Sheep cup cakes at the WI

Last year 22,600 women joined the WI, with overall membership for 2011/2012 peaking at 211,000 – the highest since the 1970s. Some have put this down to the Mary Berry effect, and the popularity of TV’sThe Great British Bake Off. A national WI spokesman said: “Home baking has been enjoying a great resurgence over the past few years, and many new WI members have told us that brushing up on their baking skills was one of the reasons why they decided to join.”

Whilst many may be looking to the WI for it’s expertise in this field, making cakes and cupcakes in particular has become a popular pastime all round. from students and young Mums to celebrity professional cake decorators and the internet, there are ideas for all. At their March meeting HatchWarrenWI members had their own cupcake making taster session (although most chose to take their creations home, and not eat them with their tea!).

Fellow member Sandra Christie took on the role of demonstrator for the evening, showing the ladies how to make sheep cupcakes for Easter. Advice was given on how to prepare the icing and choose the required tools etc, before the edible sheep were created. Having been talked through the process a couple of times and studying the end results, it was time to make their own! Not quite as easy as it looked for some, but a few remembered doing something similar before. Everyone was pleased with their own version and proud to take them home to show off. It made a change from just listening to a speaker, interesting though they obviously are.

Next month there will be food for thought  of a totally different kind, when Helena Maskell will talk about St. Michael’s Hospice onThursday 4th April at 8:00pm

Please note that the Annual Meeting and WI Resolutions will be held on 9th May (NB Not first Thursday) at a member’s home and not at the Community Centre

WI Meetings are usually held at the Hatch Warren Community Centre at 8:00pm on the 1stThursday of each month visitors are always welcome and can contact sandra for further details on 01256 469224 full programme details are also listed on the website – www.hampshirewi.org.uk