“No-nonsense”, “easy to make” bakes are on the menu for Great British Bake Off 2016 winner Candice Brown as she prepares to launch her brand new cook book, Comfort: Delicious Bakes And Family Treats, on Thursday 13 July.
But if you can’t wait that long to get stuck into her recipes, then late this month, the brilliant baker will be offering a tantalising taste of what to expect at the hotly anticipated Foodies Festival in Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park, followed by an appearance at Shropshire’s Newport Show in early July.
“I didn’t even think I would get on Bake Off, or then past week one, week two, and so on,” she says of her bemusement at acing the challenges and wowing judges and audiences alike on the hit BBC show. “Never in a million years (did I think I would win)- I still don’t quite believe it!”
Since making the jump and giving up the day job to pursue her dream career, the former teacher has had more than just a book to keep her busy. As well as honing her cooking skills and earning money making food, she’s also been contending with a calendar chock-full of high-profile events.
“Every opportunity is a blessing - I loved every second of the process and I’m loving every second now! I’ve been to some amazing events - Pride Of Britain, NTAs, Sports Personality - and met some incredible people - Fearne Cotton, Emma and Geri from the Spice Girls, Sir Chris Hoy and Barbara Windsor.”
Those hoping to drop in on one of her demos should expect an emphasis on simple, traditional dishes, nostalgic flavours and accessible family fare, in line with the recipes featured in her forthcoming book - including toffee apple crumble, cornflake tart, triple layer berry cake, Christmas cake, perfect roast chicken, black pudding sausage rolls, tattie scones, pork and apple pasties and homemade pork scratchings.
“I love baking and cooking really homely, old-fashioned, comforting food and giving it my own spin. I’m all about big flavours, slices and invoking memories and nostalgia.”
Little wonder, then, that fellow chefs who she admires include the late Keith Floyd and Tom Kerridge, particularly the latter’s “hearty, homely pub grub” and “infectious” love for what he does.
Brown’s own passion for cooking shines through for all to see, and however busy she becomes, she always tries to make time to do a bit of baking just for her own benefit.
“I bake whenever I have a spare hour! I just love it and am always thinking about what I could do or what ingredients I could use. I can’t go too long without creating a flour tornado in the kitchen.”
On the other hand, if she was heading to an event like Foodies Festival or Newport as a visitor, she’d avoid the urge to whip up something in advance, preferring instead to sample some mouthwatering morsels fresh from the festival market.
“My basket would be empty so that I could fill it with all sorts of wonderful things I find at the show. Breads, olives, cakes, local wines, little jars of things - I love markets and food shows and finding gorgeous things to eat and taste and buy!”
And with exciting programmes lined up for both festivals, who could blame her? Expect Michelin-starred chefs and local restauranteurs, extensive markets with an amazing range of traders, wine, gin and craft beer tasting and even edible science experiments for the kids. Those looking to pick up some top tips for their own cooking will find them in abundance - but for aspiring bakers like she once was, Brown has this advice to offer;
“I don’t feel any more experienced than anyone else but my advice is to always just go for it, enjoy what you do, smile and, if it goes wrong, don’t panic - just turn it into something else and say it was meant to look like that or throw it away and don’t tell anyone. And hard work pays off! It’s so important to do something you love and feel good about it. Never feel you can’t do it or allow anything to stand in your way.
“Baking shouldn’t be scary or difficult, and I think my book will show this. It’s been my absolute pleasure testing and writing recipes that I encourage you to try, change and make your own.”
Candice Brown is at Birmingham’s Foodies Festival in Cannon Hill Park on Sunday 25 June and at the Newport Show, Chetwynd Deer Park, on Saturday 8 July.
“No-nonsense”, “easy to make” bakes are on the menu for Great British Bake Off 2016 winner Candice Brown as she prepares to launch her brand new cook book, Comfort: Delicious Bakes And Family Treats, on Thursday 13 July.
But if you can’t wait that long to get stuck into her recipes, then late this month, the brilliant baker will be offering a tantalising taste of what to expect at the hotly anticipated Foodies Festival in Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park, followed by an appearance at Shropshire’s Newport Show in early July.
“I didn’t even think I would get on Bake Off, or then past week one, week two, and so on,” she says of her bemusement at acing the challenges and wowing judges and audiences alike on the hit BBC show. “Never in a million years (did I think I would win)- I still don’t quite believe it!”
Since making the jump and giving up the day job to pursue her dream career, the former teacher has had more than just a book to keep her busy. As well as honing her cooking skills and earning money making food, she’s also been contending with a calendar chock-full of high-profile events.
“Every opportunity is a blessing - I loved every second of the process and I’m loving every second now! I’ve been to some amazing events - Pride Of Britain, NTAs, Sports Personality - and met some incredible people - Fearne Cotton, Emma and Geri from the Spice Girls, Sir Chris Hoy and Barbara Windsor.”
Those hoping to drop in on one of her demos should expect an emphasis on simple, traditional dishes, nostalgic flavours and accessible family fare, in line with the recipes featured in her forthcoming book - including toffee apple crumble, cornflake tart, triple layer berry cake, Christmas cake, perfect roast chicken, black pudding sausage rolls, tattie scones, pork and apple pasties and homemade pork scratchings.
“I love baking and cooking really homely, old-fashioned, comforting food and giving it my own spin. I’m all about big flavours, slices and invoking memories and nostalgia.”
Little wonder, then, that fellow chefs who she admires include the late Keith Floyd and Tom Kerridge, particularly the latter’s “hearty, homely pub grub” and “infectious” love for what he does.
Brown’s own passion for cooking shines through for all to see, and however busy she becomes, she always tries to make time to do a bit of baking just for her own benefit.
“I bake whenever I have a spare hour! I just love it and am always thinking about what I could do or what ingredients I could use. I can’t go too long without creating a flour tornado in the kitchen.”
On the other hand, if she was heading to an event like Foodies Festival or Newport as a visitor, she’d avoid the urge to whip up something in advance, preferring instead to sample some mouthwatering morsels fresh from the festival market.
“My basket would be empty so that I could fill it with all sorts of wonderful things I find at the show. Breads, olives, cakes, local wines, little jars of things - I love markets and food shows and finding gorgeous things to eat and taste and buy!”
And with exciting programmes lined up for both festivals, who could blame her? Expect Michelin-starred chefs and local restauranteurs, extensive markets with an amazing range of traders, wine, gin and craft beer tasting and even edible science experiments for the kids. Those looking to pick up some top tips for their own cooking will find them in abundance - but for aspiring bakers like she once was, Brown has this advice to offer;
“I don’t feel any more experienced than anyone else but my advice is to always just go for it, enjoy what you do, smile and, if it goes wrong, don’t panic - just turn it into something else and say it was meant to look like that or throw it away and don’t tell anyone. And hard work pays off! It’s so important to do something you love and feel good about it. Never feel you can’t do it or allow anything to stand in your way.
“Baking shouldn’t be scary or difficult, and I think my book will show this. It’s been my absolute pleasure testing and writing recipes that I encourage you to try, change and make your own.”
Candice Brown is at Birmingham’s Foodies Festival in Cannon Hill Park on Sunday 25 June and at the Newport Show, Chetwynd Deer Park, on Saturday 8 July.