I cannot believe that it has been a year since I was asked to judge at the first Great Horsham Bake Off. As the second event is looming (this Sunday 7th September), I have been thinking about what categories I will be given to judge this year and how long it will be before I am starting to feel that my sugar levels can take no more.
A few weeks ago I was asked along to judge the Partridge Green Horticultural Society cake competition. I didn’t give much thought to the number of entries so I was a little taken back when I saw the number of cakes on display from banana loaves, lemon drizzles and buns to traditional Victoria sandwiches oozing with jam. My first thought was ‘I should have skipped breakfast!’
Being a cake maker and faced most days with grams and grams of sugar being poured into my mixer, I welcome a savoury break every now and again so I was delighted that there was a scotch egg category. Scotch eggs are one of my few guilty pleasures so I was quite happy to get stuck in after sampling so many lovely sweet delicious cakes. The winning scotch egg was obvious to me from the intense flavours that came from what could only be quality sausage meat. It was confirmed that the meat had come from the very well known butcher over the road, S K Hutchings, a family run Butcher. After my judging had finished, I immediately paid the butcher a visit where people were queuing out of the door. I had to buy some of his sausages and took them home (along with a couple of sausage rolls for my 2 hungry men of the house) and we had them that evening. My 8 year old said ‘Mummy, can you buy these again, they are the best I have ever tasted’
I am all for supporting local businesses, particularly when it comes to quality. Judging by the number of people in the shop that day, their reputation has built them a thriving business through hard work and supplying quality meats. If you haven’t already, pay them a visit, but get there early if you’re going on a Saturday. You can also pre-order for collection.
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