Quotes by Mary Berry

Cakes are healthy too, you just eat a small slice.

I was brought up to believe that its family first. Of all the people my parents knew, the family was most important. You always turn to your family, and the family supports you. We do what we can to support our young and go and see the grandchildren if theyre doing plays at school and their sports events.

I am not great at computers. If I were to try shopping through Google, Id end up with 33 vests.

Making your Christmas cake in September is perfect, as too fresh a cake crumbles when cut.

I am a bit of a mother hen at Christmas! I always prepare in advance. It is the only way; otherwise, it can be really daunting.

My son is a tree surgeon and gets me a lovely tree. I like to put it up early, as I cant wait for Christmas. We dress it with decorations that have been in the family for years.

It should be that every child, when they leave school, can do ten meals, because when they leave home, theyve got to be able to eat healthily. Blow the science of it and everything else. Theyve just got to be able to know whats good for them, how to buy it, and how to make a few dishes that they enjoy and dont cost too much.

I never leave anything until the morning. I put my jumpers, scarves, and shoes out the night before. You never know what is going to happen. You dont want to get stressed.

I still think its essential for a parent to cook with their children. Weighing out the ingredients and learning where the food comes from is educational, but it also helps to place meal times at the heart of family life. We never had dinner in front of the TV.

I do like going out and finding free food. Ive done it since I was a child. Fishing prawns and shrimps from the sea is wonderful, as is picking blackberries, sloes and mushrooms. Having a guide while out looking for mushrooms is really important, though, as picking the wrong type can be quite dangerous.

When I started, you had cochineal food colouring that would turn things pink, but you could never make it red. Now, red is no problem - and if you look at supermarket bakery sections since Bake Off began, you can get everything.

I love Michel Roux, Jr., and James Martin - the chefs who are experts in their own right, like Rick Stein on fish. But I dont watch them very much because I dont think its fair for my husband to be in a total food environment all the time! So we watch programmes about gardening more.

All my grandchildren bake. On a Saturday, Annabels boys, Louis and Toby, always bake. Louis makes a chocolate cake, Toby makes banana or lemon drizzle. Theyre 12 and 10, and they can do it totally on their own. My sons twin girls, Abby and Grace, are 14; they make birthday cakes and like to do it on their own with Mum out of the way.

Without doubt, without hesitation, I choose gardening over the gym. I cant stand going to the gym. It doesnt appeal to me at all. Give me gardening every time.

The very best hotel Ive stayed in is the Intercontinental on Park Lane. We went there for the Chelsea Flower Show a few years ago, and it was sheer luxury. Everybody had a smile on their face. I came home and changed all my pillows because the hotel ones were so beautiful.

I think baking is very rewarding, and if you follow a good recipe, you will get success.