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Christmas Gift Guide

Give the gift of baking this Christmas

Whether they’re bonkers about brownies, mad about muffins or crazy for cookies, our baking kits are the perfect gift this festive season.

Our subscriptions mean our kits are the Christmas gift that keeps on giving.

We often get asked by people who are buying our subscriptions if there any utensils we recommend for people who are new to baking and might not have any of the equipment. We have put together this Christmas gift guide of things we use regularly and thoroughly recommend.

General baking equipment

The items listed below are good all round items that can be used not only for our great baking kits, but also general cooking and baking. Not all the items listed below are necessary for our baking subscriptions but are nice to have.

brownie tin

muffin traysilicone baking sheet
Brownie tinMuffin traySilicone baking sheet
mason cash mixing bowlsilicone spatulas setmeasuring spoons
Mason Cash mixing bowlSilicone spatulas setMeasuring spoons
vonshef food mixerVonshef hand mixer
Vonshef food mixerVonshef hand mixer

Don’t forget our early bird Christmas offer is still available but ends on the 11th of November at Midnight. We also have an offer on our fantastic deluxe hot Chocolate baubles, buy 2 kits and the get the 3rd kit half price.

As well as our subscription boxes, we also offer gift vouchers. If you would like to stay up-to-date with all our latest news and product announcements, be sure to take a look at our Facebook and Twitter.

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Tips to help your Bonfire Night go with a bang

Tips (and a quiz!) to help your Bonfire Night go with a bang

Many of us like to remember remember the fifth of November – after all, it’s an excuse to light up a dark night with fireworks, tasty food and warming drinks.

In this blog, we’re going to share our top five tips for making sure your Fireworks Night goes with a fizz not a whimper.

But before we do, we wondered how much do you know about the gunpowder, treason and plot? Why not take our quick quiz (answers at the end…no cheating) and feel free to test your family and other Bonfire Night guests!

  1. What did Guy Fawkes plan to blow up?

Buckingham Palace

The Houses of Parliament

Westminster Abbey

  1. Which King were they trying to kill with the plot?

James I

Henry II

Charles I

  1. In which pub is the plot said to have hatched?

The Dog and Bone

The Duck and Drake

The Duck and Dog

  1. Who led the conspirators?

Thomas Percy

Guy Fawkes

Robert Caseby

  1. What were the plotters trying to achieve?

To restore the Tudor dynasty

To make England a republic

To put a catholic on the throne

  1. How many barrels of gunpowder found their way into Westminster Hall?

36

46

56

  1. When did the gunpowder plot take place?

1505

1605

1655

  1. Why didn’t the gunpowder plot go ahead?

They couldn’t light the fuse

There was an anonymous tip off

They decided not to go ahead.

Our top 5 tips for a sparkling Firework Night

  1. Choose the appropriate number of fireworks – too many and people will get bored…too few and it’ll be over too soon.
  2. Have plenty of gloves, scarfs, blankets and (if necessary) umbrellas handy. It’ll almost certainly be chilly and quite possibly drizzly!
  3. Make simple, warming food and drink. Use flasks – and plastic cups/plates.
  4. Fill the garden with as many outdoor lights as you can muster.
  5. If you’re having a bonfire, before you light it, make sure there are no hedgehogs camping within it and, of course, keep any pets indoors (ideally with someone else if they’re a bit nervous).

Warming drinks

Here’s an idea for a spin on one of Bonfire Night’s traditional offerings…toffee apples (for adults!)

Easy peasy ‘Hot toffee apple punch’

All you’ll need for this warming tasty concoction is:

6 diced apples

1 litre of cider

250ml of dark rum

250ml of vanilla vodka

3 cinnamon sticks

3 star anise

100g of sugar

Just heat up the cider, apples, sugar and spices until steaming then add the rum and vodka. It’s as easy as that!

For the younger or non-drinking members of the gathering, here’s a recipe for a warming, luxurious drink…

Best ever drinking chocolate

For three people, all you need is:

125ml of double cream

125ml of semi-skimmed milk

100g of plain dark chocolate

Just break the chocolate into pieces in a small mixing bowl. Heat the cream and milk in a pan. When it’s nearly simmering, simply pour it into the bowl and stir well. Pour it into cups and enjoy!

