All posts tagged baking

The Scottish Baker Of The Year 2013

by Andrew on May 9, 2013 in On The Web with No comments

scottish_baker_2013Scottish Bakers has announced the names of the final 6 bakers shortlisted for the ultimate accoldade, the title of SCOTTISH BAKER OF THE YEAR 2013:

Harry Gow – Inverness
Stevens the Bakers – Dunfermline
Brownings the Bakers – Kilmarnock
Border Biscuits – Motherwell
Macleans Highland Bakery – Forres
Cuckoos Bakery Edinburgh

Each of the 6 finalsts have already been recognised by their customers and a panel of expert judges as producing some of the BEST products in Scotland following an intense judging day in Dunfermline last month.

Following the judges taste tests, all of the regional winners were judged on a national level and a total of 24 bakers were put forward for the main prize.

Each of these bakers were then asked to submit a business case for why their bakery is the best in the land and each baker has also been subjected to a panel interview by independent business judges including James Withers, CEO of Scotland Food and Drink, David Lonsdale, Assistant Director, CBI Scotland and Mike Tully, CEO Bako Northern and Scotland.

The bakers will now complete video interviews for the judges to make their decision on who will be crowned Scottish Baker of the Year 2013

Paul Hollywood, Artisan baker and TV presenter, will announce the winner and present them with their prize, a specially commissioned silver rolling pin at this year’s Scottish Baker of the Year Awards, at a prestigious ceremony in Glasgow on 18th May.

15,000 customers from Stranraer to Shetland voted for their best bakery products during March and the top products in each of the 6 categories were baked and delivered to Dunfermline on 10th April. All products were then judged a panel of independent experts led by artisan baker Robert Ross and including retired master bakers with extensive experience of the bakery sector in Scotland.

The panel professionally judged some 300 items shortlisted in the 6 categories: breads, scones, individual cakes, savouries, morning rolls and new category biscuits, to decide who bakes the best products in Scotland.

Each category has been divided into 3 regions, covering Northern, Central and Southern Scotland. Within each category, the judges will award regional Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and all our shortlisted bakers will be invited to the Awards ceremony in May where they will find out what colour their regional award will be.

The final results will remain a closely guarded secret until 18th May when Paul will announce the results and also name the Scottish Baker of the Year 2013, a crown currently held by Harry Gow.

But for now, each of our 6 bakers can take pride in their place as one of the best bakers in the land.


National Craft Bakers Week 2012

by Andrew on September 4, 2012 in Tasting Events/Shows with No comments

national craft bakers weekBuilding on last year’s success, The National Association of Master Bakers and Scottish Bakers are pleased to announce that National Craft Bakers’ Week will take place from the 8th – 13th October 2012, promoting the traditional skills of Master Bakers, across the country.

This year National Craft Bakers Week is delighted to be supported by Tom and Henry Herbert, of the Fabulous Baker Brothers. Tom and Henry grew up in their family’s bakery, which has been baking bread at the heart of their local community since 1920. Tom and Henry are a daily fixture in the family bakery and butchery, where they share their passion and commitment to producing fresh food and bread.

Tom and Henry join hundreds of other Master Bakers across the length and breadth of the country to raise awareness of our baker’s commitment to producing beautiful, artisan food that is fresh and a joy to eat.

Throughout National Craft Bakers Week, our Master Bakers will be joining Tom and Henry to host ‘The Big Taste’, which will see bakeries across the country opening their doors to local schools, community groups and families, inviting everyone to taste and experience what it means to bake and eat fresh artisan bread, pastries and cakes. Our Master Bakers will be passing the ‘baking baton’ on to their community, answering questions, inspiring Britain’s future bakers and getting fresh artisan bread, savouries and cakes back on the tables of Britain’s homes.

National Craft Bakers Week is an opportunity for Britain’s Master Bakers to showcase their speciality products, be it bread, cake or pastries and share their passion and commitment to producing fresh food locally.

National Craft Bakers’ Week will also be fundraising for the Teenage Cancer Trust, the charity bakers have collectively chosen to support. Everyday in the UK six young people aged 13 – 24 are told they have cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the life and chances of survival of the young people diagnosed with cancer.

Information will be available about National Craft Bakers’ Week, events and how to get involved at Master Bakers.

Celebrity Bake Book

by Andrew on August 30, 2012 in Books For Cooks with 1 Comment

celebrity bake bookWho would have thought that Twiggy loves a slice of Coconut Cake or that the Duchess of Cornwall’s favourite bake is a healthy Sultana Flapjack Bar?

And did you know that former Spice Girl Emma Bunton likes to indulge in Squidgy Chocolate Cake while Joanna Lumley’s favourite dessert is Fancy Bread and Butter Pudding?

These are just a selection of the 150 politicians, actors, singers, models, TV personalities and much loved chefs who have donated recipes to the Celebrity Bake Book which is raising money for the Ben Kinsella Trust to increase awareness of knife crime amongst young people. .

With a foreword and recipe from Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry and sponsorship from food entertainment TV channel Food Network UK, the Celebrity Bake Book is rising to the challenge of becoming the must-have cookbook for Christmas.

