Reminiscing of homebaked

 

Baking

I thought I would share some pictures of some of our delicious bakes...just to remind you all

A spot of baking

Meringue nests

The Country Markets have a nationwide reputation for excellent baking, Ampthill Country Market have small team of quality bakers, and try to offer some variety as well as regular signature bakes.

We welcome feedback, and would love to know your favourite bakes.

Here is a taster of some our recent bakes.

Treacle tart

Savoury scones

Free from gluten

We have had a new baker join us just before Christmas that specialises in dietary requirements, and has a lovely range of products, savoury and sweet using gluten free flour, and other gluten free ingredients  Needing the special requirements herself is meticulous in choosing her ingredients.  

By ordering she can also offer lactose free products, but we have found that there is not enough demand to always supply them on the stall.  So contact us at the stall or by email, if you want something.

Here are some photos of some of the products that she has been baking and now has quite a following of customers:

Savoury Turnovers

We have tomatoes and courgettes for sale on the market at the moment, and they should be available for quite a few weeks now - here is a simple idea to use them.











Roll out a pack of puff pastry (half at a time might be easier), and cut into 12 squares in total.

Chop an onion - red would be good and fry it gently, then add some courgette - diced or sliced which ever you prefer. Put this mixture from corner to corner, and add some diced feta and some sliced tiny toms - make sure it looks attractive at the ends, add some seasoning and herbs.  Fold over the two corners, and seal with milk or egg. I brushed with milk - or for a shinier finish brush with beaten egg.

Cook them for about 15 mins in a fairly hot oven, I always guess these type of things but sure the pastry pack will give guidance.

Bread Pudding

I have always love bread pudding - not to be confused with bread and butter pudding, which I also love, but bread pudding is more of a cake slice.

It is a recipe that has been around for years, made by grandma :)

It is great for using up old bread, or even the crusts, if they are soft.



I spent ages looking at different recipes and in the end came up with my winning formula:

Bread Pudding
Bake 1 hour in a traybake at 170c
15 oz Bread soaked in
14 fl oz of Milk (can do some water)
3oz Sugar
10oz Dried fruit
2oz or 3 oz margarine - melted
1 egg
I add some Mixed Spice and some nutmeg

Basically soak the bread for at least half an hour, you can leave it for longer overnight in the fridge is fine, mash completely – I use a use mixer to get it smooth
Add everything else and bake - how simple is that.

Line the tin with silicone paper not greaseproof it sticks!

And you should have some nice Bread pudding. I sprinkle with sugar on top. This quantities are very 'loose'!

I cut it into 15, I have also added mashed bananas, and it is nice hot or cold.

Market Day - spotlight on baking

Today was much busier than last week, maybe everyone was on holiday over the Easter period, or just out for days?  

Good to see everyone back, it was a good weather day for a market stall - no wind or rain, the sun even popped out from time to time, we can get quite battered out there on windy days :)

There was a good selection of baking and we started with quite a stall full, and apart from a couple of packs it was all sold.  

The quiches were very popular and could have sold more.  We do several sizes, and they are all suitable for freezing, so you can eat some and freeze some.

See you all next Thursday

Special Diets

Dairy free victoria sponge

We have a new baker that has just started and she is baking delicious goodies that are suitable for gluten free diets, as well as dairy free, making some of them suitable for vegetarians and vegans.  Anything labelled suitable for vegans will be egg free.

One of her children is allergic to dairy, and as she is also a vegetarian with another family member a vegan it gives her the incentive to seek out recipes that taste fantastic, and available to those that have intolerances.

Dairy free choc chip cookies

Those suffering from Celiac disease need to follow a gluten free diet, and often miss out on delicious baking, so maybe we can tempt you on Thursday morning.

Gluten free carrot cake

This week you will be able to buy gluten free gingerbread loaf, dairy/egg free/ cherry & almond cookies and hopefully Lemon and poppyseed muffins.



Don't forget that all of our baking is freshly made, and much of it will be suitable for freezing, although the chocolate chip cookies are probably not best to be put in the freezer, and I recommend eating them :)