Some of you may be thinking, what the heck is a Bakewell?! Well, let me enlighten you, and possibly change your life for ever. A Bakewell Tart is one of my favourite English treats. Traditionally, it is a sweet tart, made with a pastry base, covered in raspberry jam, and smothered in a layer of almondy frangipan. Growing up, it was one of my absolute favorite treats. So much so, that I even bought it as a mother's day gift for my mother when I was about eight years old as I couldn't imagine a better gift.
I decided to create a twist on this delicious recipe and make it into a bar. I swapped out the traditional pastry base for a sugar cookie, amped up with some almond flour, and subbed in cherry jam for the raspberry. The results are utterly delicious... a sweet indulgence if ever there was one. Interestingly, my husband thought these "tasted like home"... an interesting observation given that he was raised in the US and I was raised in the UK. He said it was something similar to what his Croatian grandmother would make. I'll have to investigate the crossover in these two cuisines, as I'm excited to try some Croatian delicacies as well.
As you may know from my bio, I am using baking as some kind of therapy to heal from my split from a traditional corporate job, and while I think of what to do next. Having disengaged from this old life that I had for the past fifteen years, its no surprise that it can feel quite a shock. Today was one of those days where I felt utterly lost. I felt useless, like I had no purpose, despite keeping myself busy. I just had this sense that I was a person who had no skills to give. Whether you have a job or not, if you are experiencing or recovering from burnout, this is a common feeling. Burnout can almost trick you into thinking you are worthless, because you are so beaten down.
And so, I decided I needed a win under my belt. So I made a decision to act on creating this recipe that I had been mulling over ideologically for the past few days. I had no idea if it would be a success or not, but even as I started to work with the ingredients I felt more purposeful. By the time I had finished, and as I waited for the bars to bake, anxious to see the results, I felt a little bit more like myself again. I want to send my love out there to anyone else experiencing this. It can feel depressing, and lonely. But you are not alone, and you are so worthy. You are a skilled individual, and you will find a path to leverage those talents. Give yourself a break today.
Baking Tips:
In order to make your life way way easier I highly recommend creating an outline of the baking pan using pencil or pen so that when you roll out the dough you know exactly what shape you are aiming for.
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