Hands on in Chiswick

Get set and ready to bake

It was hands on in Chiswick when Rose asked me to give a baking lesson for her friends and members of her Boot Camp group at her home. She has an amazing kitchen with an island station which Grandma would have loved. It was perfect for everyone to gather round and join in. I baked Marmalade Spice Cake as the tangy combination of marmalade and ginger is always very popular. Everyone wanted to have a go at weighing, stirring, mixing and tasting and get some baking tips before the cake went in the oven.

Marmalade Spice Cake 

While it was cooking, I talked about the story of Grandma’s life and home baking and there were some samples of the recipes I’d made earlier from  Grandma Abson's Traditional Baking book.

I’d made all the recipes with less sugar. One of the guests commented :  ‘I came and tasted a gorgeous (not overly sweet) cake and have been reading the book and showing it to friends ever since. It’s a gold mine of fantastic recipes. You won't get this from any TV chefs and it’s a breath of fresh air. Thank you Meryl.’

Dream Cake is disappearing

Once the cakes came out of the oven, there was hardly time for them to cool before they had disappeared. Who can resist the smell and taste of home baking warm and aromatic and straight out of the oven? Having a baking lesson is fabulous idea for a party. Huge thanks to Rose for being the perfect host. Let’s get baking!

Boot Camp team photo -  traditional baking experts!

Grandma’s on the wireless

Marmalade Spice Cake

Grandma listened to all sorts of radio programmes while she was knitting or sewing - plays and news on ‘The Home’ service, now Radio 4, and music on ‘The Light’ programme, which is a bit like Radio 2 - and she called it the 'wireless'.

This week, I’ve been interviewed on BBC Radio Sheffield and been sharing recipes from Grandma book. Rony Robinson, the presenter asked me about being brought up by Grandma and life on the Railway Station at Bolton on Dearne and of course about Grandma’s recipes and why I was passionate about home baking.

I made Marmalade Spice Cake for the BBC people to try and they told me it was 'Yum Yum'. Here's the recipe :

8oz/225g self raising flour

3oz/75g margarine or butter

5oz/150g marmalade

6oz/175g golden syrup

2 tsps ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsps hot water

1 egg (beaten) 

Pre heat the oven to 325F, Mark 3, 170 C. Grease and line a loaf tin. Melt the margarine (or butter) in the golden syrup in a pan. Mix the flour, ginger and cinnamon. Add the liquid from the pan gradually. Add the marmalade and beaten egg and stir in the hot water. Bake in a warm oven for ¾ hour. 

The recipe is one from Grandma’s daughter-in-law, Nellie.  I love this recipe as the ginger gives it a real tang. I make it regularly with Grandma Pat’s homemadeMarmalade although any good quality marmalade will do.

Grandma Abson’s Traditional Baking recipes are going far and wide!