As regular readers of this blog will know, I enjoy growing food and cooking meals from scratch wherever possible. It’s not always successful, but there is nothing quite like rolling the sleeves up with the kids and having a go at making something new. Experimenting with food is a fun way to bond as a family and a great way to spend a drizzly Sunday afternoon.

Recently, we made bread together as a family, and thoroughly enjoyed the results. If you’ve never made bread before, I strongly suggest you give it a go. Follow my tips for a basic bread recipe, and you’ll be experimenting with focaccias and ciabattas in no time.

Firstly, decide whether you would prefer to make white bread or wholemeal bread, as this will of course dictate which type of flour you need. Along with 1 ½ cups of flour you’ll need the following:

• 1 level teaspoon of salt
• 1 level teaspoon of sugar
• 1 level tablespoon of soft margarine
• 1 sachet of dried yeast
• 2/3 cup of warm (not hot) water

In a large mixing bowl, rub the margarine into the flour, sugar and salt with your fingers and then stir in the dried yeast. Stir in the warm water using a wooden spoon until the dough becomes tougher. Once it binds together, place the dough on a floured surface and knead with your hands for about five minutes until smooth.

Shape the dough into however you want your loaf to turn out and then place on a greased baking tray and cover with oiled cling film. Leave in a warm place until the dough has grown to about double its original size and then cook for 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven at 230°C /gas mark 8. Remove from the oven and leave to cool (ensure your loaf’s ready by tapping the bottom; it should sound hollow). Then all that’s left to do is eat, and enjoy!