Be of Good Cheer!

As we approach the transition out of 2020, with high hopes that the new year will bring back missed opportunities, let’s find creative ways to celebrate with loved ones, staying safe, sharing joy and bringing peace to all.

Whilst I haven’t enjoyed wearing a face mask for long periods of time, I’ve missed my vulnerable parents dearly and have been more than busy throughout the year. I have, however, gained lots of new experiences, course guests, friends and customers and will be making our online/virtual courses a permanent feature moving forward.

We’ve found that the 5-7pm slot has been very popular with guests working from home and those in other countries. Our recent Bagels & Rye course had bakers from Dundee, Switzerland and North Carolina, plus three of us from Brentford!

Another highlight of this year has been the privilege of training so many new Bread Angels. We’ve had eight fabulous bakers on our Micro Bakery Course this year and many of them have started selling their beautiful bread to their local communities.

Advent – A time of Preparation

As we enter Advent, a season of preparation, let’s take time out from the lists of jobs to prepare ourselves.

• Let’s count our blessings, literally, with thankfulness.
• Let’s choose to consider those less fortunate than ourselves, those who are sick, grieving or may be alone this Christmas.
• Let’s plan ways to bless others and spread joy this festive season.

Gifts for one and all

Learning a new skill is a gift for life! We’ve got dates for many of our courses published on the website with more to be added as the months progress (and new government guidelines are announced!).

We are keeping our face to face courses as socially distanced small groups and, if they have to be postponed (for whatever reason), we will offer a complimentary virtual course and reschedule to another mutually convenient date.

Alongside our fabulous aprons, puddings & preserves, we now sell digital gift vouchers (which can even be added to your Apple Wallet!) these can be redeemed against our products (bakery, honey, preserves, etc.) or any of our courses (both face to face or virtual).

Celebration Chocolate Cake

Every celebration benefits from a little chocolate, and Christmas is no exception, but at a time when it’s easy to overeat, what about a recipe that’s easy, healthy, indulgent, gluten free, and has no added fat? Using eggs and veg from the garden, this recipe ticks every box…

Ingredients:

100 g good-quality dark chocolate

250 g grated raw beetroot

4 large free-range eggs

100 g ground almonds

150 g golden caster sugar

2 tablespoon good-quality cocoa powder

2 tsp mixed spice

1 teaspoon baking powder (gluten free if required)

Decorations of your choice: icing sugar, chocolate shavings, almond slivers, etc.

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 180c and line a 20cm round cake tin with baking parchment.

2) Melt the chocolate in bowl over hot water.

2) In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, almond, sugar, cocoa powder, mixed spice and baking powder.

3) Fold in the melted chocolate, followed by the grated beetroot

4) Pour mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 40 minutes, it’s cooked throughout when a clean metal skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

5) Allow to cool and decorate fabulously!

Other news:

• We still have spaces on our Apricot Advent Wreath course on Monday 30th November
• Join us for a free Cooking Together Mince Pies (with homemade mincemeat) on Thursday 10th December 10am, register for the Zoom class here
• Look out for our family starring in our local church Nativity Play on Sunday 20th December

Jobs for the week:

• Pack up 120 more Christmas Wreath kits, we are hosting at least 3 corporate Christmas events this year!
• Bake the Christmas cakes
• Practise Panettone

Enjoy your season of preparation,

Sara