Seasonal Winter Baking
Winter is the time for oven-fresh delicious baked goods to pick up one's mood and soothe one's soul.
And it's not just the taste (although that's certainly the most enticing aspect!) - it's the whole process: gathering the ingredients, putting plenty of excited anticipation into making the mixture, then patiently - or not- waiting for the object of desire to hurry up and cook, while a delightful smell pervades the house, banishing thoughts of cold and dreary days.
Fill your abode with the drool-worthy aromas of these oven-baked delights:
Focaccia Bread.
Any home-made bread beats the supermarket version when pulled straight out of the oven! Focaccia is a simple bread to make for the first-time baker - it's divine with a number of additions, but we strongly recommend sprinkling our fresh thyme along with rock salt on the dough prior to baking. A slice of oven-warm focaccia with a slathering of butter alongside a hearty soup takes one's taste buds to another dimension!
Pumpkin Bread.
Think of it like a sweet, spiced loaf with an amazing golden colour - the pumpkin doesn't add much flavour, but it's unrivalled in terms of bringing colour and moisture to baked goods! It pairs perfectly with a lovely cup of tea or coffee and a good book.
Pumpkin Cake.
Honestly, the options for incorporating pumpkin into baking are extensive! Like the pumpkin bread, the pumpkin is more for adding colour and texture, while the spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice take centre stage. This is a goodie for making into muffins - no doubt you'll have your morning-tea guests harassing you for the recipe!
Pumpkin Pie.
It would be rude not to explore all the pumpkin options! An American classic, pumpkin pie is straightforward to create - one has the option of buying pastry or making one's own… it depends on how much time one has to kill! Most American recipes call for canned pumpkin, but simply boiling and purèeing our lovely orange Cucurbits and using the appropriate weight of pumpkin mash will do the trick.
Beetroot Brownies.
Complete with an incredible rich colour, a very mild earthy taste and the overall sensation of feeling rather healthy whilst going back for that inviting second slice, a beetroot brownie hits the spot! Don't knock it ‘till you try it…
Carrot Cake.
An absolute classic - it's got all the warming spices, the decadent icing (if you choose to ice it, that is), fabulous texture and wow, does it bring excitement to one's day!
Lemon Drizzle Cake:
Winter is the time to shine for citrus, and what better way to make the most of lemons than with a sweet, zesty, moist yet crunchy slice of lemon cake! Careful who you share it with though - you may end up with an empty plate and only a few crumbs left!