Breads, Biscuits and Jams

One of my very favourite things in the world is teaching people how to make bread. For some reason baking bread seems to provide enormous satisfaction – it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been doing it. I’ve been cooking most of my adult life, yet I still get a thrill every time I take a nice crusty loaf out of the oven. But I get even more satisfaction when I see the look of delight on my students’ faces when they bake their first really good loaf. And it’s a funny thing, but if you make a loaf of lovely fresh soda bread for a dinner party, it doesn’t matter what other star turn you produce, everyone will remark on the bread – which may only have taken you five minutes to make.