Athlone finalist for national brown bread baking contest

by Navjyoti Dalal

When Therese Lonergan sent in her entry for the preliminary rounds of the national brown bread baking competition, she didn't do so with a conviction that the loaf would grant her entry into the finals.

But when the results of the preliminary stage were announced recently, the retired primary teacher and Ballykeeran resident was overjoyed.

She was named as one of just eight finalists who will compete for the title of best brown bread baker in Ireland during next month's National Ploughing Championships.

Therese is the competition's second finalist to emerge from Westmeath, after 87-year-old Bernadette Ennis, of the Horseleap/Streamstown ICA Guild, also secured a place as a representative of the Irish Countrywomen's Association.

Therese and Bernadette will now represent the Lake County at the brown bread baking finals, sponsored by Euronics Ireland, ploughing championships in Screggan, Tullamore, between September 15 and 17.

The eight finalists will be divided in two groups of four, with semi-finalists emerging from each. The semi-finalists will then bake it out to be crowned the winner, with the champion taking home €5,000 in cash and a NEFF Slide & Hide oven worth over €2,000. There will also be a junior competition for bread baking.

For Therese, baking is a hobby through which she gets to channel her love for healthy and clean eating.

“I enjoy making food healthy and nutritious, creating plant-based recipes with gut friendly ingredients like wholegrain, seeds, nuts, yogurts, kefirs, and clean, local produce.

“And I love to bake. Seldom a day goes by without baking,” said Therese, who often bakes with her daughter, Maeve.

In fact it was her daughter who nudged Therese to take part in the brown bread baking championships.

“Maeve suggested that we enter the competition this year. I did that and dropped off the bread loaf (at the Topline Heavins & Euronics drop off point) not at all expecting to win.

“I was more than surprised when I heard that I was a finalist. I couldn't believe it,” shared Therese, who grew up in County Mayo.

Her childhood memories are replete with scenes of her mother reading from a book and baking traditional breads.

“It was very simple in those days. Everyone had their own reliable source of recipes, a cookbook. I would never be able to replicate what my mother baked,” recounted Therese who studied home economics in school.

As a family they have had a penchant for baking, and always bake bread, scones and cakes at home. She and her sister, who is a home economics teacher, share recipes with each other.

An intuitive cook and baker, Therese finds the process very enjoyable, and often improvises on the recipes.

“Sometimes, when people ask me for the recipe I follow, it's difficult to answer. I bake from experience and it is hard to give precise measurements. It's always a pinch of this, a hint of that. But I always use some local honey to add a little sweetness,” she added.

“I would encourage someone who has never baked to have a go. It is so important to know how to make food. Start with basic ingredients like wholegrain flour, seeds, nuts, eggs, oil, yogurt,” advised Therese who is looking forward to baking a healthier version of the brown bread at the competition.

“I am excited about going there and meeting other contestants. It will be a whole new environment for me,” she concluded.