Currys in the kitchen – blogger bake off

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood

It was a land of bloggers at  The Glasgow Cookery School with everyone from lifestyle to beauty to food bloggers all getting some hands on bakery tuition.

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
A well organised and presented display of goodies

The lovely folks at Currys. supplied each of us with a Kenwood Whisk (very handy as I had recently tried to burn the house down with nicking the wire of my old whisk on the hob!).

 

 

I’ve always liked the Jacobean Corsetry building from the outside but had never been inside. We all gathered outside for a quick photocall to show off our Kenwood whisks from Currys.

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
The gang!

The inside is modern and fully fitted out as a teaching area as well as a demonstration area.

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Explaining how to get a good mixture

We all gathered around Danny to follow his instructions for perfect scones.  Being an avid scone baker, I’m glad to say he has obviously followed me and listened to my instructions 😉

 

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
It’s hard work without the Kenwood mixer!

Being in groups of three and four to a table was fun.  We got to chat, make a mess with the flour and the scones!  An egg was added at the wrong time, but that’s not a worry with scones.

 

 

The worst scone mistakes for me are – twisting the cutter (it stops the scone rising) and not making scones big enough. – none of these little dinky things, big scones!

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Scones ready to bake

Softening the the butter and mixing in the sugar was fun, especially without a whisk!  The butter needs to be soft here in order to mix in with your egg.  Having the egg and better at the same temperature helps both ingredients combine without looking like they have curdled.

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Delicious looking scones
Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Scone recipe

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Loading the cupcake tin

It was time for cupcakes and a Victoria Sponge.  These are great basic recipes.  Learn these and you can bluff your way through anything.

 

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Cupcake recipe

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Victoria Sponge recipe

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Cooling bakes – no OCD bakers here!

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Decoration in action

 

Decorating the cupcakes was a chuckle.  A lot of icing, butter cream and hundreds and thousands flying about – it was like a demonic kids birthday party!

 

 

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Chef shows how to decorate a Victoria Sponge

We learned tips on how to put jam/chocolate etc in the centre of cupcakes, as well as how to make a ganache (really easy 2 parts chocolate, 1 part cream and mix!)

 

 

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
Chef Danny keeps an eye on things
Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood
The Cookery School courses

Information posters on what The Cookery School has to offer.

 

Currys in the kitchen Glasgow the cookery school kenwood

 

If you’re using your hands, don’t forget to take your rings off first!
Make sure that your oven is fully preheated before putting anything in.
“Tempering” chocolate is a method of melting chocolate that will ensure it is shiny and that it will not “bloom” later on – those white, chalky spots you see.  The process of tempering is long and complicated.  Preventing blooming is also easy – eat within a few days.

Your cake must be completely cool before decorating or it will all melt off.

Using room temperature eggs in your recipe will help them better incorporate into the rest of the ingredients.

Recipes generally call for either baking soda or baking powder – but be careful, they’re not the same. Check your label!

 

Many thanks to Joe Bloggers Network, Currys and The Glasgow Cookery School for a fun day.

Emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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