There is a lot of baking going on in my house at the moment. As well as the normal requests I receive on a weekly basis for muffins, biscuits, cakes and pies the children have got in on the act and started producing their own efforts such as gingerbread men and cookies. Indeed it is as if we are trying as a family to beat some kind of marathon baking world record, and in fact the whole thing has got quite out of hand – and more than a little competitive amongst the youngsters. Cookers have never been so cool.
Photo: fuzzz
In addition to all this sibling rivalry and one-upmanship I am concerned for the housekeeping budget which is taking a pounding in the raw ingredients department, and I am also beginning to get distressed about the effect on our waistlines of consuming all these baked goods. I for one can feel the pinch in my jeans and the fruit bowl is increasingly looking like a more sensible alternative: perhaps I can get them excited enough to compete to produce the ultimate fruit salad? Possibly not methinks.
I wouldn’t mind but all this baking enthusiasm does rather monopolise ones electric or gas cookers, meaning that I have recently become an expert at producing hob-based dinners and have even dusted off the slow cooker for what is probably only its third or fourth outing. As the weather is still a bit cold in the evenings I am quite enjoying the challenge in an odd kind of way and have rediscovered the delights of risotto as well as the humble casserole – my Mother will be so proud! Where will it all end? I have no idea, but I’m sure another fad will come along soon enough and I will get my kitchen back to normal: fingers crossed it is sooner rather than later!
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