Today is World Baking Day and you’re probably looking for some Tea & Blether baking inspiration. So here’s a great, simple recipe and some extra inspiration too! Don’t forget to register your Tea & Blether at blether.alzscot.org.

Every month, our West Lothian Dementia Advisor, Cherie Raby, runs an online baking session from her kitchen for Richard and Mike, who are also in their kitchens at home. The online baking started during lockdown but has proved so popular that it is still running two years later.

The session includes making the recipe, time for a coffee and chat while its in the oven, then a check to see if things are baked to perfection before a tasty sampling (without burning fingers or mouths!). The gentlemen decide two to three months in advance what they would like to make – from oatcakes to quiche to apple turnovers – and Cherie creates a step-by-step, dementia-friendly recipe. Everything as simple as possible. No stove-top cooking required, no sharp knives. Items that are already likely to be in kitchen cupboards. Clear, easy instructions and planning in case of mistakes.

The gentlemen receive a little help with their baking, but they mostly do the sessions on their own and take a photo at the end of what they make. Time in the oven prompts some food-related reminiscence, a chat about some favourite recipes from childhood. Richard was completely new to baking when he started the sessions. Now his grandchildren look forward to the monthly home-baked treats!

Funds raised by Tea & Blether support activities like this across Scotland. Try out Mike & Richard’s Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe for your Tea & Blether!

Mike is proudly holding a tray of baked goods
Richard smiles as he holds up a cookie with a bite out.

Try out Mike & Richard’s Chocolate Chip Cookie

Equipment

  • Two baking trays 
  • Baking parchment – cut to fit trays
  • Bowl 
  • Wooden spoon
  • Large tablespoon
  • Teaspoon

Ingredients

  • 120g butter, softened
  • 75g light brown sugar
  • 75g golden caster sugar
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 180g plain flour
  • ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 150g dark chocolate, cut into chunks or packet choc chip pieces

Method

-Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4

- line two baking sheets with parchment.

-Mix the butter and sugars together in a bowl until very light and fluffy

-Beat in the egg and add vanilla

-Once mixed, add in the flour, bicarb, chocolate and ¼ tsp salt

- Mix all together till like dough

- Scoop 10 large tablespoons of the mixture onto the trays Leave enough space between each to allow for spreading.

- Bake for 10-12 mins until firm at the edges but still soft in the middle

- Take out of oven Leave to cool on the tray for a few mins before eating warm, or transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. #

Will keep for three days in an airtight container.

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