Do you bake?

[Gemini]

Many of us love the Great British Bake Off, I certainly do.
Are you a regular baker, a once in while one, or do you never bake?

When my children were small, I always made their birthday cakes, and at other times in the year made cakes, biscuits and jam tarts. Not every week, or even every month, but a few times a year. I have always made a Christmas cake and mince pies.
Now I have phases of baking. I make apple cakes when we have lots of apples. I occasionally make batch of biscuits, or buns, or a fruit loaf. I am not a regular baker however.
Partly because I would eat far too many if I made them!!

[Enfys]

I'm the same, Gem....love the bake off, used to do loads of baking. It now we're on our own and with a type 1 diabetic DH my baking days are few and far between. He shouldn't really eat much cake so then I end up eating far more than is good for me . So I might do a special birthday cake if the family are coming round then it all goes.

[Elisi]

I'm just the same Gem. No baking here as we woucld both eat it Occasionally I bake cup cakes with the GKs. They take them home! I don't watch Bake off as I am not really interested in cooking or baking as such. It's enough of a daily grind to feed ourselves as after years or a llifetime of cooking I find it is now a chore. I wish I could magic food from the ether, all rich in nutrients and proteins and that would be that! The nearest I can get is M&S ready meals

[ZIZI]

I always make the children's birthday cakes. Husband started baking for he first time in his life when he had his knees done and he makes a fantastic raspberry and chocolate cake. I don't bake as much now as when I had a desk in an office. I used to find it very satisfactory but not so much now....

[Gemini]

I forgot to add, that since the acquisition of my lovely bread maker earlier this year, I do regularly bake bread (cos it's so easy )

[Oma]

I like to bake but not everyday cooking , I do even if I say so myself make lovely scones , I also like to make cakes and Barra Brith . I don't bake every week as like everyone else I would eat too much . When my children were young I Baked All The Time , I Made All The Family Birthday Cakes and when DD was married I did a sugar craft course to learn how to make all the flowers leaves and berries she wanted on her cake . I used to make bread every other day but then OH took over and he is much better at it than me

[Daisy]

For years I used to bake every week - I never bought cake. I'd generally make a selection from sponge cake, fruit cake, flapjacks, ginger cake, fairy cakes, chocolate cake or rock buns. Buying cake seemed totally immoral, somehow! And I still think bought cakes never taste as good as homemade, but there's only the 2 of us and if it's there we eat it! Also, like Elisi, I've had to cook every day all my married life and I'm fed up with it. I want good healthy, nutritious food, preferably magicked in by the Good Food Fairy! So now I bake occasionally, when the mood takes me, but I do make bread in the bread maker - that falls into the category of 'good and nutritious' !

[Nanto2girls]

I don't bake every week, but I do bake. Scones, coconut and cherry cake,lemon meringue pie, fruit pies,fruit cake to name a few. Eldest granddaughter loves anything with ginger in.A few weeks ago she asked, Nan, can we bake some brown thing. Turns out she meant parkin, she did quite well too, with a bit of help.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

I have never watched Bake Off (I must be the only person in the world to say this) and bake as a recreation often. Baking in my book is spelt "F U N". I love it. I freeze all cakes though as we don't eat cake every day. Currently I have golden syrup fairy cakes for the GC - second batch by request - Vicky Sponge which DH adores and an almond Madeira cake which is my favourite. I am feeling the need to make a Choc Cake this week. I have a friend who loves Choc Cake and I always cut part of it off before freezing and give to her.

[Mimi]

I used to but not any more .
When I had all the family living with us I used to bake every weekend and sometimes in the week also.
I would bake a large batch of small cakes, scones and pastries and half of them I would freeze.
Christmas cake was baked in October, Christmas puds were also done. Dad grew shallots in his garden so I had the unenviable job of peeling the shallots , soaking them in brine and then pickling them.

[Plantaholic]

I used to always have a full cake tin, my husband liked cake. Always made my own puddings, so much nicer. I do like baking but being on my own now, unless I can pass it to family there doesn't seem much point. I always make the mincemeat and pies but I don't make a Christmas cake any more, OH loved it, it used to last him some time, he loved it with a glass of port.

[Libra Gran]

I enjoy baking I make cakes most weeks,some I take into work which are always appreciated. The ones I make at home are generally sponges or hubby's favourite fruit cake. I didn't watch bake off this time round,not quite sure why.

[Bizzy Lizzy]

I used to always have a full cake tin, my husband liked cake. Always made my own puddings, so much nicer. I do like baking but being on my own now, unless I can pass it to family there doesn't seem much point. I always make the mincemeat and pies but I don't make a Christmas cake any more, OH loved it, it used to last him some time, he loved it with a glass of port.

Yes Plant I know what you mean. Were it not for the GC (still coming to us a couple of times a week) eating cakes and DH who loves Vicky Sponge I would not be able to justify baking now. Even if friends call there is always the question of diet and many are trying to keep sugar to a minimum these days. I never make Christmas cake as no one in the family likes it. Same with mince pies and Christmas pudding - no takers. What everyone does like is sausage rolls though so I do make those. Fiddly but nicer than the shop ones.

[Avo]

I bake most weeks. I especially like baking on a wet winter's day, when I will spend the morning baking. I bake allsorts - but mainly cakes and cookies. I do all the Christmas stuff, cake, mince pies, but I usually buy the pudding (I don't really know why!!) I liked watching bake off, although I have to record it as I'm at Pilates on Wednesday evenings.