It’s happened to me more times than I care to remember and I’m pretty sure that all of you reading this will have experienced it at least once. That’s right, I’m talking about a cracked cake top. Is there anything more disheartening than taking your cake out of the oven …
Legend has it that it was Janet Keiller who invented marmalade when her husband brought home a barrel-load of Seville oranges he’d manage to acquire cheaply. Before that pastes of quince and other fruits were popular: Mary, Queen of Scots, is reputed to have partaken of quince paste when on …
Why not treat yourself to a good old-fashioned baking day? Fill your freezer with cakes and scones that can be quickly defrosted when your maiden aunt calls to tell you she’s dropping in for tea this afternoon. Or your child announces at bedtime that he has to take a cake …
You’ve baked a truly spectacular cake and it’s risen to perfection. What now? Most likely your friends and family are going to eat it in a couple of mouthfuls with a ‘that was nice, dear,’ – if you’re lucky. Are there times, now and again, when you feel that you …
A friend phones and asks if she can pop in to see you; she says she’ll be with you in half an hour. Your cookie jar is empty, you don’t have time to nip to the shop but you know she’ll be expecting something with her coffee. The quick and …
Mention scones and most people will think of jam and cream, but the basic dough is very versatile and can be used for a variety of savoury treats as well. Simple Scones 225g (8oz) self-raising flour Pinch of salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 50g (2oz) margarine 150ml (5fl oz) milk …
Crumpets, pikelets, Scotch pancakes and English muffins: all traditional British tea-time treats but what’s the difference? That’s a good question! They’re all cooked on a griddle or bakestone (a heavy-based frying-pan can be used as an alternative) but crumpets and muffins are both yeast-based. To make crumpets, you need egg …
American-style muffins have seen an increase in popularity over the last few years, especially with the spread of the large coffee chains throughout the country. They have a distinctive shape – rather mushroom-like – and are usually a little less sweet than more traditional small cakes. They’re very easy and …
Scones, crumpets and muffins are often grouped together because originally they were all cooked on a griddle or bakestone. Very few homes had any form of oven until the nineteenth century and, even today, in many parts of the world ovens are rare. Crumpets Records suggest that crumpets – or …
Shortbread: a delicious, butter-crumble biscuit that has provided comfort on many occasions! It’s too good to be shared at Christmas alone, so why not try a few variations throughout the year? (That way it can really be appreciated.) Chunky Shortbread, thin wafers, traditional shapes all have their own place and …
