This time of year is challenging on a 'normal' year, without being in lockdown, so I am making a point to feel grateful for things in my life.This week I am super grateful for... 1. Coming back to baking after two weeks recovering from having my appendix removed. I had so many orders waiting for me, it was a busy weekend! I feel so thankful for my lil' business and my lovely customers, it really makes me happy when I can bake, but also make people smile.
 2. Finding a new supplier for dried rose petals - now I can get these beautiful cake embellishments in 100g bags instead of 20g bags, much better, I hate running out! 3. My husband has said will be baking me a birthday cake next week! He's only missed one year, I think, since we've been together, and it's a big deal. He doesn't bake, like, ever! 4. I am finding lots of time to read in the evenings, enforcing a 'no chores, no work' mantra from 8pm. This makes me happy. 5. And, of course, I'm extremely grateful for this little creation of mine (ours). She is the most adorable baby ever - yes, every mum says that, but really, she is!! - and the true love of my life. She's really impressed me lately with how comfortable she was being taken to nursery by someone else while I was sick, and how she laughed off repeated well-meaning pokes in the face by another 18 month old yesterday! Yes, February is wet, windy and cold, but I'm feeling good - even a little lighter with than b*gger of a giant appendix gone! Hope you're having a good week too, Louise 280 Bakes
0 Comments
-- A personal blog today, and I'm attaching a trigger warning right here. --
We've had a lot of great news lately in our family - three of us getting new jobs, El Husbandio's residence being confirmed, our house move progressing... But a tragic event knocked me a bit sideways last week: a very good friend of mine's partner passed away unexpectedly. Cake isn't the answer to everything, but baking for her, my customers, and my other friends and family managed to take my my mind off such horrible circumstances for a short while. There's something cathartic about mixing, baking and decorating a cake; I've always baked when I feel sad or low. It helps me stay productive, it's a great way to find a 'flow' state of mind (a recognised tactic in mental health - Very Well Mind explains it better than I can), and I can share the cake with friends and family. I remember saying to my housemate several years ago, when a boyfriend had broken up with me, that I was going to bake my way through the shock and pain. And since it's World Mental Health Day today, I thought it was time I posted about my therapeutic kitchen fun. Distraction tactics are very useful sometimes, and my lil' business certainly provides that, for which I am grateful. So if you need some cake, don't be shy, drop me a line, I need to keep busy! Does anyone else bake to keep the dark away? Louise 280 Bakes P.S. No part of me is using a tragic event to capitalise on here, that would never be my intention. I'm simply sharing how important baking is to me and how it's helped my mental wellbeing. I'm a supporter of mental health awareness - I guess you may be sick of me talking about it if you know me! A, you've left broken hearts behind you in wonderfully caring and loving people. You'll be missed. We'll be at a local event this week, serving hotdogs and home baked cake! |
|
|
|
We're the gluten free cake myth busters! Here are six myths about gluten free cakes... totally busted!
Myth #1: Gluten Free Cakes Don't Rise
Umm... These cakes from our bakers rose beautifully! This is a carrot cake (left) and gingerbread (right), both 100% gluten free. It does help if you have a good recipe - just replacing the 'normal' flour with gluten free versions doesn't always cut it.
Why not learn more about our gluten free cakes and test the myth yourself!
Why not learn more about our gluten free cakes and test the myth yourself!
 |  |
Myth #2: Gluten Free Cakes Are 'Gritty'
Again, it's all about what you put in the mixture. A pure gluten free flour may be a bit gritty, but mixed with other types of flour can really balance it out. Try coconut flour, ground rice, chickpea flour... There's lots to choose from.
Myth #3: Gluten Free Means A Grain-Free Diet
A common mis-conception of having a gluten free diet is it needs to be 100% grain free. This isn't the case, as rice, millet, buckwheat, corn, quinoa are all gluten free grains.
Oats often falls into the no-go category for gluten free diets, but actually, this is also incorrect. The reason oats get a bad name is they're easily contaminated with wheat in production and processing, so you're best off avoiding our banana oat cakes and flapjacks if you're having issues with gluten, though through no fault of their own!
Oats often falls into the no-go category for gluten free diets, but actually, this is also incorrect. The reason oats get a bad name is they're easily contaminated with wheat in production and processing, so you're best off avoiding our banana oat cakes and flapjacks if you're having issues with gluten, though through no fault of their own!
Myth #4: Gluten Free Products Are 100% Free Of Gluten
No need to panic - you can still trust our 'gluten free' cake labelling, but gluten free is a legal definition, not a scientific one. It means food contains less than a certain legal amount of gluten. In the UK, for example, this is less than 20 parts per million. More info on this can be found on this website for Coeliac sufferers.
Myth #5: 'Glutinous' Products Contain Gluten
Source: Food52 Wrong! 'Glutinous' actually means 'sticky'. Gluten is in wheat, barley and rye (see oats above), so, for example, 'glutinous rice' is just sticky rice - you're safe there! Why not try this fab recipe for this gluten free Sticky Date Cake from Food52, now you know you can?
