Home   News   Article

Muir of Ord baker has the recipe for success – and now she's willing to share it!


By Louise Glen

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Jeni Hardie in the Bad Girl Bakery Cafe in Muir of Ord.
Jeni Hardie in the Bad Girl Bakery Cafe in Muir of Ord.

A BLACK Isle baker in coronavirus lockdown is still managing to make her customers' mouths water – without going anywhere near her oven.

Jeni Hardie (48) of the Muir of Ord-based Bad Girl Bakery, has started a popular online blog which has had an outstanding response, and could pave the way for publication of the recipe book she longs to produce.

Cooking tips and recipes from the bakery include a caramel chocolate brownie recipe which has had more than 1600 views.

Soups, bread and scone mixtures are also doing well with online fans keen to try to replicate some of her treats while they have time on their hands.

Mrs Hardie, who is in lockdown with husband Douglas and 12-year old Felix, decided that to keep her busy she would start a blog for folk missing out on her sweet and savoury goodies.

A slice of what you fancy.
A slice of what you fancy.

She said: "I was inspired by a friend of mine to do a blog. Early on in the coronavirus pandemic we made a decision to close the bakery, and we had so much support from our customers when we announced it on social media.

"We had posted a recipe to make at home and we were amazed at the response."

It was then that Mrs Hardie decided to start the blog, badgirlbakery.wordpress.com, and to share some of her most popular treats.

She said: "It is giving me something positive to do – and at the same time giving other people the real information that is needed to make a cake or bread. In our caramel brownie recipe, I explain what the mixture should look like at each stage. At one point I even say it will look as if it is not right, but it is. Hopefully it will give people the confidence to make a cake. And keep them busy as well.

"People are posting pictures of what they are making, and that is so lovely to see."

Asked if she was concerned about giving away trade secrets, she said: "Not at all. Our customers are very loyal and I have no doubt they will be back to the bakery as soon as the lockdown is lifted and we can all get back to work. People are being very supportive."

In the future, she dreams of having a Bad Girl Bakery recipe book and hopes her book will sit alongside more than 200 that she has in her staff room at work.

She added: "It is so good to have the time to write down the recipes in my own style, and for people to give me feedback on them. I would love to write a cookery book and maybe this is the first step to that."

Related stories: Muir bakery set to rise to £1 million turnover with expansion


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More