When it comes to warming bonfire night food, there’s so much choice. Typical fare tends to include hot dogs, stews, mulled wine and toffee apples.

If you’re a home baker and are gathering ingredients for some traditional parkin and flapjacks, don’t forget we’re here to smooth your path all year round with our subscription kits.

And if you order before 11 November, you’ll get 20% off our six month and 12 month Christmas gift subscriptions. Just use the code Christmas at the checkout.

Whatever you get up to this Bonfire Night, have fun and stay safe!

(How did you fare with our quiz? Here are the answers: The House of Parliament/James 1/The Duck and Drake/Robert Caseby/They wanted a catholic on the throne/36/1605/Anonymous tip off).

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tis the season to bake

Move over mellow mists, ’tis the season to bake!

Don’t you just love autumn? In the words of poet John Keats, it’s the season of mellow mists and fruitfulness.

Yes, it’s time to get cosy. Light the candles, dig out the snug PJs, and turn the clocks back. Winter’s highlights are around the corner – Halloween, Bonfire Night and, of course, Christmas.

Naturally, being a baking company, we look upon each of the above occasions as yet more reasons to bake our favourite yummy treats.

And, it seems, we’re not alone. With more and more Brits taking up baking every year (this year 34% say they bake at least once a week compared to 19% in 2016), statistics show that Autumn is the most popular baking season of all.

It’s not hard to see why. Picture the scene. Outside it’s cold, windy and rainy. But you (and perhaps your loved ones) are ensconced in your warm, cosy kitchen creating wonderful aromas and baking tasty treats and delicious desserts.

Of course, it also helps that the Great British Bake Off Final is looming and a high percentage of its millions of viewers (well done Channel 4!) are compelled to bake for themselves after each episode.

But no matter what’s inspired you – whether it’s the urge to create little Halloween monster cakes for your own little monsters, or the desire for some tasty parkin cake for Bonfire Night, or a need to make an early start on some festive bakes, we wish you happy baking!

And, don’t forget, we’re here to make your life easier with our convenient subscription baking kits. They make ideal Christmas gifts too.

Order before 11 November to get 20% off our six month and 12 month gift subscriptions. The offer is only available for Christmas gifts as the first kit will be posted on 3 January 2018. It includes a gift message which we will email for you to give to the recipient at Christmas.

Just add the 6 month or 12 month subscription to the basket and use code Christmas at the checkout for 20% off.

To add your gift message enter it into the option box on the checkout page, we will email over the image for you to print out. We’ll ship the first kit out on 3 January.

There you go…that’s at least one of your Christmas presents sorted.

If you would like to stay up-to-date with all our latest news, developments and product announcements, remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Christmas early bird offer

Get 20% off our six month and 12 month gift subscriptions until the 11th of November. The offer is only available for Christmas gifts as the first kit will be posted on the 3rd of January 2018, it includes a gift message which we can either post or email for you to give to the recipient at Christmas. Just let us know at the check out if you would like us to post it or email it.

Here’s how it works:

  • Add the 6 month or 12 month subscription to the basket
  • Use code Christmas at the checkout for 20% off
  • To add your gift message enter it into the option box on the checkout page and let us know if you would like us to post or email the gift voucher.
  • We will ship the first kit out on the 3rd of January.
  • Merry Christmas.

 

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National Baking Week!

We d’éclair it’s officially the best week of the year – National Baking Week!

 

We might be biased, but National Baking Week is definitely the best thing since sliced bread.

 

It’s the perfect excuse to bring the whole family together in the kitchen and create scrumptious treats that everybody can enjoy.

 

Thanks to our easy and fun baking kits, everyone can get involved with the occasion because we make baking a piece of cake.

 

Home-baking is our passion, but why do we love it so much? Well, here are our top 10 reasons why we believe all you knead is cake, muffins, brownies and bread!

