Pear Tree Cottage Garden: Witton Hill Bake Off

The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

12 May 2016

Witton Hill Bake Off - round V

Joan at work

Two smug bakers!

Two days of rain meant an opportunity to bake without the guilt of postponing garden work! Joan did crumpets and a caraway seed cake and I made a rye and caraway loaf. Anything involving yeast takes ages so there was plenty of time for a cake while the crumpet batter was standing and the bread dough rising! Joan's crumpets were a real joy and delight to cook and eat. The results were perfect in every way. We decided that oiled metal crumpet rings were far superior to the flexible silicone ones I had bought. Joan's cake was perfect in texture and flavour and, was also a fab bright yellow colour in contrast with the golden top.