Baking basics

Teresita_2

Im really keen to start baking more and making more treats for the kids. I'm spending a fortune and never know whats in the stuff.

What are the staple things I should have in the cupboards for making the goodies. Also what bakeware do I need i.e. tins and stuff.

I always seem to need to go get ingrediants in to bake then loose interest at the thought of taking the boys round the supermarket being shattered by the time I get in.

Any ideas much appreciated. xx

Barneysmom

Hiya, some things you'll need will be flour, butter,eggs and sugar.
Jam is good, and a tub of cocoa for if youlike chocolate cake.
Tins, I'd get 2 of the shallow 7 inch ones for now, you can make a Victoria sandwich cake and also use them for big Yorkshire puddings.
Those little paper cake cases for muffins and fairy cakes are good too.

tanith

Whats in my baking store... Plain and Self Raising Flour, butter/marge, baking powder, dried fruit, jams, caster sugar, icing sugar, dried coconut, cooking chocolate white and dark, sugar cake decorations, glace cherries, eggs of course, usually got a variety of fruit either fresh/frozen/tinned for pies and crumbles..

You will need two sandwich tins, bun tins, baking trays, deep cake tin, that will do for a start and will cover most of the basic things... of course if you really get into it there are loads more variations...

caitybabes

Well the most basic cake recipe I use as a basis for most cakes (which is incredibly versatile) is:

6oz sugar (just the normal granulated stuff is fine)
6oz margarine or butter (stork or similar is cheap & good for baking)
3 eggs
8oz self-raising flour

So if you've got those things in the house then there is always baking fun to be had!

This works for big cakes, fairy cakes, coffee cake (make up some very concentrated coffee by mixing a couple of teaspoons of instant coffee with hot water and add to the cake mixture at the end), chocolate cake (replace 2tbsp of the flour with cocoa), banana cake (add two or three mashed up bananas and a bit of milk, you might need a bit more flour to compensate) and many more flavours.

(And if you want the method: beat margarine & sugar together til it lightens in colour, add beaten eggs (it will look curdled but don't worry), then fold in the flour a couple of ounces at a time, bake on gas 4 or 5 for atleast 30mins, check to see if done by inserting a skewer - it's done when it comes out clean.)

SunnyGirl

Homemade hobnobs, or Twinks as they're also known as, are delicious and easy to make. I haven't met anyone who didn't like them yet

Also have a look at the Be-Ro site. There's a lot of easy to make recipes on there and they always turn out well. HTH.

squeaky

For lots of simple bullet proof recipes plus lots of info on basic cooking techniques you can't do better than the bero web site. Honest

http://www.be-ro.co.uk/f_insp.htm


Note to self:- Must type faster

Teresita_2

Thanks ladies. Did Twinks hobnobs this weekend and you are right. Much loved by the kids and they helped so bonus.

Its all a minefield with all the recipes and tehn you get drawn in to buying gadgets that you will never use again.

Your answers were all a big help. Time to stock up xx

thriftlady_2

I would add baking powder and bicarbonate of soda to your list of essentials.

If you want to make bread then you'll need yeast. Easy-blend is the easiest to use.

I would also add dried fruit. We like dried apricots best and I wouldn't want to be without sultanas and raisins.

This is my baking list

Cupboard

Flour
white, wholemeal and granary bread flour
white and wholemeal plain flour
self-raising flour

oats

sugar -caster, demerara, dark brown, icing
golden syrup and black treacle

cocoa
coconut
sunflower seeds
dried fruit

baking powder, bicarb, yeast, cream of tartar

spices -mixed spice, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla extract

Fridge

butter
eggs
milk

I really recommend stocking up on baking supplies. I never let myself run out of anything on this list. It makes it so easy to bake if you know you've got the ingredinets. The same goes for equipment.

I wouldn't be without

tray bake tin (13'' x 9'') -for tray bakes, brownies and flapjacks
2 sandwich tins -8 ''
spring-form cake tin -8'' -for deep substantial cakes like Christmas cakes
12 cup muffin tin
12 hole bun tin -for mince pies, fairy cakes
baking sheets-at least 2, get good quality-for biscuits, scones and loads of other things
2lb loaf tin -for bread, tea breads and banana bread
cooling rack

mixing bowls
electric hand beater
measuring spoons (and cups if you want to use US recipes)
measuring jug
scales
greaseproof paper or reusable non-stick liners cut to fit your tins and baking sheets
muffin and cake cases

Have fun

Penelope_Penguin

Teresita wrote: »

Thanks ladies.

squeaky's a bloke

smartandshrewd

Vanilla extract for adding to icing, biscuits etc. A lot of recipes in my gran's very old BeRo book use it.

gailey_2

I need to bake 2cakes for book fair and table top sale this week.

Whats the easist and preferably quite cheap.

I have the basics
caster sugar
flour
marg

do need to buy eggs though

got 2 small cake tins for sponges and oen for fairy cakes.