Northampton & District Clandestine Cake Club 'Vanilla' meeting

I wonder how many of us actually enquire where – or which country - we get our baking ingredients from or, indeed, how they are produced? With this in mind, it was a great starting point for our CCC meeting, on 20^th September, to utilise the flavour of  ‘vanilla’ in our cakes, which our local member, Vanessa Kimbell, knew something about following her recent visit to Fairtrade Ndali in Uganda.

We met at member Marian’s beautiful village home on the outskirts of Northampton and an enormous thank you must be expressed to her for hosting our meeting. Two huge tables were set beautifully and the tea, coffee, cold drinks, and natter flowed throughout the evening. Our donations for the refreshments were donated by Marian to her personal charity.

During the evening, Vanessa enlightened us about her own first-hand experience of vanilla production and a cookery book swap took place, with the proceeds being used to assist a Ugandan child in her schooling. Our cakes came, as usual, in all shapes and sizes, with accompaniments of cream, soft fruit and even vanilla vodka (mmmmm..... a nice surprise!). Take a look at the photo, close your eyes, and just imagine the scent and flavour of all those confections! It was another wonderful CCC event.

Further photos can be found shortly on the CCC website: www.clandestinecakeclub.co.uk