Faulkner - Tea & cake with Lisa Faulkner

And that feeling is something I want to pass on to my daughter and to share with all those around me. You dont need to worry about everything turning out perfectly its not about making the lightest pastry or the crumbliest scone. What its really about is taking the time to make something for someone the simple gesture of pouring out a cup of tea and placing a plate of homemade biscuits alongside can make them feel loved, cherished and reassured in an instant. For me, I have to start every single day with a cup of tea. I love the ritual of waking up, boiling the kettle and then sitting down, cup in hand and thinking about what Im going to be doing that day. Its my little moment of calm before the madness of everyday life kicks in the school run, homework time, long hours and the hundred and one other things that keep me running around in circles.

And, as everyone knows, tea can help solve almost any problem! Whether its a broken heart, a crisis at work or just one of those days, reaching for the kettle is halfway to making everything better. An afternoon cup of Earl Grey and all is right with the world! One of my very favourite things is my teapot its silver and shiny and I love to set it on the table with a cake cut into wedges or a plate of biscuits. Or to curl up on my sofa with a big mug and take a step back from all the hustle and bustle. Thats really the reason why I bake so that I have something to eat with my cup of tea and, as you can gather, I really, really love a cup of tea! The recipes in this book are here for you to have fun with. I find that it can take a few goes to get something just how I like it, so dont worry if your baking looks a bit rough around the edges its all part of the charm. Itll taste delicious and I promise you wont hear any complaints! I also wanted to take a trip back to the time when I was little and teatime as it was then, in the form of sandwiches and slices of cake was a regular occurrence.

Im sure that, as we get older, our memories of childhood become rose-tinted, but those times that we really did have crumpets by the fire and cheese on toast followed by slices of Battenburg have stayed with me and etched themselves onto my memory, waiting to be recreated with my daughter. Billie and I love to spend time in the kitchen together cooking and just being with each other, and there are many recipes in this book that bring back lovely memories of afternoons spent playing with pastry and cookie dough. I love that something as simple as cake can create such lifelong memories down the generations and I want to pass that on through these recipes. I love taking cookery books up to bed with me and reading them as I would a novel, but I often dont actually end up making things from many of them. I really hope you will enjoy using this book! I would love to think that Tea & Cake will sit on your kitchen shelf, a little battered around the edges and covered in butter and icing and a load of chocolate fingerprints a book that you can go to time and time again for inspiration and to bake something delicious, whether its for your best friend who needs a shoulder to cry on, a surprise pitch-up of family on a Sunday afternoon, or a cake sale at your childrens school that you only remembered at the last minute.

It was late, pouring with rain and the traffic was terrible. I stopped off to pick someone up and when I arrived at their house, tired and cold, I was greeted by a steaming cup of tea and homemade biscuits. It was exactly what I needed and I was overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness of this simple act. I couldnt stop thinking about it and it is what finally prompted me to write down all my recipes here for you to share. I think the moment was so very special to me because the person who demonstrated that love through her baking was one of my all-time heroes, Mary Berry. So thank you, Mary, for inspiring me to write this book.

A cake that can be cut into lots of pieces or a plate of biscuits ready for dunking into hot tea has been made with love, and that in itself is a truly special thing. Have fun with these recipes and make them your own and remember: there is always time for another cup of tea! NB : Tea may be one of my favourite things in the world, but obviously feel free to substitute it with a hot drink of your choice!