The Yeast We Can Do

It started with low risk, charity banana bread at the start of lockdown and has developed into Instagram worthy artisan sourdough loaves. Many of us have been quarantine baking, whether it be through necessity, to simply to fill a few hours of the day, or for our mental well being.

Bread making involves one long forgotten ingredient… time. And what a gift we have been given in the way of time. Lockdown has meant we’ve not been able to run any of our usual classes and workshops. Instead we turned our focus to supporting the local community through supplying many of those baking staple ingredients, unavailable in the supermarkets and without inflating our prices. Word spread like a (not so) secret code that Saddleworth Cookery School was the place to get baking ingredients. And yes, keeping you supplied is the yeast we can do!

It’s also released time to develop some of our additional projects; whilst Louise has been building biceps, not bingo wings, hand rolling dozens of traditional muffins each day, Pam has been practicing sourdough sourcery – nurturing various types of sourdough starter, learning that each has a unique personality, so much so that she’s considering giving them pet names! The “fruits” of their labours have been available through the shop, yet currently on a small scale.

As the restrictions of lockdown continue to be relaxed we look forward to welcoming friends, old and new, to see what we’ve been up to. As well as getting back to business as usual, whatever the new usual will be. We’ll start with issuing dates for classes and workshops, albeit with reduced numbers to allow us to ensure social distancing and safeguarding our guest’s and staff’s health. Plus expanding our recipe kits, picnic baskets and BBQ boxes.

We’ll continue with our efforts to offer seasonal, locally sourced produce with the minimum of packaging. As part of this we’ve teamed up with The Butcher’s Plate, recently founded by Dean who some will know from our butchery workshops, to supply our meat. We’ll be supporting Dean by supplying him with our muffins and other handmade deli-style products. We have found a local flour mills, cheese suppliers and organic producers who share our values.

Next week’s Bake 5 Box will be available to book from Monday, our little bakery is getting a little bigger and it won’t be too long before you can start booking classes again.

So, while the future is still uncertain, we’re busy preparing to make up for lost time and look forward to seeing you soon.

Take care, stay safe and keep baking and cooking,

Pam.