Remove All Labels Before Baking

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I am about to spend 2012 learning to bake.  I love cake and I have always wanted to be able to bake it.  So why have I never done it before ? Why now? Many people will think I am jumping on the 'baking band wagon' as it is so on trend at the moment.  Maybe I am, but here's my story.....

Although I am a creative type, ( I have been a Wedding Florist for years), my experience of baking when I was young led me to believe "I don't do baking".  My Mum went back to work when I was about 5 years old and although she is a good cook, she worked full time and didn't really get chance to bake much.  Having Pastry for tea in our house circa 1980 usually meant opening a Fray Bentos pie.  No blame being apportioned here Mum !!

However, my main problem came when I started cookery lessons at school.  I think nervousness and lack of confidence caused me to make stupid mistakes.  This did not go down at all well with my teacher who was Sergeant Major and Mrs.Slocombe rolled into one.  Her lesson would start with dormitory style inspection of our work benches. This would soon be followed by bellows of "Girls stop what you are doing and gather round this bench...this is how NOT to do it !!"  My face and cakes often burnt in equal measure.  So I attached my 'Rubbish Baker' label firmly to myself and wore it for years.

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However, this summer I very sadly lost a friend to Cancer.  During her treatment she talked of things she wished she had done before and would do when she was feeling better.  Those things are now left undone.  This had a big effect on me and made me look at my life.  The result....is baking. I know, I know it's not watching a sunset at the top of Mount Fuji or swimming with dolphins. To me it's more than that. My friend was unable to fulfill her wishes because she was restricted by Cancer. I have not fulfilled some of mine because of the restrictions I have put on myself.  Baking is one thing I can do simply by removing my label.

Soon after her death I saw in the media it was time to host Coffee mornings for Macmillan.  I sent off for a pack and invited loads of friends round for coffee.  Having done this I panicked. Opening my usual packet of Jaffa Cakes was not going to cut it on this occasion.  So I started to bake, my cakes didn't burn, my friends ate them and lived to tell the tale and I raised nearly £500 for Macmillan.  Now there is no stopping me. Mount Fuji with Frosting here I come...... and look no labels....