SPOILT FOR CHOICE

With the extensive range of Checkers festive bakes to choose from there’s something for every taste and budget. From melt-in-the-mouth blueberry mince pies, decadent Swiss chocolate fruit cakes to glacé fruittopped cakes that look almost too good to eat —

Meet the baking expert KARLA GROENEWALD Product Development Manager: Fresh Foods

I loved cooking with my dad and trying out new recipes with him. We never went to fancy restaurants. Once we went to Five Flies in Cape Town. It was the only time I visited a fine-dining restaurant with my parents. This experience was behind my decision to become a chef. I knew that even if it didn’t work out I would gain a valuable, lifelong skill. I enjoy baking, especially birthday cakes, but not the cleaning afterwards!

I head up the Checkers test kitchen with a team of eight. Most of our time is spent on tastings, trying products and perfecting recipes with the aim of launching new and innovative foods. We spend lots of time with suppliers, brainstorming possibilities and looking at how to improve our offering. We constantly test the quality. We work closely with our design team on any packaging requirements, to see how it can be more environmentally friendly and/or extend the products’ shelf life.

I got involved with selecting the Checkers festive-cake range three years ago, which is when we changed to a base recipe. This means we have kept the core range the same with the addition of variations every year, like the blueberry mince pies this year and my favourite, the luxury chocolate Christmas cake. The cake is made with Frey’s chocolate (Switzerland’s No 1 chocolate sold exclusively by Checkers) and the flavour is incredible. We wanted to develop a dark festive cake as an option for those who are not that keen on fruit.

Christmas on a budget? Our range is competitively priced without compromising on quality. There are different sizes to cater for different budgets. Prices range from R29.99 for the 200g mini Christmas cake to R229.99 for the 800g luxury Christmas cake.

My Christmas, since becoming a mom to Alec, nearly 15 months ago, has taken on a new meaning. The menu is simpler so I can spend less time cooking and more with my family. Products from our exclusive Limited Edition range — developed especially for the festive period — will be part of my spread this year.

My tips for any leftover festive bakes is that there shouldn’t be any leftovers! The convenient thing about the Checkers festive range is its extended shelf life, so there is plenty of time to enjoy for months to come.

BUT if you do have leftovers the options are endless:

Make a trifle using leftover Christmas pudding or cake.

Make French toast by dipping slices of cake or pudding into beaten egg and frying them in a little butter and dust with icing sugar.

Make a fruit cake ice cream by adding sliced leftover cake, pud or mince pies to slightly softened Spoonfuls ice cream — then refreeze for a Sunday lunch dessert treat.