How a Hartlepool baking fan is helping home cooks keep coronavirus boredom at bay with Facebook group

A Facebook group started by Joane Griggs of Seaton Carew where amateur cooks share ideas and pictures of cakes, biscuits and other culinary creations has really taken off.

The Nutty Tarts – Bake Off the Boredom! page has attracted almost 500 members in less than a week from all over the world.

Joane, a secretary for a workingmen’s club who is currently at home due to the coronavirus restrictions, said: “My husband bought me cake mixer last year after getting hooked on Bake Off and I never got round to using it because I was always really busy with life.

“I made some cupcakes which were a bit of a disaster but shared a picture on Facebook.”

She said it inspired her sister Kathleen Hoyle, who lives in the Midlands, and never cooks to bake a cake.

Joane added: “She is a real anti-foodie and doesn’t do anything in the kitchen other pour cereal into a bowl or toast.

“I said we should really start a little group. It started with friends sharing recipes and ideas while we are all on lockdown.

“Only five days in we have hit almost 500 people. They are in South Africa, New South Wales in Australia, Arizona and Ireland.

“I’m absolutely flabbergasted at the response. It’s been brilliant.”

Joane said it is also proving a hit with parents whose children are off school adding home education is not just about maths and English.

“Parents are going potty but this is a nice bonding experience,” she said.

The scope of what members are sharing on the page has also quickly expanded, from cakes to delicious soups, savoury bakes and recipes suitable for people watching their weight.

Joane has also started to set a series of challenges for members beginning with who could bake the best looking biscuits, to making rainbow themed cakes as a shout out to key workers and one called ‘let’s get ready to crumble’.

Nutty Tarts – Bake Off the Boredom! can also be found on Instagram.

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