 

  1. A Chance to be creative – baking is not so much about skill, but following a recipe, as well as your intuition. It’s fun to experiment with different creations and flavour combinations. It’s also totally customisable and you can adapt recipes according to your own tastes and preferences.
  2. Family-time – baking is a wonderful way to bring people together and to get the kids into the kitchen. You can even teach your children the basics from an early age so they might grow up enjoying baking as a hobby.
  3. Perfect for a rainy day – here at If I Knew You Were Coming, we’re based in Warcop, Cumbria. We love living in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, but it also means we’re well used to Cumbrian weather, which means our fair share of drizzle! Luckily when it comes to baking, it’s something we can enjoy in the comfort of our kitchen, come rain or shine.
  4. The smell – can you think of a lovelier smell than freshly-baked bread on a Saturday morning? In fact, the smell of baking is so universally loved, it’s actually a known tactic to use when it comes to house viewings.
  5. It’s cheap – you don’t need to spend a fortune when it comes to baking. The basic ingredients are always on the cheaper side.
  6. Sharing is caring – if you can bear to part with your delicious creations, you can share them with family, friends and co-workers.
  7. It’s easy – especially when it comes to our baking kits! All you have to do is put your order through on our website and your kit will be delivered to your door. Then you just need to pick up the items on the short shopping list (no more than four) and follow the simple, step-by-step recipe.
  8. It’s therapeutic – baking has actually been proven to reduce stress. According to the Huffington Post, a survey conducted by baking company Cake Angels found that 80% of highly stressed people surveyed took up baking to help alleviate the pressure.
  9. There’s always an occasion to bake – birthdays, Christmas, weddings… there’s always an excuse to bake. But if you REALLY love baking, why not take a look at our different subscription options? You can buy a monthly baking subscription, priced from £17.99 to £77.99 (plus P&P, or free over £40). You will then receive a baking kit box through the letterbox which contains a recipe and ingredients to bake a quick and delicious treat every month for three, six or 12 months.
  10. It’s rather delicious! Need we say more?

 

Celebrate National Baking Week with us! Take a look at our kits. If you’re local to Cumbria, we’re now stocked in a number of shops, including Cranstons in Penrith, Chestnut House in Pooley Bridge and The Ark at the Cloisters in Appleby.

If you would like to stay up-to-date with all our latest news, developments and product announcements, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Macmillan Coffee Morning

Are you joining in with the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning?

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, hosted by Macmillan cancer support, takes place later this month.

If you would like to take part and raise money for a vital cause, there are a number of fun and exciting ways you can make your event a huge success.

Here are our top tips for the annual fundraising celebration on Friday, 29th September.

  • Spread the word

The more the merrier when it comes to events like this. Thanks to social media, inviting friends and family and raising awareness is easier than ever. You could set up a Facebook group (either an open or closed group depending how open you’d like the event to be). You could even come up with your own custom hashtag and ask your guests to post updates via Twitter and Instagram. Or, if you’d like to keep things simple, you could get your children or grandchildren involved and ask them to design an invitation which you could then scan and print copies of. Macmillan also has an invitation template you can download from their website.

  • Think about a theme

While you don’t have to have a theme, if you’re looking to do something creative and quirky then it’s a perfect opportunity to put your thinking cap on and have a little fun. Themes could include, a certain colour (decorations, dress code and coloured cakes and bakes), an era (vintage tea party or swinging 60s), or fancy dress (something beginning with ‘m’ for Macmillan, for example).

  • FUN-draising

How can you make fundraising fun? The idea is to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan, but instead of asking for a donation, you could make it much more entertaining. For example, you could include games, quizzes, or even a sports day if the weather is nice and the sun is shining. There could also be prizes for the best bake (taking inspiration from the Great British Bake Off and awarding a ‘star baker’) or best fancy dress outfit, depending on your theme.

  • Make it easy for yourself

You can enjoy a stress-free coffee morning by making it easy for yourself. Our baking kits are expertly created for anyone – whether you’re a complete beginner or confident baker. All you have to do is put your order in on our website and your kit will be delivered to your door. Then you just need to pick up the items on the short shopping list (no more than four) and follow the simple, step-by-step recipe. There’s something for everyone, with favourites including Classic Chocolate Brownie, Coconut and White Chocolate Cookies and Strawberries and Cream Muffins – to name just a few of the flavours available.

