It could be something about my age, or perhaps my social circle, but it appears that it has become socially acceptable, and even cool, to bake. From Facebook updates about apple crumbles to close up twitpics of your latest batch of cupcakes, it seems like everyone’s at it – and making it common knowledge.
I guess it’s inevitable that with the recession and people having less money to go out, combined with campaigns like ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ and a revival of kitsch arts and crafts that baking would be next in line for a come back. And what’s not to love – a few minutes of toil and after half an hour or so’s baking time you have a scrummy cake to get stuck into. Plus I’m finding it’s bringing out my generous side (so I do have one!) as I’m handing out my creations left, right and centre (get in line girlies, they’re coming your way), mainly because otherwise I will eat them all and become the size of an actual house.
Most recently I had a bake-a-thon in aid of Mum’s Macmillan fundraising coffee morning, batch baking two banana and chocolate cakes and a slab of flapjack-esque ‘blondies’. Whilst attempting this after a 13 hour day at work is perhaps not advisable they did actually taste pretty yummy and helped my mum to raise almost £2,000 for Macmillan, along with all the other baking wonders brought to the table, some by my own generous friends.
My mum is amazed that I somehow went from a girl who hated the idea of cooking to someone who actually enjoys cooking from scratch and takes pleasure (and peace) from baking. So join the revolution, get those tins out and get creaming that butter and sugar. I bet you’ll agree they taste ten times better than anything you’ll find in Tesco.
angiecranfield
