Milk caramel, cajeta, dulce de leche or manjar; whatever you call it, sweetened caramelized goat or cow’s milk makes an excellent addition to a cheesecake. Today we’re celebrating so the cheesecake in question contains a whole jar of the sweet stuff, but before we talk recipes let’s focus on the reason for those celebrations. My cookbook, Homemade Memories, hits the shops in four weeks and my lovely publisher is giving everyone who pre-orders it the chance to win an amazing bundle of baking goodies (hurrah!).

The goodies in question are hand-picked by me and some of my all-time favourite bits of baking kit.

1. Digital scales, because accuracy in baking is essential. If you currently measure with cups or by eye, this set of scales will change your life.
2. Set of metal measuring spoons, again accuracy (see above).
3. 20cm round loose-bottomed cake tin from Alan Silverwood for perfect sponges every time.
4. 1 kg loaf tin, also Alan Silverwood, for little loaves, loaf cakes and the chocolate honeycomb biscuit cake in the book.
5. 4 x dariole pudding moulds, perfect for sticky toffees, chocolate fondants, crème caramels and more.
6. Silicone ice cream bar moulds, my secret weapon for professional looking homemade Magnum-style ice creams.
7. A pretty pink silicone spatula for all your folding, chocolate melting and sweet making needs.
8. 12 x silcone cupcake cases (top tip, these give homemade peanut butter cups the most perfect professional look)
9. Bourbon biscuit stamp – a bit of fun for making your very own branded tea-time treats.
10. 1 x jar of my homemade strawberry, plum and vanilla jam, for sponges, swiss rolls or spreading on toast.
11. 1 x jar of my homemade goat’s milk caramel for spooning straight from the jar or to make this epic caramel hazelnut cheesecake (see below).
12. 1 x signed copy of Homemade Memories. I know, you’ll have already pre-ordered a copy, but wouldn’t it make the loveliest gift? 🙂

To be in with a chance of winning this amazing set of baking equipment, all you have to do (please and thank you) is pre-order Homemade Memories then email your proof of purchase (an email, screen grab or order number) to homemadememoriespreorders@orionbooks.co.uk before 31st May.

Wondering where to pre-order? These are your links:

Amazon.co.uk (UK)

Waterstones.com (UK)

Amazon.com (US)

Bookworld (Australia)

Booktopia (Australia)

The Book Depository (Worldwide)

The first 50 people to pre-order will also receive a free product of their choice from the lovely people at Rachel’s Organic, who make the most gorgeous organic yoghurts, butter, milk and cream.*

The way I see it, it’s a win-win situation. Hit the jackpot and there’s hundreds of pounds of baking kit coming your way; if you’re quick off the mark you’ll get a lovely tub of organic dairy goodness; and even if you’re not in that top fifty, you’ve got a copy of my book to look forward to (!). Plus a pledge of my undying love and gratitude goes without saying.

Now let’s talk cheesecake. I made extra quantities of homemade hobnobs and milk caramel (both recipes from the book I’m hoping you’ll pre-order) with the Salt Caramel Cheesecake from Annie Bell’s Baking Bible in mind. A no-bake affair, it’s rich with mascarpone: the perfect creamy vehicle for sugar and salt. A teaspoon of black treacle adds a brown-sugar sweetness and the whole thing sits atop a buttery biscuit base. I browned the butter because I. CANNOT. RESIST and added toasted hazelnuts for extra flavour and crunch.

The homemade biscuits and caramel make this cheesecake over-the-top delicious, but until your copy of the book arrives (presumptuous, who me?) the shop bought alternative will absolutely do. Serve in delicate slices with seasonal fruit to cut the richness – it’s now officially strawberry season so that would be my accompaniment of choice.

*The baking goodies giveaway is open to readers worldwide, but I’m afraid the Rachel’s Organic products are available for UK readers only.