Becky Bakes…

Quite how long and why I started delivering cake every Friday, I just can’t remember, but I’ve been doing it for several years now. The beleagured shopkeepers certainly seem to appreciate a home made offering each week and I’ll continue as long as I can. The cakes go to a well-known outdoor shop, staffed by local people who I’ve known for many years as well as a fabulous indie bookseller who was a near-neighbour until recently and of course the friends who man the Emporium. They all have their favourites and I’m happy to accept requests, knowing that Lemon Drizzle will always be on the list as well as double chocolate brownie. Two previous recipients have moved on and been replaced by cafes, so I don’t think they would really appreciate more food, but who knows? Happy weekend 😉

We’ve seen some sunshine this week, at last. As the days get longer I’m spending more time in the garden, pruning, weeding (they’re still growing!) and checking the progress of all the bulbs I planted last autumn. In the midst of all this I noticed our rhubarb bravely pushing its’ way through to the light. Whilst I do have a bell jar to put over it to force growth, I tend not to use it as its’ become a haven for spiders. Just lifting the lid fills me with fear, so it’s more ornamental than functional. Early rhubarb is now available in the greengrocers shop and looks beautiful. Such a lovely shade of palest pink with yellow leaves, it’s so tender and has a delicate flavour. I learned today that it’s a favourite of my nonagenarian friend – she might enjoy Sugared Rhubarb Windows, the recipe is on the website. It came many years ago from a friend who is with us no longer. Her kitchen garden was a sight to behold, with fruit cages and raised beds, compost heaps in a row by the wall and potatoes clearly marked and labelled to be dug in succession. We tend to grow the things we really enjoy as space is tight, so loads of tomatoes, mange tout peas and French beans. Time to think about sowing? Maybe a little early yet ! x

Whilst I’m not a great fan of Mother’s Pride or Warburtons bread, those sliced loaves have their place. As a child, long car journeys always involved a Tupperware Square Round packed with tomato sandwiches, squashed and soggy from the juices squeezed out and into the bread by the small box. Later, when expecting one of our children, I craved tuna and cucumber sandwiches in, what we called, white plastic bread. These days I much prefer well made fresh bread, sometimes making my own in the bread machine. Winter afternoons certainly benefit from those warming smells… We have recently been enjoying the work of a new baker in town. He’s spent a lot of money equipping his shop. In the past it was a jeweller’s, an antique shop and a tanning salon so required a total refit. He’s let me have a peek at all the machinery and ovens where he starts work at 3a.m. with the shop open from 6 till 6. He’s very busy making cakes too. The other day he’d got eclairs ready to fill and coat. For Valentines day he made heart-shaped strawberry mousse cheesecakes. Utterly delicious as they weren’t too sweet. But his bread…baguettes, seedy cornbreads and then his croissants…the almond ones are sublime. Now my mouth is watering! So last week it was the butcher, this week the baker. Next week? Sorry – not the candlestick maker 😉

It’s become quite a ritual for us to stroll up the road to the butchers shop on Fridays. Their meat is amazing and, of course, we can always see exactly what we’re buying. Have you noticed how supermarkets often hide a gristly bit of meat under the label? You open the pack and groan…Not so if you’re choosing from an amazing display. It appears that meat consumption in this country has risen over the last few years and the number of vegan restaurants is declining as people lose their enthusiasm for plant based foods. Many of them are highly processed in order to create their flavour without a corresponding food value. We could always tell which children were from vegan families – their parents unwilling to accept that vital amino acids found in animal food sources are just that – vital. Growth and health can be compromised with many nutrients absent from the diet. “All things in moderation” is a great maxim, as well as “a little of what you fancy does you good” 😉 x

Did you know that St. Valentine was the patron saint of bees? I didn’t but I’m pleased to have learnt something new today. It’s not a day that we celebrate these days, but I know lots of friends who still buy cards and flowers or chocolates. We don’t celebrate Father’s day either as we feel that was invented by Hallmark cards as a money-maker 😉 Happily we’ve seen the sun here after a long absence and the garden looks promising – plenty of bulbs ready to flower and primroses, aconites and hellebores already in bloom, offering food to any bees that appear on this day. To be honest, having had a stroll round the garden, I can’t say I’ve seen any as it’s still very cold. Roll on Spring x

