02.06.2023
Ashford Place’s weekly baking sessions celebrated end of term on Wednesday May 31st. Bakers received their Baking Achievement Certificates and went home with their ‘Bake of the Day’, a rhubarb or apple crumble.
As part of the Ashford Place Fit + Well project, the baking group have met weekly for the past 18 months and have baked a wide variety of breads, scones, cakes, buns, biscuits and crumbles. Baking has been shown to be extremely beneficial for boosting mental health and wellbeing and as a form of therapy which relieves stress and anxiety and those who attended the weekly classes have enjoyed the socialising, making new friends and exploring new recipes, ingredients and flavours. They have grown in self-confidence in voicing their preferences and always giving a thumbs-up for almond, lime, coconut or passion fruit flavours, and in discussing and identifying the reasons as to why the pastry was too dry or the sponge cake was cracked on top. As one member said ‘I enjoy the camaraderie with the teacher and my friends, we always have a laugh which makes me happy and I enjoy creating something that I can then share with my family and friends’.
D said ‘I enjoy the company of fellow cooks and sharing what I make with my son’.
M said ‘I have learned a lot and found the sessions very enjoyable’ while B regularly tries out the recipes at home and enjoys baking Banana and Blueberry cake best of all.
Top marks to those who have attended over the past 18 months, Gregory, Muriel, Carole, Bertha, Pamela, Debi, Michelle, Themis, Simone and Betty.
Next stop ‘Great British Bake Off’!
