A plastic Jock speaks.

I have been lying awake for the past hour thinking about the independence referendum and feeling the need to throw my tuppence worth into the debate.  For months I have watched as friends on both camps (although mostly the Yes team) have posted links, articles and comments about Scotland's future and I have kept my head below the parapet, not wanting to stir up anger and risk friendships, but it occurred to me in the wee small hours of the morning that this fear is what sums up the whole problem with the debate.  I think there are probably more No's out there who, like me, would rather say nothing then come out and say they actually quite like being a part of the UK. So, sod it, here's what I think.

First of all let me state that I was born in England and am about to miss the vote because my family have moved to Abu Dhabi (ironically to find work as economic migrants, in a small oil rich country so we can one day dream of paying off our Scottish debts and having a decent pension). That's the elephant in the room.  However, distance and difference gives perspective, so I don't think I should be excluded from holding forth, even if I can't vote next month. Although I was born south of the border, I have lived in Scotland for half my life and I love it. I love the landscape, the people, the cities, the culture, the humour, the food and drink, the whole shebang.  I have a Scottish husband, son, daughter, in-laws, degree and mortgage.  I have benefitted from the Scottish health service, education, political and legal system and think its brilliant.  I have bristled at every biased news report, weather forecast and sports commentary I have heard, and every ignorant London focused business meeting I have ever attended. In short, I think Scotland is an often overlooked and amazing country with an unparalleled heritage that I am immensely proud of and consider my home. But I truly believe that being part of the UK is a massive part of what makes our country as a whole so amazing.  

When I first moved to Scotland one of the things that astonished me was the need people seemed to have to draw boundaries between everything. North/south, East coast/west coast, Protestant/Catholic - at 18 it had not occurred to me that these things could or should be issues. I still feel the same. As an English girl who grew up on the Welsh border and has lived the majority of her adult life in Scotland I see myself as truly British and I want to stay that way.  I don't think I am the only plastic Jock who feels like this.  When I look at what is going on in the world around us I really can't see how creating more division can help. The UK is the most amazing example of what can be achieved and created when you embrace different nationalities and beliefs and work together. It is not perfect, and it got there the hard way, but it is a unique and wonderful thing.  Rather than rebuilding walls, we should be leading the way to show others how life can be better when you take them down.  That is the kind of world I want my son to grow up in. He is 6, and raised to be a proud Scot and an even prouder Brit.  I will always be outnumbered in my own home when Scotland, or anyone else, play England (in everything) but we will celebrate the things we do together with equal joy and pride.  I asked him last night whether he thought Scotland should stay part of the UK or be on its own and his response summed it up for me as only a child can: 'I think Scotland should stay because otherwise the Red Arrows will be much less colourful'.  It is our differences that make us special, let's embrace our crazy, patchwork, beautiful, colourful country and keep it together.

The Prime of Mrs Helen McGougan

Well, girls (and boys), this month the student has become the master and I have been let loose on the general public to share my love of all things breadlike & yogic. 

On 17th February I held the first Hels' Bakehouse bread course and taught 4 willing victims how to make their own Real Bread in the very chilly but lovely and brilliantly equipped kitchen at Killearn Village Hall.  I'm so used to baking from my sweltering home kitchen that it never occurred to me that a proper commercial kitchen might actually be cold! The next course will be at the end of March and focuses on Sourdough, a logistical exercise that will test my lesson planning skills to the max but it's going to be fun.

I was also invited to share my knowledge of running a micro bakery as a co-host on this months BreadChat on Twitter which was an hour of riotous fun with bread lovers across the world. Then, last but most definitely not least, I started my first official yoga classes as a qualified teacher with a new joint weekly class in the village as The Strathblane Yoga Club, an afternoon seasonal flow class at YogaJo's in Milngavie, and weekend workshops scheduled at Halo Pathways in Kirkintilloch.

This all fills me with a great deal of pride and an equal amount of fear as I try to fight down my very British sense of self-doubt at the absurdity of teaching others when I still have so much to learn myself.  Instead I am choosing to focus on the fact that actually I do know quite a lot, and that it is my passion for what I do and my love of sharing that with others which is most important and will hopefully shine through.

I remember I once had a conversation with a friend where they laughed at the idea of me ever becoming a teacher of anything. Not because I don't know my onions, but because in the past (and often in the present) I have not been known for displaying a massive amount of patience with others. Still, I have surprised myself over the last year with how much we can change if we really want to, and I'm hoping these new ventures will prove that point. After all I am, of course, a woman in my prime. 

