 This blog is all about highlighting what helps reduce stress! Especially now you are all nearly coming to the end of your academic year, the work load can start to increase…but that doesn’t mean the stress levels should too.
Baking for fun can really help relax the mind, as you are focusing on something other can work. Yes, getting your work done is a priority but trying to do something you enjoy is equally important. To some, baking is a sensory experience; the simple smell of a Victoria sponge baking can bring a smile to anyone’s face! The satisfaction of a finished product or even just decorating it to the design of your choice can help lift your mood…and once you have finished, you can have a slice to eat when you get back to the assignments, it all helps. The point is, baking can be a relaxing experience and it will inevitably help build on your existing skills, especially with the competitions just around the corner! Get in touch with your creative side this month, and allow yourself some ‘me’ time. Even if baking is not your go to… find something that suits you. This include colouring, reading, exercising, decorating …and so much more! Let us know what you do to relax, you never know, it may help others (email to [email protected]) For now, why not have a go at making a simple Lemon Drizzle…send in your picture once you have made it, to have it featured on the website: INGREDIENTS Shelled eggs - 2 Caster sugar - 113g Plain flour - 113g Baking Powder - 5g Softened Butter - 113g Finely grated lemon zest - 1 Lemon juice - 1 Caster sugar - 43g Method
EXTRA – drizzle fondant on top. ABST
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 Mother’s Day Blog
Baking something special for your Mother will always be up there as one of the best gifts! This year Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 27th March 2022, and this day is a day to show our love and appreciation for our Mother’s. This year I have decided to bake my mother a ‘Black Forest Gateau’ as this is her absolute favourite dessert. Traditionally, a Simnel cake would be made as a gift, it is a very rich fruit cake that often has a layer of marzipan in the centre and on top for decoration. However, today Simnel cakes are more associated with Easter, but I will attach a recipe below for anyone who would like to bake one! I know many of you who are studying at College / University will have made lots of Mother’s Day products this week, we would love to see your creations. Email your photos to [email protected] along with your college, name and a small description of the product. You never know…you may get a feature on our new and updated website! Simnel Cake Recipe: Ingredients
Method: · STEP 1 Put the mixed dried fruit in a bowl with the orange juice and zest and 30g water. Heat gently in a pan, stirring now and then until the liquid has been absorbed and leave to cool. · STEP 2 Heat oven to 150°c. Roll out a third of the marzipan and use the base of a deep 20cm cake tin as a template to cut out a circle. Wrap any offcuts and the remaining two-thirds of marzipan and set aside for later. Grease the cake tin with a double layer of parchment. Cream together the sugar and softened butter until light and fluffy. Add the eggs (21°c), flour, almonds, baking powder, lemon zest, mixed spice and vanilla. Mix until combined, then fold in the dried fruit and cherries. · STEP 3 Scrape half the cake mixture into the tin. Top with the disc of marzipan, then the remaining cake mixture, and level the top with a spatula. The cake should take 2 hours to bake, add time if necessary. Cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. · STEP 4 Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam. Roll out half of the remaining marzipan and use the base of the cake as a template to cut out another disc. Place it on top of the cake and crimp the edges, if you like. Roll the remaining marzipan into 11 equal-sized balls. ABST |
