Nigella Lawson puts forward a strong argument for why we should all be baking during lockdown

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The TV chef has some sage advice for people who are wishing to find some new things to do while self-isolating

It’s no surprise that Nigella Lawson is a big fan of baking.

The TV chef has countless iconic cakes and bakes (it was her revolutionary chocolate covered ice-cream cake that became our easy dinner party dessert of choice – but anyway, we digress).

But now Nigella has explained just why baking is so important for us at the moment, as it can help soothe our anxieties and quiet a racing mind.

MORE: Great British Bake Off star reduces viewers to tears as he reveals emotional reason behind his love of baking

“One of the ways to interrupt anxiety is to let other senses take over,” Nigella said in an interview with The Guardian.

“Touching things, smelling something, listening. Baking really has so much of that, because when you’re kneading dough, or you’re stirring a bowl, you are really immersed in the world of the senses.

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The wonderful Oats in the North Wheat from the South is now up on #CookbookCorner. Read all about it and get @missfoodwise’s recipe for flapjacks, a baking recipe for those with neither eggs nor flour, by clicking on link in profile. To clarify, proceed as follows: tap on my name, which will take you to a page that has a link on it that says www.nigella.com/instagram. When you click on this link, it will take you to a page of photographs: click on the picture of the recipe in question!

A post shared by Nigella (@nigellalawson) on Apr 14, 2020 at 4:36am PDT

“And that’s really very important, because otherwise you’re trapped in your mind, and that isn’t right now a very comfortable place.”

MORE: Nigella Lawson shares glimpse into her utterly magical back garden

So while there may be currently a flour shortage, it could be important to stock up, if only for your mental health. 

Just recently, Nigella shared her ‘emergency brownie’ recipe with her followers online. 

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I’ve made a video-selfie with details of how to make my Emergency Brownies for #hopefromhome on #worldhealthday in support of health workers and medical teams. I know that many of you who would like to donate are just not able to right now, but if you can please do, by going to hopefromhome.tiltify.com. . #recipeoftheday

A post shared by Nigella (@nigellalawson) on Apr 7, 2020 at 9:37am PDT

‘This is for those times you urgently need a brownie, but don’t want to make (or, rather, can’t justify making) a whole batch. This recipe makes two (four if needs be) fudgy brownies to be snaffled straight from the tin. It is worth keeping takeaway-style foil tins in the house just to make these. Take my word for it, it will be a frequent occurrence,’ Nigella explains. 

Want the recipe for Nigella Lawson Emergency Brownies yourself? Well you’re in luck…

Ingredients 

• 50g/1¾oz unsalted butter
• 50g/1¾oz soft light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp maple or golden syrup
• 3 tbsp plain flour
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp sea salt flakes
• 1 large free-range egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 50g/1¾oz walnut pieces
• 50g/1¾oz dark or milk chocolate chips

Method 

• Heat the oven to 1700C / 150oC fan
• Use a small pan, like a milk pan
• Melt in 3 x tablespoons of butter, 3 1/2x tablespoons of sugar, and a tablespoon of maple syrup or golden syrup
• Melt that over a gentle heat, and add 3 x tablespoons of flour, and 3 x tablespoons of cocoa, and whisk that in.
• Add a pinch of salt, an egg, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Whisk, and add chopped nuts and a handful of choc chips (if available) or use regular chocolate and fold that in
• Scrape the batter into a foil tray or baking dish – it won’t come up very high
• Cook it for 15 – 20 mins, and then leave for 15- 20 mins so that they cool and set properly 

Nigella also recommended crumbling the brownies over ice cream. Ok, if we must…