Eat Well
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Home baking 'seems to be on the up' When you're a busy mum with a family to look after and a seemingly endless list of jobs to do, it is very tempting to rely on shop-bought food for both everyday eating and for things like school bake sales.

Who's going to know if that lemon curd came from a jar, or those jam tarts weren't homemade?

However, it appears that the tide is increasingly turning away from convenience and towards home baking, as mums embrace it both for pleasure and as a way of making sure their kids eat healthier, preservative-free food.

Chef Rosemary Shrager, who has featured on School for Cooks and Ladette to Lady, said this trend is about welcoming more of a 'make-do and mend' attitude than has been the case over the past few years, something which may have happened as a result of the recession.

"Home baking does seem to be on the up as it fits so effortlessly into this new shabby-chic trend," she commented.

For people who have been put off home baking for fear of failing, the expert said it's just a case of following a simple recipe and trying.

"Baking is terribly easy, my advice would be to just get stuck in and have a go - don't be scared. The thing I like the most about baking is that it doesn't have to be perfect, fancy or neat," Rosemary pointed out.

To begin with, she recommended a recipe that only uses a few ingredients and basic techniques, such as scones or a Victoria sponge. You can then progress and even adapt your own things to try once you've had some time to practice.

"Soon you will be cracking eggs and beating mixture like a professional," enthused Rosemary.

According to a recent report on Home Baking from Mintel, 69 per cent of consumers have bought raw baking ingredients in the past year.

Meanwhile, two-fifths of parents say they let their children decide what to bake at home in order to spend quality time together.

And if you're on the lookout for something to create after you've mastered scones and sponge cakes, how about looking across the pond for inspiration?

Cupcakes continue to be a huge hit in the UK after shooting to fame in New York, while Whoopie Pies are tipped by many as being the next big thing in home baking. For low calorie cake recipes, why not check out the recipes in the Canderel kitchen?