Ready, Steady, Let’s Get Baking!

Have you been watching The Great British Bake Off? It’s just bounced back into our lives and is possibly giving many of us baking angst … Our advice is to keep it simple, get to grips with the basics before attempting anything too fancy, and then put your feet up with a cuppa to have a giggle at the on-screen baking dramas to come! And in the meantime, we thought we would bring you some suggestions for updating your new Anwyl home with some desirable cookery and baking equipment!

Top Level Cooking

Get baking happily in your new home, knowing that you’re perfectly equipped. A top-end Zanussi oven really helps, with its numerous functions and precise temperature control. Don’t forget, if you’re just about to move into your new Anwyl home, Zanussi appliances are included in all kitchens. So you’ll be all set to cook up a storm in that new, open-plan kitchen. Being a slightly clumsy cook at times, I always used to be reckless and used a tea-towel instead of proper oven gloves! I’ve got over that now, and always try and have at least one or two decent pairs of oven gloves to hand. These Teacup Oven Gloves from Annabel James are super, and there are lots of other jolly designs too, including flamingos and cactus.

Is it the images of the marquee and bunting that always makes me think that GBBO has innate retro styling … if you’re the same, get your pinny out and add a retro set of scales to add a distinct and quirky style to your new kitchen. Left and right, Wesco Retro Scales & Clock in aqua – one side shows the scales face, turn it around for the clock face. Right, The Sunday Girl Company has a brilliant collection of aprons, include this Busy Bee Sweetheart design.  There are also some pretty fabulous mini versions for those little would-be-bakers in your life!

All Nice & Airtight                                                                                                                                        

Keep your creative bakes nice and fresh in a proper cake tin. The range from Garden Trading is a classic, robust design that also comes in a Chalk colourway. It’s a classic design, with several other sizes and shapes available. A good investment buy for your new home and one which will always look stylish and appealing. Remember, when moving into an Anwyl home there will be the opportunity to personalise your choice of kitchen cabinetry from ranges by Symphony – in a wide range of colours and finishes, such as soft greys, off-whites, creams and ivory, all of which can compliment classic bakeware shades.

If you’re getting asked about house-warming presents for your new Anwyl home, sometimes it’s a bit difficult to pin down a particular item – does your sister-in-law want to buy a full set of crockery or just a couple of tea towels?! In which case it’s rather nice to be able to say something along the lines of ‘oh we love the Lay A Little Egg design by Sophie Allport’ and relax in the knowledge that friends and relatives couldn’t possibly get that wrong …

Serious Cooking

Perfect your slow-cooking, casserole and stew signature dishes by using some of the best quality cookware available. Cookware from Staub in enamel-coated cast iron is durable, with brilliant non-stick qualities, and will last forever.  Individual sizes are great for making a good impression and are suitable for all types of hobs – gas, electric and induction. A 28cm Diameter version is good for family and celebration meals, with the lid design enabling the absorption of the condensation, which drips evenly on the contents, ensuring meltingly moist results. Staub  is also introducing some new lines, including ceramic dessert plates in the new White Truffle colourway – perfect for those eagerly anticipated showstopper bakes, perhaps!!

A new home needs all the basic equipment, and it’s always a bonus when it looks good if left out on display! If you’re a fan of Dualit gadgets, then a modest investment in this Canvas coloured hand-mixer is well worth considering. Another spend could be on a four-slice toaster, and once again, we would suggest a Dualit classic four-slice, perhaps in the new Desert shade. So even if it’s only toast, it will be stylish!

Beautifully Presented

Get yourself organised to host all those visitors to your new Anwyl home with some new trays. Left; the Baking Stone from Lakeland is not just for scones, breads and pastries, it’s also perfect for pizza and pastries, absorbing moisture and ensuring a non-soggy bottom. The  Zenker Glass Fibre Silicone rectangular baking pan, also from Lakeland, will also ramp up your home baking skills, it’s perfect for cakes, quiches and pies, and of course is flexible and non-stick.