We hope this has offered some inspiration for your coffee morning event later this month. We would love to see pictures and find out how much you’ve raised for Macmillan, please remember to tag us on our Facebook and Twitter – happy baking everyone!

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Baking Britian

It’s official – Britain has gone bonkers for baking!

Home baking has become more popular than ever before and research conducted by The Grocer has revealed why we as Brits have gone bonkers for biscuits and crazy for cakes over recent years.

Unsurprisingly, the Great British Bake Off has fuelled everyone’s new-found interest. When the final series featuring baking queen, Mary Berry, aired last year, 14.8million Brits tuned in and the number of households buying home baking products during the series jumped by more than 1.1 million (9.7%), the sharpest spike of recent years.

The number of Brits who say they bake at least once a week has also risen in the last year, with 19% in 2016 compared to 34% this year. Research demonstrated that home baking spikes in autumn and in the build-up to Halloween and Christmas.

But what do amateur and advanced bakers in the UK enjoy baking the most? The Grocer’s research, carried out by Harris Interactive, revealed the following:

  • 75% – Cake
  • 39% – Cupcakes
  • 37% – Biscuits
  • 33% – Pies
  • 29% – Bread

Of course, it won’t come as any great surprise to know the top reason people bake a cake is to celebrate a birthday. But there are many other fabulous excuses to have your cake and eat it. For example, Christmas, Easter, anniversary, wedding, christening, passing exams, new job, new home. But then again, who needs a specific reason? Life is short…and here at If I Knew You Were Coming, we believe everyone should enjoy a slice of cake if there’s a y in the day of the week.

If you agree, then take a look at our different baking kits available on our website. If you would like to stay up-to-date with all our latest news, developments and product announcements, remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Bake off is back

if i knew you were coming caramel brownie baking kit baking subscription food gift

On your marks, get set… Bake Off is back!

The wait is nearly over – The Great British Bake Off returns to our screens on Tuesday (29th August).

Although it might’ve moved over to Channel 4, it’s still definitely one of our favourite cookery programmes and we’re looking forward to the different creations, challenges and show-stopping bakes that the new series will bring.

Of course, nobody will be able to replace the national treasure that is Mary Berry, but whether you like the new judging and presenting line-up or not, the heart of this much loved show is still all about the sheer joy of baking.

Since Bake Off began, the British public have rediscovered the art of baking. It’s one of those activities that’s both enjoyable and practical, and is good fun for all the family. Here at If I Knew You Were Coming, we can help you be a star baker in your own kitchen with not one soggy bottom in sight.

Our baking kits are expertly designed to ensure that everyone can enjoy them – whether you’re a cake connoisseur or a beginner in biscuits, our kits make baking easy and fun.

Created with simplicity in mind, all you need to do is pick up the items on the short shopping list in the kit, which includes no more than four items. The detailed recipe then sets out everything step-by-step.

We’ve created kits for all cakes and preferences. If you’re a chocaholic, you’ll love our Caramel Brownie, Classic Chocolate Brownie and White Chocolate Blondie. If you’re crazy about cookies, then our various cookie selections with flavours including Chocolate Chip and Orange and Coconut and White Chocolate will definitely be your cup of tea. Or, if you’re mad about muffins, you’ll love trying out all the different flavours of our muffin baking kits, with delicious options such as Apple and Sultana, Lemon Drizzle and Strawberries and Cream.

In true Bake Off style, we would love to see your creations! Please tag us in any photographs of your treats from If I Knew You Were Coming on our Facebook and Twitter.

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The challenge of original gift giving

These days, it can be a real challenge to find different and original gifts for birthdays, Christmas and special occasions.

We’ve long moved on from the socks and handkerchief gifts favoured by our grandparents and, if we’re honest, we’re probably getting a little bit jaded with the various novelty gifts doing the rounds at the moment.

But no matter what the occasion is, we’ve got an idea for a gift that keeps giving…

Here at If I Knew You Were Coming, we have created an exciting new way to bake. You can buy a friend or a family member a monthly baking subscription, priced from £17.99 to £77.99 (plus P&P, or free over £40). They will then receive a baking kit box through their letterbox which contains a recipe and ingredients to bake a quick and delicious treat every month for three, six or 12 months – it literally is the gift that keeps on giving.

