Baking: what’s it all about?

Is it the Credit Crunch? Is it a mid-life crisis? A throw-back to childhood? Who knows, but recently I’ve been on a baking marathon. In the last two weeks I’ve baked all manner of bread, cookies, brownies and cakes. I hasten to add that I have shared them with my team at work rather than eaten them all myself.

Some have been a spectacular success; others not so. Rachel Allen‘s Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Blondies from her book Bake were delicious and very easy to make.

I found Anthony Worrall Thomposon‘s book The Sweet Life in Morrisons supermarket at a bargain price (£1.99). It’s a book of recipes using Splenda sugar substitute. Great for those of us who have to watch their weight! The Apricot and Ginger Tea Bread turned out to be a triumph. Fantastic taste and texture. You would not know it was sugarless. Worth the cost of the book alone!

A couple of days ago, I tried a BBC Food recipe for Banana and Walnut Loaf. I’m sorry to say it turned out to be rather crumbly and a little on the dry side. It could well have been me, but I did follow the recipe to the letter. I’ve Googled a few new banana loaf recipes, which I plan to try at some point.

My latest fad is muffins and cupcakes…so easy to make and tasty too!

When will this end?

Update: Paul Cole has tweeted to me a recipe for Banana loaf from Sound Bites in Derby, which he says is good. Use the following link to see Sound Bites shop on Google Street View: Sound Bites Derby (opens in a new window).