Baking cakes to Save Norbury Library

I became a member of Norbury Library on Friday and took out my first book. Nigel Slater - The Kitchen Diaries. I like to watch him on TV and his books are great. Borrowing from the library means I can dip in and out without having to buy the book. So in homage to this great privilege (that may soon be taken away) and paying homage to the campaign to Save Norbury Library - I baked a ginger cake from the first chapter. Containing ground ginger, stem ginger and the delicious syrup from the jar - its rich, moist and full of flavour. A few sultanas and lots of golden syrup make it even more special. It's maturing (1-2 days) right now and will be tasted tomorrow. This is what the library has done for me today. What can a library do for you?

it's been a long time

I haven't been blogging about baking or food for a while. I didn't mention anything about Christmas, the 6kg turkey, the first time I made cranberry sauce (divine - and I'll never go back to jars) or indeed the fabulous and succulent christmas pudding. I even made for the very first time a cranberry upside down cake from Rachel Allen's - Bake.

I've been busy. busy campaigning, trying to save our local library from possible closure. Why do I love the library? I love all libraries. They helped teach me to read, to communicate and ultimately to explore. Not just in the physical or travel sense - but in my mind. I've learnt so much from books - that have come from libraries. But its important to remember that libraries are not just about books. So many weekends growing up in Devonport, I would borrow albums from the Don College library - the latest muscial score (Phantom, Starlight Express - you name it). Later there were videos or DVD''s.

So this is why the blog has been silent. It's about to get going again - and all thanks to the library. More in the next entry.