The short shopping list includes no more than four items and the detailed recipe sets out everything you need to do, so it is the perfect present for bakers of all levels, from beginner to advanced. If you do buy one as a gift, just let us know and we can post the first subscription box out so it arrives on the day of your choice (post permitting) and we can also include a gift message if you wish.

There are a number of options available depending on how much you are looking to spend, the length of the subscription and the type of treats the recipient prefers, including:

Featuring gorgeous high quality Belgian chocolate, these recipes include Classic Chocolate Brownie, White Chocolate Blondie and Caramel Brownie – perfect for the chocaholic in your life! They also include parchment to bake in, so there is no need for a brownie tin.

This kit features White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies, Coconut and White Chocolate Cookies and Chocolate Chip and Orange Cookies – your friend or family member certainly won’t be disappointed when our Champion Cookies land on their doormat!

These delicious treats are so yummy they won’t want to share them with anyone! This subscription includes Apple and Sultana Muffins, Caramel and Chocolate Muffins and Almond and Poppy Seed Muffins. These also include 6 large coffee shop style muffin cases.

For someone with a summer birthday, this is the perfect gift to enjoy in the sunshine, with scrumptious recipes including Coconut and White Chocolate Cookies, Strawberries and Cream Muffins and Lemon Drizzle Muffins.

This selection is the ultimate baking gift set, perfect for bakers of any skill. We will send out a baking kit once a month for six months which will include all dry ingredients, a short shopping list and details of a few baking tools needed, such as spoons, baking trays etc.

As above, this is the ultimate baking gift set which offers a fantastic kit once a month for 12 months. It truly is a delightful gift for the baking enthusiast in your life, offering them a brand new recipe to look forward to every month.

As well as our subscription boxes, we also offer gift vouchers. If you would like to stay up-to-date with all our latest news and product announcements, be sure to take a look at our Facebook and Twitter.

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Summer holiday ideas

4 easy and cheap ideas to keep the kids entertained in the summer holidays

Every parent knows the school holidays can be slightly challenging – but we’ve learnt that the trick is to keep the kids busy with a mixture of fun activities and relaxing downtime. This way, they won’t feel too worn out (and neither will mum and dad). There are a number of fantastic easy and cheap ways to keep the kids entertained during the summer holidays. Here are our four favourite baking-themed ideas…

• Host a baking competition with friends
Why not get together with your children’s friends’ parents and host a fun afternoon that you can all enjoy? A baking competition is a great idea to keep a group of kids happy and entertained (especially if the weather is rainy!)

• Pack up some delicious treats and garden games, and have a lovely picnic
If the weather is sunny, you could head over to your local park and enjoy an afternoon in the glorious sunshine. For a super easy and stress-free picnic, you could order a few of our baking kits to prepare some yummy treats in advance. Each recipe has a short shopping list of no more than four ingredients that are available from most supermarkets. Some of our favourite summer-themed baking delights include Lemon Drizzle Muffins, White Chocolate Blondie and White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies.

• Bake some muffins and cookies and deliver them to friends and family who live nearby
This would be a lovely surprise for friends and relatives – you could even create your very own homemade cards for them too, thanking them for being a good friend/grandparent/auntie/uncle.

• Bring a bit of sunshine to somebody’s day in the local community
You could bake some delicious treats for local care homes, homeless shelters, or for the staff at your local animal rescue shelter.

• Create a scrapbook or photo book with all the memories from summer 2017
(Including pictures of the yummy cakes and sweet treats you’ve baked!)

Remember, if you don’t want the baking fun to stop after the summer holidays are over, you can buy one of our brilliant baking subscription boxes. They also make excellent baking gifts!

There are plenty of delicious options to choose from, including:
• Brownie Selection – 3 months, £20
• Champion Cookies – 3 months, £17.99
• Marvellous Muffins – 3 months, £17.99
• Summer Selection – 3 months, £17.99
• The Favourites Selection – 6 months, £40
• The Ultimate Selection – 12 months, £77.99

summer holiday ideas

 

 

 

 

If you would like to stay up-to-date with all our latest news over the summer holidays, please remember to follow us on our Facebook and Twitter.