Telling of the baking craze are shop shelves with sparse baking supplies available, and in some instances, a limited number of items permitted per customer.

Award winning Fermanagh baker Annika Latimer said now that people have been presented with more ‘free time’ one of the first tasks an emphasis is being placed on is baking, cooking, and most importantly, enjoying what families have made together. 

Ms Latimer said she believed a new importance is being placed on food preparation.

“It’s amazing to see, especially people baking with their children, for their neighbours and to help key workers. Everyone is learning new skills that will hopefully be able to seamlessly blend into their daily life, when life is back to some normality.”

As some shops move to restrict the number of items such a bags of flour available per customer Ms Latimer said people are now, maybe for the first time, becoming aware of what is available from local producers due to travel restrictions.

“I do hope local producers are benefiting from this. We have some of the best produce in the world right on our doorstep in Co Fermanagh.”

As well as learning a new skill Ms Latimer outlined some benefits of whipping up tasty home-made treats.

“Cooking and baking teaches organisational skills, patience, persistence, creativity and allows children to develop the ability to follow instructions succinctly – even getting young children involved in simple cooking tasks can allow them confidence in their ability to cook in later years. 

“I recently learned of apartments being built in New York without kitchens meaning any meals are not cooked but instead ordered online and delivered from either restaurants or central kitchens. The kitchen used to be the heart of the home, but slowly it’s becoming more like an appendix to some people who never were able to learn basic food preparation skills. I think the ability to cook and bake is an essential skill for life which can only help – never hinder!”