We can’t all like the same things, life wouldn’t be very interesting, would it? I enjoy tennis, but won’t be watching the Super Bowl like some people I know. When it comes to food, I’m the only person in our immediate family who really likes mushrooms so when I get the chance, I’ll always choose a dish with fungi in it. So I have to confess that I really am not a chocolate fan and rarely have eaten a piece of Chocolate Brownie. You might have noticed a post on Instagram and Facebook about todays’ Cake Friday delivery of Brownie. I made a double batch and took plenty to Norwich where one of our young friends lives and works. Apparently it disappeared in minutes – always better when fresh of course 😉 The rest was shared among the beleagured shopkeepers who seem to enjoy it too. There are a couple of pieces in the kitchen in case anyone wants it, but I’d rather have a Fork Biscuit or a scone. How about you? x

My first teaching job was at a school in Orpington, Kent where there were four of us in the Home Ec. department. Each week the pupils were given a list of ingredients they would need for next weeks’ lesson and it soon became clear to me that there would always be a child who arrived empty handed. Within the department we all agreed to bring in extra sets of ingredients to cover the shortfall, with the dish being taken home by the pupil sometimes, or by us if the cost was significant – where meat or fish was involved. Other members of staff were happy to buy the dishes too if we finished the day with more than we could consume, or carry home on the train! In a different school we encountered different challenges. Two brothers were coming to school on alternate days and on further investigation it appeared they were sharing the black shoes suitable for uniform requirements. This pair of shoes was too small for the older brother and too big for the younger one. A whip-round in the staffroom allowed a senior member of staff to go shopping and find two pairs of black shoes which were the right sizes. Many of us have subsidised our pupils in one way or another, but nothing has changed over the years. A child who comes to school without breakfast will never be able to concentrate… many’s the time I’ve had cereal bars in my drawer and a bowl of fruit there for anyone who needed it. From what I hear in the news this week, it’s not improving, is it?

In the dim and distant past I seem to remember that we rarely ate chicken as it was more expensive than beef, lamb and pork. The exception would be Christmas when the butcher delivered a capon – a male chicken which was neutered to improve the flavour of the flesh. Fast forward to today when chicken is probably the cheapest meat available, especially to people on a tight budget. It’s so versatile and definitely a favourite of our family, which was convenient when we lived in Italy and meat was so costly – a chicken was on the shopping list every week! Even now I’m happy to roast one on Sunday, have it cold on Monday, make Paella on Tuesday and then soup from the carcass and lots of veggies on Wednesday. Such a shame that “Gen Z” don’t know how to cook, they would be able to live much more economically if they knew about chickens… 😉

Earlier this week I read an article in one of the daily newspapers which was entitled “Gen Z just can’t cook” which I found somewhat disappointing, given the years I’ve spent trying to teach so many young people about the importance of food. It just so happens, though, that there are a number of young friends who can, and do, cook. So I took issue with the article straightaway. But what was very disconcerting was evidence that malnutrition is on the rise with cases of anaemia at their highest. Food banks in some parts of the country are unable to even give away fruit and vegetables as many people don’t know what to do with them. What could be easier and more nutritious than making a batch of soup? There are so many programmes on TV showing us how to cook but it seems they have become sheer entertainment rather than teaching aids. Do you remember Fanny Craddock? And what about Delia Smith? She was considered a bit dull, but, my goodness, what a good teacher we never had in schools. Children really need good Food Tech teachers and I’m afraid there might not be many around these days. An enthusiastic TA isn’t going to help… x

That was quite a week. It all started on Monday with Youtube deleting my latest video because, apparently, I’d breached their rules. No explanation, so I don’t know what I’ve done, but it’s gone. Maybe we’ll be able to edit the original one but I feel that I might just have to make a new video. In case you’re wondering, it was Apricot Boodle and I have a suspicion that word isn’t acceptable in the USA, but who knows? The recipe is still on the website and I can assure you it’s still delicious, but it might need to be renamed. It was such a shock to see the message that “three strikes and your out” could mean all 91 videos wiped. It makes me feel like a criminal to be honest, without knowing the crime. Tuesday I was witness to a lady who had recently lost her husband and was unable to deal with all the stuff he looked after, phone contracts, central heating, car controls….By Wednesday the Hunter/gatherer was too poorly to fulfill his weekly commitments and hibernating – it’s been bitterly cold here. So here we are, weekend guests cancelled, restaurant bookings cancelled, meals with family members off the cards. Let’s hope next week is better ❤