Monday 27 August 2012

Introducing...the Autumn Collection


Blustery winds and drizzly days have turned my thoughts to the Autumn months ahead and so I thought I'd give you a sneak preview of some of the treats available to order. With Hallowe'en around the corner, I thought I'd make some Pumpkin Cupcakes - pumpkin pie flavoured sponge with a zesty orange frosting. Yum!




I've paired these with Toffee Apple Cupcakes - cinnamon and apple sponge with a sticky toffee glaze. These would also be perfect treats to serve alongside the bangers, jacket potatoes, chilli and treacle toffee for a Bonfire Night party or barbecue. 




Watch out for the Gingerbread Squirrels and Bonfire Cupcakes coming soon! 

Becky Bakeswell x


Thursday 23 August 2012

Keep Calm and Keep Counting...


It might seem very early to be posting about mince pies and indeed it is - even for a Christmas fanatic like me. However, there is method in my madness. I like to test out recipes a few times to perfect them before making them for other people. The twitchy, perfectionist gene makes it difficult to feel at ease with handing over goodies without being perfectly happy with them. Particularly as I feel that when I bake, I put lots of effort and care and attention into what I do, so it can be hard to put it on a plate for it to be judged. Judged it must be though, if it is to be tweaked to perfection.

The other reason why making some Christmas goodies early is because if you choose what you bake wisely, you can bake in a leisurely fashion and freeze things ready for your culinary rainy day. Or, you could order them from me...  ;-)

I can't ever remember making mince pies myself. It has always been a family affair. I used to make them occasionally with my mum, as part of a childhood baking routine which also involved rock buns, butterfly cakes and the occasional strawberry flan. My real memories of baking tend to revolve around my Nan though. My Nan was a good teacher, and if I'm honest, the central most influential figure in my love of baking.

As soon as I could hold a wooden spoon in my hand and stir ingredients in a big baking bowl, I was scooped up on to the counter top and my baking days began. My Nan also had a fetching assortment of 1960s Doris Day styles aprons which I would dress up in and I would write my own 'recipes' in her handwritten recipe book. Although not necessarily in the right order - "eat it, beat it and bake it' was one of my immortal lines!

My Nan would deviate from tradition with her mince pies by making flaky pastry rather than shortcrust pastry. This made the pies lighter than usual. I used to watch her make the pastry by hand, endlessly folding the pastry into thirds and dotting each third with shortening. She would roll the pastry out neither too thick nor thin and it would be my job to use a fluted cutter to stamp out the frilly edged circles and press each one into the cups of the bun trays. Together, we'd drop spoonfuls of mincemeat into each pastry filled cup and press a frilly edged hat on to each one. My Nan would tell me to 'dibble dabble' them an egg-wash glaze and  into the oven they'd go. It's a tradition I'm looking forward to carrying on with little ones one day...


Thursday 9 August 2012

2000 Hits Baking Weekend - Update



Last weekend I decided to bake something sweet to mark the BakesWell blog's 2000 hits. I had a few ideas floating about but decided to make this fruity beauty. If I'm honest, I've been a bit daunted by Ms Meringue as I've heard she can be a tricky dame to tame - impressive and elegant, but brittle and unpredictable if she senses fear. As I had 6 egg whites stashed in the freezer, left over from a previous day's baking, I thought that it was time to don an apron and commence battle with this diva of a dessert.


What is also pleasing about this pavlova, is that it's gluten-free, which means it would be a useful dessert to have at a party.


The marshmallowy meringue base is flavoured with cocoa and swirled though with little nuggets of chocolate, for a cheeky surprise.

Friday 3 August 2012

2000 Hits Baking Weekend

Today I am proud to announce that this little baking blog has had over 2000 hits! This is a nice moment for me as I only posted back in late April that the blog had reached 1000 views. I fancy baking something this weekend to mark the occasion, but I'd like you to help me choose what to bake.

I'm considering Cherry Bakewell Squares...but then again, what about Chocolate Malteaser Cake?

I've been going through a bit of an apple phase lately - what about Apple Pepper-pot Pudding?

But what about those lonely egg whites hiding in the freezer, waiting quietly for the moment where they are whipped into a glossy meringue to form a Summer Fruit Pavlova..?

Drop me a comment in the box to make a suggestion or vote for one from my list.

Becky Bakeswell x