It started just after 6.00 am when I woke up.  I was checking my emails and there was one offering me the job I had interviewed for and which I really wanted.  What a great start to the day!

I made some Coronation Chicken Pies to celebrate and a batch of Orange Brandy Brownies, courtest of John Whaite’s book to take to bowls this afternoon.

Had a surprising win in the first round of National Mixed Pairs.  I’d already been grinning from ear to ear before the match started, so it’s not difficult to imagine what I looked like afterwards.  There was a lot of laughter!

No doubt I’ll come back down to earth with a bang tomorrow.  C’est la vie1

Someone suggested I ought to write a baking blog.  It’s an interesting thought.

Since being off work, I have had time to bake but didn’t want to do too much as the outlets were fewer!   However, I did manage to do the catering at the bowls’ club finals weekend.  After I’d volunteered, I did wonder what on earth I’d done.  I don’t do bulk catering! However, I as able to use my organisational skills to get the kitchen up and running and did the cake baking in the evenings.  I actually enjoyed it but could never do it full time.  My hands just couldn’t cope with the constant washing up.  I wonder what professional bakers do – they can’t all have washer-uppers.

On Bank Holiday weekend, I organised two informal roll ups with the lure of tea and cake afterwards.  This combines the love of playing bowls with the love of baking and nurturing, except with so many people having to watch their sugar/cholesterol/fat intake, it’s difficult to find new recipes to cater for all. John Whaites’ “My Bakewell Tarts” is a stunning recipe and I  haven’t found anyone who doesn’t like them.

I took to James Morton’s Brilliant Bread book as well.  The Focaccia is excellent and the Cholesterol-Cutting Bread was a real success yesterday. 

The good old-fashioned Victoria Sponge is still a firm favourite as are scones.  The diabetes website is a good source of recipes as are the branded half-sugar or natural-sugar product websites.  I’m hoping that a combination of relatively healthy and naughty but nice cakes and bakes will keep everyone relatively happy.

Tomorrow, I might make Beetroot Brownies.  Surely these must be a healthier option with one of your seven vegetables a day in them?!