I’m not really sure where to start again with the blog. I have for a while considered just
putting up a sign to say that it has come to an end, but something keeps me
coming back. So I resolve instead
to do what I always advise bloggers to do when things get too much, which is to
keep your posts, short, simple and straight forward.
The past few months have been crazily busy, so I shall endeavour to keep it brief.
The Kitchen Garden School is in full swing and I've gone back to my origin training and love as baker. Once a baker always a baker. All that time at college and in the bakeries in France is now more relevant than ever. I remember my mother telling me that it was a string to my bow, and if all else failed in life I would always have a job baking. Despite there being times in my life when the only baking I have done was for family and friends it has stood me in good stead. It was sound advice.
My agent has my book proposal. I am now waiting to hear back
with details. It’s really exciting, but I'm wondered where on earth I would have times to fit it all in but then I’ve not had a moment to dwell on it. I will just have to find the time, and will think about it when the times comes.
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| Fabulous tutorial day with Dan Lepard |
I’m constantly dedicated to considering our ingredient
choices in our food and drink. We
have the ability to change people’s lives by supporting fair and ethical food
and in March I am off to India to do visit a Fairtrade tea plantation. I’m thrilled to be going. In the mean
time I have been baking and teaching sourdough courses, developing recipes and
photographing them. It’s time
consuming to say the least. My
children are growing up in front of my eyes and I feel old all of a sudden. I
don’t mean old as in decrepit, but I am tried, pushing myself every day and can’t
remember the last time I had the inclination or the desire to got out and have
fun. Don’t get me wrong, I love
what I do, but the house, the garden, the children and teaching and now trying
to loose those oh so unwanted pounds gives me little time for anything else.
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| I love that my daughter is growing up understanding the importance of the provenance of food. She chatted to everyone about keeping chickens and how they lay the eggs we use in our baking. |
I’ve been to the gym two nights in a row, and I’m trying to
stick the paleao diet. Quite a
challenge for a baker I can tell you. No doubt I will feel better when I have
lost some weight.
We’ve run some super tutorial groups over the past few
months, including Dan Lepard teaching a Sweet Sourdough course, and Vivien
Lloyd showing us how to make homemade marmalade to perfection. I t turns out that for that past 25
years I have been making shockingly bad marmalade, so after a day with Vivien I
am hoping to enter this years marmalade awards. I just have to make another pot or two first.
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| Sweet Sourdough |
I’ve also taken on the job of being
Bakerybits official inhouse baker, testing new products and developing recipes. I am really enjoying
it. I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming to check that I really I earn my living baking all sorts of
delicious breads, cakes, muffins, pancakes, pies and tarts. Yes I know .. it’s no wonder I have to loose some
weight, but don’t worry I am not about to become an obsessive I lose a 1lb this
week kind of blogger!
So I shall pepper this post with some images that capture
the past few months best, and try to keep posting more often. Thank you for staying to read.
Vanessa
x
