As part of our Meet the Chef series, we're talking to some of Cumbria's finest about their lives in and out of the kitchen. This week, it's the turn of baker Sarah Samuels
Tell us about your current role as a baker
I am the Sarah behind the baking blog Sarah’s Slice which I started in March 2021 and now have a lovely community of around 16k followers on social media. In October this year I released my debut baking book “Sarah’s Slice - Easy Bakes That Always Work” which really was a dream come true.
How long have you been baking?
I have been baking since I was very young and always enjoyed baking with my mum and then my boys.
How did you first get into it?
I started baking for family, friends and special occasions. Then a weekly market selling food and crafts led to baking for some local cafés. I also opened my own café which really gave me the confidence in my baking skills.
Where did you learn your craft?
My mum and grandma have always baked so I guess it's in the genes. Most of the skills I have acquired over the years come from trial and error. I have been known to test recipes up to 10 times to get them the way I like them, I guess you could say I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I think this is why my followers say “your bakes always work”, hence the title of my book.
Tell us about your café
I owned my own café on Main Street in Cockermouth, kind of a craft café. We sold homemade soup, scones and cakes of course! I used local produce as much as I could and I also sold lots of lovely local crafts. We also ran weekly craft and chat, teddy bear making, felting and glass fusing classes.
How did your blog come about?
It all started with a malt loaf! In lockdown I was craving a malt loaf so decided to make one myself. I tried lots of recipes but they all fell short of my expectations. I ended up devising my own recipe and I shared the trials and tribulations on a Facebook baking page. Someone said I was really good at writing and baking and suggested I started a blog. After some investigation and lots of help from my husband Sarah’s Slice was born!
What do you most like baking?
I love baking traybakes as they are so versatile. The most viewed recipe on my blog is my Flapjack recipe and I now have over 20 different flavours as it’s been so popular. It has a not so secret ingredient in it which is condensed milk! A family favourite is my Grandma Nora’s Pineapple Cake from a handwritten book that was passed down to me from my dad. I have lots of different traybakes in my book and blog.
What’s been your worst baking disaster?
My experience of a disaster is probably a good day in the kitchen for most people. I drive my family up the wall as if I think it could be better then I will keep tweaking it until I am happy it can’t be any better!
What is your favourite baked food to eat?
My favourite is my Rhubarb Frangipani Tart - for me rhubarb and almonds is a perfect pairing.
I always have a stash of rhubarb jam in my cupboard so I can make it all year round.
What are your future ambitions?
I would love to develop my own range of baking tins and accessories and of course write another book... perhaps “Sarah’s Slice of Christmas”.
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