Baking has always been a tradition in my family. My mother always made beautiful Victoria sponge cakes & fairy cakes for special occasions.
My paternal grandmother had 6 children to feed and home baking was a daily feature in the home. Christmas time, Easter & birthdays were always special times with the table laden with gorgeous morsels, beautifully decorated for the occasion.
My Mum-in-law always had a strict rota of favourites - baked freshly each week in readiness for Sunday afternoon teatime which followed the format of sandwiches followed by freshly baked scones with home made jam and either Victoria sponge oozing with aforementioned jam! Or alternatively, lemon cake or coffee cake with icing to match or a wonderful chocolate cake. Calories! What calories!
As I grew up I would love to join Mum or Grandma in the kitchen as they passed on their knowledge to me and when my son came along we would spend time together in the kitchen having messy baking sessions and we would always make his “special” cake on birthdays - usually chocolate & decorated in whatever theme had been chosen for the occasion.