Doing double time on the detox – cakes and wine are playing a much less significant role in my life these days, money spending is at a minimum (I’ve got a wedding to pay for, for heaven’s sake!) and, as I’ve been fairly organised so far, I can’t even write any more lists for said wedding.

Dull, dull double dull!

So, post-work I’m forced to find other ways to entertain myself, such as tidying up the kitchen cupboards. Most of it was tedious, but the ordering of the baking cupboard was joyful and it is now a thing of beauty, which leads me neatly on to another top ten list (thank you Lesley Carter) – the baking essentials:

1. Digital scales for precise measuring

2. Cup measures so you can easily use American recipes as well as British ones

3. Vanilla extract/paste for delicious flavouring

4. 70% cocoa solids dark chocolate (so many lovely things to create with it)

5. A good, solid mixing bowl

6. Condensed milk (see dark chocolate above)

7. Soft brown sugar

8. Icing sugar

9. Stork margarine – use half and half with unsalted butter for lusciously light cakes

10. ANYTHING from Lakeland.