Hels' Bakehouse Annual Review

So this week see's the first birthday of Hels' Bakehouse, and what a year it has been. I've baked over 1200 loaves and made an awful of a lot of granola in my little home oven. I've also made some great friends along the way. The high points include the Hot cross bun pop up shop, baking with the Strathblane Guides, the bread demonstration at Edenmill Food Festival, monthly fun at Killearn country market and spreading the Real Bread message of 'true loaf'' throughout the local community.  There have been lows too; realising I hadn't got enough ingredients at four in the morning (several times), nearly burning the house down when I fell asleep in a bread coma, attempting to bake sourdough in a heatwave...

It's all been great though. I've learnt a lot and I've loved every minute.

So what now?

Well, I'm taking a break from farmers markets for a little while and concentrating on getting more beauty sleep, indulging in my other passion for yoga through my alter ego of MLH Yoga, and passing on my love of baking to others with 'Bread courses from Hels'. The first 'Introduction to Bread Making' course runs on Monday 17th February at Killearn Village Hall, with a Sourdough course scheduled for the 31st March and Italian breads on the 28th April.  The Bread Club continues to be very popular, and I'll be working on some new recipes to keep my bread clubbers hungry for their weekly loaf, whilst bringing back some old favourites from the past year.  As part of my birthday celebrations I asked the bread club members to let me know what these were and promised to make some of them again over the next month. Here's the list so far:

Potato & Rosemary

Apple & cider

Fig & fennel

Chollah

Beer bread

Orange & mint

Sage & Onion

Malted brown

Rye & Raisin

Spelt & honey

Cheese & apple

Poppy seed

Looks like I am going to be busy, and I wouldn't have it any other way! Thanks to everyone for your support over the last year, it has been a pleasure baking for you.

Hels xx

Fame and festivities

Now, I have never been one to shy away from the limelight, so this month has been a lot of fun for me. Aside from all the excitement of Christmas coming and getting to bake some of my favourite festive breads, I've been let out of my kitchen to spread the word about Hels' Bakehouse and my passion for bread making.  In the eyes of my 5 year old son this pretty much takes me to the same level as Paul Hollywood & Mary Berry, so I have been enjoying my 5 minutes of fame whilst they last.

First up, I had a brilliant time at the Edenmill Food Festival, where I gave a bread demo to visitors to this great local event.   The farm had been transformed into a pop up restaurant, festive market, Santas grotto and Christmas tree emporium and it was a pleasure to be a part of it all.  My aim was to show people how simple it is to make some great tasting bread for Christmas from a simple white dough, so there were lemon & black pepper rolls to go with some smoked salmon, and tasty cheese straws to soak up the festive spirit, as well as a plain loaf and Sourdough to compare & contrast.  I discovered it's quite tricky trying to make bread, maintain eye contact and talk at the same time, but luckily I had some little elves at hand to help me knead the dough and pass round the samples.  Here's a pic of me in action!

Next up was an interview with for BBC Radio Scotland's Out of Doors programme, where I had the opportunity to let out my evangelical side and spread the message about Real Bread to the masses - at least the ones who were up at 6.30am on a Saturday morning!  You can hear the inteview online through the following link for the next few days - so be quick if you want to enjoy my moment in the spotlight and cringe at my dodgy bread jokes.

Out of Doors programme

Finally, my little elves were back in force to help me with my last two events of the year, the Strathblane Primary School Christmas Fair and the Killearn Christmas market.  Both events were great opportunities to get the Christmas party started and chat to all the lovely people in the community that we are lucky to live with.  I came away with empty bread baskets, full Christmas order lists and a warm feeling in my heart. I'm unlikely to manage another blog post before the big Ho Ho Ho so I just wanted to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported the Bakehouse over the year.  I have made a lot of bread and a lot of friends and I've loved every minute.  There's more fun to come in the new year with plans to introduce courses for people who want to learn how to make their own bread at home and some tasty new loaves to bake, so bring on 2014.

Merry Christmas from Hels xx

Me and an elf

It's time to get Festive!

This blog post is a mission statement, advert and general catch all communication for anyone who is interested in what Hels' Bakehouse is up to for Christmas!

I'm not normally one for planning ahead, but it occurred to me that as a business owner I might be expected to be more organised this year. So here's the plan:

1st December - 2pm Bread making demo at Edenmill Food Festival. Come along and find out how to make great Real Bread and test some of our favourite loaves. Then pay a visit to Santa and buy some great local produce!

