My love for baking started about 20 years ago when I had access to the first kitchen that felt like my own in my then boyfriends house.

I experimented with everything from cakes to cookies and loved being able to be creative with food and whip up a sweet treat for everyone when it was needed or craved. It is a hobby that has filled up many a rainy day with the kids, especially enjoyed when they were both really little, with the added benefit of teaching them valuable life skills too.

20 years ago, anything went! We ate a lot of sugar back then! These days, we are a little more aware about moderation and sugar intake and often make healthier less processed treats instead of baking if we want something nice for pudding now (See my healthy treats section.)

But there are times when a substitute simply wont suffice. Like special birthdays calling for proper homemade fluffy vanilla cupcakes with a no calorie counting allowed mound of buttercream on top.

Or those nights where the urge for cookie dough takes over and you find yourself picking at it uncooked before turning the rest into buttery, crunchy batches of crisp bitesize chocolate chip cookies. 

It is important to allow a treat from time to time and really go for it when you do. I do this by using real ingredients. Proper one ingredient butter. Organic flour where possible. Brown sugar. Amazing quality vanilla extract. If you're having a treat, do it right!

This section is for those classic bakes and special makes that the alternatives just don't compare to. Happy Baking!