I’ve made a lot of rye bread in my time but it still doesn’t feel as natural to me as wheat – I always feel I’m working against the grain (as you might say) even though the results are good. In fact I love the results, I just find the process awkward. On the other […]

I am in my seventieth year. It has been a very long time since I thought that I could have the slightest influence over our national or global destiny. Even if I could influence which political party comprised the UK Government through the ballot box, all governments are in the control of the major corporations, […]

So Sue comes home from the market with figs, the first this year. I, wise virgin that I am, have dough lurking in the fridge for just such an eventuality. A few curls of serrano, the odd spoonful of the elixir (honey 2, olive oil 2, balsamic vinegar 1) and we’re away: All it needs […]

Saturday was the Dyffryn Ogwen (Bethesda) Agricultural Show – http://www.sioedyffrynogwen.co.uk/ Held on the Rugby ground where many a Bethesdabaker has pitched his tent (and, in the case of Chris Young, Real Bread Campaign, had it nicked before bedtime day one) it’s probably typical of small agricultural shows around the country; a roped off square for […]

What I mean is, you can make other breads out of pizza dough. Or, to put it another way, what is pizza dough? Saturday I knocked up some dough for pizza. These days I use an 80% hydration dough for pizza and ferment it in the fridge for a couple of days. But I was […]

How amateur am I getting? So short of flour I had to get the bus up to Bangor this morning and buy the best Asda had on offer – not even organic. Got some mug-shots for the new passport at the same time. Lucky I got a bus pass. Just waiting for Cameron to take […]

Looks innocent enough – Caribbean Pumpkin & Allspice. But read beyond the ingredients: First devised for Gert Vos – Happy Birthday Gert!!

Taking some buns (and my buns) to a party tonight. Thought I’d take no chances with the labeling: Can’t be too careful these days …  

View from the bakery webcam 8.00 a.m. this morning. Oh, no – not another sunny day in Bethesda …

Wound up at lunchtime at the Albion –  http://albionalehouse.weebly.com/ – in Conwy – another example of us feckless OAPs misusing our bus passes (if they can afford a pint they can afford the bus fare). The Albion is as fine a pub as you will encounter. And not just for humans. Went out the back […]