Baking basics

VenusFlytrap_2

Hi flower

I love baking and am something of a novice too, but sounds like a great hobby for you as it's so much fun, you can make tasty treats for your lil'uns and you can get them involved too, bet they would love it!

If it's cakes you're after, there's a particularly nice carrot cake on here: http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipes-snacks.html and loads of other nice baked things - the raisin scones are my faves and they're SO easy to make! But the carrot cake will be a sneaky way to get more veg into your kids! :rotfl: Loads of other recipes on that site if you get more adventurous with your cooking too and they're all cheap and healthy so it's all good!

Good luck with your new hobby!

Venus xxx

scaredy_cat

there is a no-bake recipe, your ds can help by crushing the biccies!!

http://www.theoldkennels.co.uk/recipes/refridgerator%20cake.htm

Pitlanepiglet

I use a similar sponge cake ratio as above, but work on the basis of the weight of 3 eggs (or more depending on the size of the tin that I have), so if my 3 eggs (in shells) weigh 6 oz then I use 6 oz of sugar, marg/butter and flour. It's the same ratio it just saves me having to remember the figures (numbers aren't my strong point!), I just weigh how many eggs I want to use and use that figure. This is my "need cake, can't be bothered to follow a recipe" fallback recipe (learnt it from my Nan!), I add coffee, cocoa, dried fruit, cherries, choc chips or whatever I have to hand, bake it in a roasting tin (small one for 3 eggs) and just chuck icing on top (I don't ice if it's got dried fruit in it).

You need to either grease or line your tins - I used to grease and flour my round tins but I've now started to use square or rectangular traybake tins and line them instead.

I'd recommend Delia's Cake book (the old fashioned small book with few pictures) or Mary Berry's baking bible (the chocolate brownies are to die for!). I also have some Marguerite Patten books that I picked up for a few quid each in the second hand bookshop - her cake recipes are lovely.

dizziblonde

Banana bread is so easy I can do it (I chop up a cheapo bar of dark chocolate and add that to the mixture as well) and has the added effect of using up those ripe bananas (I love banana, but hate hate hate the smell of ripe ones in the house) and makes your kitchen have that whole domestic goddess smell.

Tonnes of recipes on Google - I use a banana and walnut one only substitute the walnuts for chocolate since that's much more interesting.

purpleivy

angeltreats wrote: »

Go to the library/charity shop and find yourself a copy of Mary Berry's Ultimate Cake Book. If you can't find it, get her Baking Bible instead. Mary Berry is the goddess of cakes and you cannot go wrong with her recipes

My dd had this book for her 18th a couple of years ago. She recently decided that she would try and make everything in the book. Not all at once, obviously! She didn't rate the scones recipe, but the lime cake is really delicious.

Mary Berry was a judge on the BBC's recent Great British Bake off, There's lots of hints and tips on this programme, quite inspirational too. You can catch it on IPlayer I think.

pol

This is a quick favoiurite in our house

Lemon Curd Cake

5 oz SR flour
1 tsp baking powder
3 oz marg
3 oz sugar
1 lg tbsp lemon curd
grated rind of half lemon
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp water

Heat oven to 180C and grease an 8" tin. Put everything into a bowl and mix for three minutes. Put into tin and bake for 25-30 minutes. Either dust with icing sugar or use lemon icing to top.

pollyskettle

How did you get on, flower? x

Vaila

i started of using delia smiths recipes then just altered them as i became more confident in baking
simple things are scones,shortbread and flapjacks

mememememe

Try chocolate mug cakes, very quick easy to make :-)

http://www.ehow.com/how_4553352_minute-chocolate-mug-cake.html

The vanilla is of course optional. Also, instead of 3 tablespoons of oil, I tend to use 1 tablespoon of oil + 2 tablespoons of apple sauce, this makes the cake more moist and is more healthy!

ab7

What about the be-ro receipe book as well? Thats got some good basic receipes in it or online try http://www.be-ro.com/f_basics.htm for learning first and then bash on with the receipes that are yellow http://www.be-ro.com/f_insp.htm