Recipes include:

  • Gok Wan’s Chinese Steam Pudding
  • Lauren Goodger’s Rocky Road
  • Lorraine Kelly’s Dundee Cake
  • Gareth Malone’s Orange Almond Cupcakes
  • Mary Berry’s Best Chocolate Fudge Cake
  • Nigella Lawson’s Birthday Custard Sponge
  • Barbara Windsor’s Sour Cream Topped Cheesecake
  • Samantha Cameron’s Figs with Barbados Cream

Other famous faces include Jane Asher, Lauren Goodger, Fearne Cotton, Claudia Winkleman, Samantha Cameron, Russell Grant, Leona Lewis, Anneka Rice, Harriet Harman, Rachel Stevens Tamsin Outhwaite, Loose Women Jenny Eclair and Lynda Bellingham, national treasure Barbara Windsor, Downtown Abbey’s cook Mrs Patmore – alias actress Lesley Nicol – and TV’s top celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, The Hairy Bikers, Gino D’Acampo, Michel Roux Jr, Marco Pierre White and Ainsley Harriott.

All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to The Ben Kinsella Trust.

The Celebrity Bake Book can be pre-ordered from Amazon for £10.49

Celebrity Bake Book

by Andrew on May 24, 2012 in Books For Cooks with No comments

celebrity bake bookBarbara Windsor, Lauren Goodger, Twiggy and The Duchess of Cornwall are among the 150 celebrities and royalty who have provided their favourite baking recipe for a charity cookbook sponsored by food entertainment TV channel Food Network UK to raise money for The Ben Kinsella Trust.

The cookbook titled Celebrity Bake Book is a compilation of more than 150 recipes from famous faces ranging from politicians, actors, singers, models, TV personalities, much loved chefs and even royalty.

With host of personal recipes from Emma Bunton’s Squidgy Chocolate Cake, Lorraine Kelly’s Dundee Cake to Gok Wan’s Chinese Steam Pudding, the book is the first of its kind and aims to increase awareness of knife crime amongst young people.

The Ben Kinsella Trust, supported by TV channel Food Network UK, is giving one budding British baker the opportunity for their favourite recipe to feature in the cookbook alongside charitable stars such as Leona Lewis, Fearne Cotton and Jamie Oliver.

The competition for inclusion in the Celebrity Bake Book goes live on 14th May 2012 on www.foodnetwork.co.uk, and will require bakers to submit their “Best British Bake” recipe. A shortlist of 20 will be prepared by Food Network UK baker, Lotte Duncan and judged by a panel of contributors to the book.

Brooke Kinsella said,

“The response from everyone so far has been fantastic. People from all walks of life are coming to together to help raise awareness of knife crime amongst young people and their families.”

“I can’t wait to see the final copy of the book and get some baking inspiration from the celebrities and chefs who have shared recipes.”

Nick Thorogood, Managing Director of Food Network EMEA said;

“We hope our support for the Celebrity Bake Book will help raise valuable funds for The Ben Kinsella Trust. It’s a great charity which works hard to reduce knife crime in our communities, and we hope that the book will encourage people to don an apron and bake a cake for their neighbours and family.

“The competition gives a member of the public a great opportunity to have their recipe featured alongside other great chefs and influential personalities and do their part to raise awareness for the Trust.”

So if your shortbread cannot be beaten or your treacle tart is a family favourite, submit your ‘Best British Bake’ recipe at www.foodnetwork.co.uk before the 22nd June.

Celebrity Bake Book will go on sale from early September 2012 and all proceeds will be donated to The Ben Kinsella Trust which hopes to raise enough money to take a knife crime exhibition into schools nationwide to educate youngsters about the consequences of knife crime and the devastating impact it has on society as a whole.

Black Pudding and Pear Pie Recipe

by Andrew on March 6, 2012 in food with 1 Comment

black pudding pear pieIn celebration of National Pie Week a recipe from Food Network Chef Andy Bates – a Black Pudding Pear Pie.

Black Pudding & Pear Pies
Ingredients
• 400g pork mince
• 200g black pudding, chopped
• 1 large diced pear
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
• 1 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
For the pastry:
• 450g plain flour
• 200ml water
• 170g lard
• 1 free-range egg yolk, beaten
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
How to make Black Pudding and Pear Pies
1) Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2) For the filling, mix all ingredients together and season well. Then divide into four 150g portions.
3) For the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl and set aside.
4) In a pan, heat the water and lard together and gradually bring to a simmer, or until all the lard has melted. Bring the mixture up the boil and then pour this onto the flour mixture. Mix well with a wooden spoon to create a firm dough.
5) Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface and knead the dough quickly for a few minutes. Roll the dough out flat, take one of the pie portions and place on the pastry. Cut around the portion leaving enough room for you to fold the pastry around the mix creating a parcel. Repeat this with the remaining portions.
6) Roll out the remaining pastry then stamp out with pastry cutters 4 mini circles for the lids. Brush the lids with beaten egg yolk, then place the pastry on top of the pies and press down to seal. Cut a small hole in the top of each pastry lid and transfer into the oven for 35 minutes, or until the pastry is golden-brown and the meat is completely cooked through.
7) Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

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