Flikr Photo Credit: misscreativecakes. Also, blatantly not my homemade cupcakes… 

I think it probably says something about me that my books tend to include a lot of food. But then, it also says a lot about my characters. Who’s the nurturer – feeding others, taking care of them – and who needs a little TLC, or chocolate cake. Some of my heroines like to cook, some couldn’t find their kitchen if you drew them a map. But they all need to eat sometimes, and what they choose and who feeds it to them matters.

In the real world, I’m a big food fan. I’m not a fantastic cook, but I do enjoy feeding my family. And a love of baking is something the daughter and I share, and love to do together. She’s nearly three now, has her own apron, and finds sifting flour and stirring batter great fun. Also, obviously, licking the spoon when we make chocolate frosting…

Anyway. In a convergence of the fictional and real worlds, I thought I’d set myself (and the daughter) a little challenge for 2012. 52 bakes in 52 weeks. I’m working on an average-over-the-year system, because I know some weeks I won’t have time, and other weeks I’ll end up baking more. Like for the daughter’s Teddy Bear Tea Party for her third birthday in a few weeks…

I’ll detail my creations here, with links to recipes where I can, and photos when I remember. And I absolutely will not use this challenge as an excuse to buy more cookery books. Probably.

I’ll be starting tomorrow with my most basic, most used recipe – my family recipe for Bunloaf. Just off to find my camera to take a picture of the fruit and sugar soaking in tea overnight…