Bake your way to happiness

I was recently sent a guest post which I couldnt wait to share with you. We adore baking with the boys and they love it too. Its a great way to spend time together as a family, the boys learn maths from the recipes and also enjoy reading something different. Let alone the fact that they are much more likely to eat something if they were part of the process of the baking! Have a read below just to see why baking and happiness are so tied together! Just remember nothing beats a fresh loaf or cake straight out the oven!

With spring almost upon us, now could be the time to learn a new skill or improve skills you already have. The impact of television programmes such as The Great British Bake Off has been huge and has inspired a whole new generation to get baking for friends and family, or even as a business venture. Here we look at why you should be getting into baking and why it is a great thing to encourage your kids to get involved with.

Why choose baking?

Baking is something that anybody can have a go at. As long as you can follow simple recipes and have the right equipment and ingredients, baking is something that anybody can do. If you are a 'novice' baker, starting off with simple things such as biscuits and cakes is a good idea; however, once you have been bitten by the baking bug, you will no doubt want to try to develop more complex skills such as bread making, macaroons, meringues, and different types of pastry.

Baking is a great way to show people what you can do when you put your mind to it; in addition, it can be a way of developing your own self-confidence, making you happier in the process. Baking for yourself is also healthier, as you know what you are putting into your baked goods. It is also great for those who have food allergies and intolerances and who may not be able to eat baked products from a shop.

Great for children

If you are a parent, baking with your children is a great thing to do. It will keep them occupied and give them something to show − and eat − at the end of the process. Baking can also be educational, as measuring out the ingredients will help with numeracy while reading and following recipes will help with literacy. The art of baking is considered by some to be a science, so it has several educational benefits.

 

An additional benefit of teaching your children how to bake is that they will see exactly what goes into what they are eating, which might encourage them to make healthier choices by incorporating ingredients such as fruit into recipes. If you are baking with your children, simple recipes are best; therefore, basic cookies, muffins and fairy cakes are a good place to start and are delicious to eat when you have finished.

Don your apron, dig out your mixing bowl and try to bake something yourself or with your children. No matter how simple the recipe, you will bring a huge amount of pleasure to those you bake for and give yourself a huge amount of satisfaction in the process.