A selection of breads and Christmas gift jars of festive granhohohola will be on sale at:

7th December - Strathblane Primary School Christmas Fair (6.30-9.00pm)

14th December - Killearn Christmas Market (10am-3pm)

The last Bread Club day of the year will be on Friday 20th December but I'll also be doing some special extra baking days on the 22nd & 23rd December.  These are open to all and you will be able to pre-order the following delicious Christmas treats from me for collection only:

Apricot & Walnut Couronne - a very special Christmas showstopper, filled with marzipan, apricots and nuts and finished with a sticky icing.  £8.50

Pain de Glengoyne - Whisky soaked raisins in delicious malty rye bread. Bye bye Miss American Pie, those good old boys would like this one with some thick cut marmalade for a very merry breakfast. £4.00

Cranberry & Pecan bread - a Bakehouse thanksgiving special. Wholemeal bread packed with the most festive of fruit and nuts. £3.50

Sourdough - Hels' Bakehouse's signature bread. Tastes delicious, good for the digestion and will see you through the festivities as it keeps well for toasting. £3.75

Blue cheese, Honey & Walnut bread - This one is like a ready made Cheese board. Yum! £3.00

Sage & onion bread - Pop this one in the freezer and bring it out to make an amazing boxing day sandwich with your left overs. £2.50

Croissants - Rich, buttery, flaky, fresh croissants available in packs of 4. Enough said! £3.20

Festive granhohohola - a Christmassy take on our original granola, this one is festively spiced and packed with pecans, cranberries and crystalised ginger. Available in 250g packs at £3.00 or our special Christmas gift jar £10.00

Availability will be limited so you'll need to get your name in fast. We'll be taking orders at the Christmas fairs or you can email me at info@helsbakehouse.com. The deadline for getting your orders in will be Monday 16th December.

Collection will be at Hels' Bakehouse HQ, 13 Blane Crescent, Blanefield between 4-6pm on each special baking day with mince pies and mulled wine waiting for all. All of my lovely loyal Bread Club customers are invited to drop in too as a thank you for your excellent support and bread eating skills over what has been an amazing year.

After that the McGougan sleigh will be heading down to Wiltshire to see the relatives with baking for the Bread Club starting again on 10th January.

It's almost enough to start making me feel Christmassy. Where's the sherry?

An apple a day

Autumn days are here and it's my favourite time of year. Cooler days, clear night skies, beautiful colours and a whole load of apples to deal with.

We have two apple trees in our garden and every year I see it as a personal challenge to see how many of them I can use. This year's crop hasn't been amazing, but it hasn't stopped me filling the freezer with apple purée for the Hels' Bakehouse granola and for stirring into my morning porridge with some scavenged blackberries from the woods.

For puddings there have been apple pies and my favourite Chocolate Apple Betty recipe from Nigel Slater's Real Food book. This is also a great way to use up bread crumbs which make a delicious crunchy topping which is so much tastier then a crumble.

The Bread Club got a harvest time treat of Apple & Cider bread which smelt amazing as it baked and was the perfect accompaniment to some nice strong cheddar.

Most satisfyingly my store cupboard is also now full of beautifully coloured apple & chilli jelly and Beetroot, apple & ginger chutney made with beetroots gifted to me from our local allotments.

The annual apple challenge has become part of the ritual of the McGougan year. It captures the memories of the summer and makes me feel like a wholesome, thrifty housewife, whilst all else around me remains in chaos. But most importantly it heralds the start of warm tasty dinners and treats stored up for the winter months ahead and is a damn good excuse for a tasty calorie laden pudding that sort of counts as one of your five a day. Waste not, want not and with any luck with the amount of apples I've eaten over the last few weeks the doctor should be in for a quiet few months ahead.

Back to school - Welcome to Sourdough September

So my wee boy has started school at last and life seems to be returning to some kind of version of normality. Am I the only one that already needs another holiday though?

Now that everyone is back from their jols the Bread Club seems busier than ever and for the first time I have had to split up Sourdough week so that my starter, oven and sanity can cope with the demand. With Edenmill Farm getting busier, more granola orders & Killearn market also going well I'm beginning to have regular dreams about owning a proper commercial oven. Well, I would be dreaming of one if I actually had time for any sleep!

It's all good fun though and I'm still finding time to try new things (see croissant pic) and loving making so many new friends through the medium of bread.

Next up on the big list of things to do is to spread the love of Real Bread further and set up a couple of dates for a bread class as well as start giving some serious bread making thought to the 'C' word that rhymes with 'Bhristmas'.

But first, it's time to enjoy Sourdough September and with cooler weather, a happy starter and a quieter house I intend to do just that! If you've never tried making or eating Sourdough before its time to give it a go. All you need is a large tupperware, some flour and water and with a bit of commitment and nurture you can soon be making your own great real bread.

Here's how to do it:

Mix 125g flour (any kind will do but I like rye flour) with about 200ml of water, whisk for 10 minutes to get all the lovely wild yeast in from the air around you. When it is frothy and thickened to the consistency of thick paint, pour it into a sealable container with plenty of room for the starter to grow. Glass jars look prettier but have a tendency to explode, so I use a big tall Tupperware that fits in the fridge door. For the first week you will need to feed your starter every day by pouring half off and repeating the steps above. After that you can feed it once a week. After a few weeks of this it should start to smell sweetly sour - mine smells a bit like apples and vinegar. When it gets to this stage and bubbles up quickly every time you feed it you are ready to start baking.

But that is another story...