Myth #6: Going Gluten Free Is A Fad
This is the worst myth of all. Going gluten free, for the majority of cases, is a decision a person takes to improve life changing, often painful and complicated symptoms. If you're medically diagnosed - and please don't self-diagnose - as a coeliac, you may have a combination of a number of symptoms (these are just a few):
- weigh loss - liver complications - repeated miscarriages
- alopecia - mouth ulcers - ataxia (loss of coordination)
Changing to a gluten free diet can alleviate some of these problems, and lead to a healthier lifestyle - for those who need to make the change.
- weigh loss - liver complications - repeated miscarriages
- alopecia - mouth ulcers - ataxia (loss of coordination)
Changing to a gluten free diet can alleviate some of these problems, and lead to a healthier lifestyle - for those who need to make the change.
If you're concerned you may be coeliac and could therefore benefit from a gluten free diet, make an appointment with your GP. More information is on the Coeliac UK website, but nothing beats face to face, personal medical advice.
Stay well,
The Team @ 280 Bakes
|
|
|
Mental health awareness is not just for today, World Mental Health Day, when the world comes together to promote wellbeing. It's for every day.
Here at 280 Bakes, we're advocates of mental wellbeing and awareness, so we'd like to share something a little different with you today.
Here are our top finds of blogs and poignant, useful images on the subject of emotional and mental wellbeing:
Wyse Thoughts - from blogger Paul Wyse - an awesome mental wellbeing blogger, very read-friendly, and an all round lovely guy.
Wyse Thoughts - from blogger Paul Wyse - an awesome mental wellbeing blogger, very read-friendly, and an all round lovely guy.
|
|
David Buck's blog is also worth looking at - he's very open and honest, and it's a great blog if you want to understand the person behind a challenging mental health issue.
Sometimes, all that's needed is a chat. A cuppa and a slice of cake is an open doorway to gentle, meaningful discussion about how you or your friend/colleague/relative is feeling - just like what the Environment Agency in Bristol did today! They held a 'coffee and cake' (with our delicious Victoria Sponge - thanks guys!) natter to help spread the word that 'mental health' is not a dirty word.
|
|
Why not post this image on the left on your Facebook today? We love it because the arrow cleverly points to your profile picture when you post it. Show you're listening!
Remember, it's ok NOT to be ok. Have some self-compassion and continue to breathe.
Be well,
The Team @ 280 Bakes
We all know avocados are delicious, and they work wonderfully in our vegan chocolate cake, but what are the real benefits of this wonder fruit?
1. Avocados are packed with nutrients: Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Copper, Vitamin B6 and B5, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Zinc and Riboflavin. And those are just the ones we've heard of. Avocadoes even have higher levels of Potassium than bananas; 100g has as much as 14% of your recommended daily allowance. This nutrient helps to reduce blood pressure , a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.
2. An avocado is a fruit especially high in fibre. This is digestible plant material which can help weight loss and reduce blood sugar levels.
3. Not all fat is bad, and avocados are an example of a source of 'good fat'. Some of the antioxidants in the fruit are even 'fat soluable', meaning they need fat to be able to dissolve and actually do some good to your body.
4. Eating avocados can lower your cholesterol, as well as increasing the 'good cholesterol' (HDL).
5. Some antioxidants found in avocados, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, are essential for eye health and eye sight.
2. An avocado is a fruit especially high in fibre. This is digestible plant material which can help weight loss and reduce blood sugar levels.
3. Not all fat is bad, and avocados are an example of a source of 'good fat'. Some of the antioxidants in the fruit are even 'fat soluable', meaning they need fat to be able to dissolve and actually do some good to your body.
4. Eating avocados can lower your cholesterol, as well as increasing the 'good cholesterol' (HDL).
5. Some antioxidants found in avocados, Lutein and Zeaxanthin, are essential for eye health and eye sight.
We're not quite able to say our chocolate avocado cake counts as one of your five a day, but science proves avocados are a great addition to your diet, wherever you get them in. Check out these tasty avocado-centric recipes we've found lately: ** Breakfast ** Lunch ** Dinner **
It's settled. We love avocados and they love us back.
The Team @ 280 Bakes
It's settled. We love avocados and they love us back.
The Team @ 280 Bakes
Author
Welcome to the 280 Bakes blog! Most posts are by myself, Louise, but if you fancy guest blogging, give me a shout!
Archives
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
Categories
All
280 On Tour
Baking Tips
Baking Workshops
Birthday Cakes
Blog Recommendations
Boozy Bakes
Business
Celebrate With Us
Christmas
Community
Cupcakes
Customer Stories
Fairtrade
Friends Of 280 Bakes
Gluten Free
Guest Blog
Halloween
Home Baking
I'm A Mum
Just For Fun
Lockdown Special
Low Fat
Low Sugar Cakes
News
Recipes
Special Offer
Summer Bakes
Team 280 Bakes
The Great British Bake Off
Tre
Vegan Bakes
Wedding
Well Being
Work For Us
Zero Sugar Cakes
RSS Feed
