- they use a variety of simple cooking skills, so children of different ages can get involved. And you can use different colour marshmallows so look good.

And they’re delicious!

What’s been your biggest kitchen disaster?

I once had a bit of a kitchen disaster with a liquid chocolate cake. I baked it in a loose bottom tin and it completely leaked out of the base. I ended up with an empty tin and cake all over the bottom of the oven.

Nadiya's Bake Me a Story publishes on September 8 in hardback priced £14.99 from Hodder Children’s Books.

She will be giving a demonstration and signing for Nadiya’s Bake Me a Story at Harrods at 11.45am on September 10 and signing copies of Bake Me A Story at Waterstones, Bluewater, from 4pm on September 10.

The second part of her series, The Chronicles of Nadiya is on BBC Two at 9pm tomorrow (Wednesday). Catch up on iPlayer.

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