Today I want to do something slightly different and share with you my love of Baking!
I have always been a keen baker, but with mum taking control in that department, there wasn't always the space, time or experience to intervene. However, my opportunity came about 8 years ago when on an evening my parents would go to my Uncle's Butchery to joint up a carcass, whilst I would (so say) be at home revising for my GCSE's! I had my own space, it didn't matter if I made a mess and more importantly I had a pantry packed full of baking ingredients to gaze upon whilst I conjured up my next baking challenge.
In the early days, I was a little less experimental and more often than not stuck to a chocolate sponge recipe that I found on a cut of paper in Mum's recipe scrapbook. Since then I have broadened my recipe sources and with the help of the internet, the challenges were endless. With the "Great British Bake Off" becoming one of the most talked about TV series, it made me realise the Nations' love of combining simple ingredients to create a show stopping master piece. I have previously mentioned that I would love to enter the competition, however since then I have realised that the level and quality of the bakers are phenomenal and there is no way I could ever compete against them! Plus Dad says my lack of bread and pastry practice, coupled with a little less enthusiasm for these types of bakes would let me down. So I am currently more than happy to continue entering the local produce show!
As some of you already know, I make custom designed celebration cakes for friends and family. Mum also did this whist my sisters and I were growing up, however she is gradually passing on all her decorating tips, secrets and equipment as her eyes are failing her especially with all the intricate detail! Below are a selection of cakes I have made over the past year.
I have always been a keen baker, but with mum taking control in that department, there wasn't always the space, time or experience to intervene. However, my opportunity came about 8 years ago when on an evening my parents would go to my Uncle's Butchery to joint up a carcass, whilst I would (so say) be at home revising for my GCSE's! I had my own space, it didn't matter if I made a mess and more importantly I had a pantry packed full of baking ingredients to gaze upon whilst I conjured up my next baking challenge.
In the early days, I was a little less experimental and more often than not stuck to a chocolate sponge recipe that I found on a cut of paper in Mum's recipe scrapbook. Since then I have broadened my recipe sources and with the help of the internet, the challenges were endless. With the "Great British Bake Off" becoming one of the most talked about TV series, it made me realise the Nations' love of combining simple ingredients to create a show stopping master piece. I have previously mentioned that I would love to enter the competition, however since then I have realised that the level and quality of the bakers are phenomenal and there is no way I could ever compete against them! Plus Dad says my lack of bread and pastry practice, coupled with a little less enthusiasm for these types of bakes would let me down. So I am currently more than happy to continue entering the local produce show!
As some of you already know, I make custom designed celebration cakes for friends and family. Mum also did this whist my sisters and I were growing up, however she is gradually passing on all her decorating tips, secrets and equipment as her eyes are failing her especially with all the intricate detail! Below are a selection of cakes I have made over the past year.
The weather over the last couple of days has been awful so we're still waiting to combine the wheat straw. So what better way to spend a wet evening...... full of baking! Once again I decided to wear my GoPro but this time whist baking a cake. It was a bit of a laugh and the following video was the result!