Baking..when you haven't for over 30 years

HH62

I want to start making HM biscuits and cakes because the bought ones are very very ££££
I haven't done any baking since I was at school, I'm ashamed to say.
What would be a couple of good, (basic aka easy) things to start with?

kippers

This is 'Lotta Litties' courgette cake which turns out like chocolate brownies..it's really easy.

Chocolate Courgette cake

120g butter (softened)
125ml sunflower oil
100g caster sugar
200g soft brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
130ml milk
350g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp cocoa
450g courgettes, peeled and grated finely
1 tsp vanilla


1. Line a 20 x 35cm baking tray with baking paper and set the oven to 190ºC/350ºF.

2. Mix the butter, oil and both sugars together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, one at a time and then the milk until mixed thoroughly.

3. Sift the dry ingredients together and fold into the mixture. Stir in grated and peeled courgettes, vanilla and spoon into tin. Bake for 35 -45 minutes.

Also look at the oldstyle indexed collection...the weatabix cake is dead easy and tasty too

mrslovetocook

Sorry, dont know how to do a link but a good start for bikkies would be "Twinks". Delicious hobnobs and so easy to make. I am sure someone will log on in a minute and post you a link.

annie123

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=5392570#post5392570

I second twinks

WARNING: THEY ARE ADDICTIVE!!

geek0

http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/516400

Victoria Sponge cake

Patchwork_Quilt

Definitely Victoria Sponge cake, as the mix can also be used to make fairy cakes, chocolate cakes and so forth.

I would recommend getting a Bero book - there may even be one at the library.

Scones are nice and easy

2 oz softened butter
8 oz self raising flour
1 oz sugar
1 beaten egg made up to 6 floz with milk
Handful of sultanas
Pinch cinnamon

Rub butter into flour, then stir in sugar, sultanas and spice. Use egg/milk mix to bind into a stiff dough - you may not need it all. Roll out and cut into rounds. Put onto greased baking sheet. Bake at Gas 5/170 fan until golden brown on top.

BitterAndTwisted

Shortbread. It's the easiest thing in the world to make and impossible to get wrong. I made some with a three year-old child and his were as edible as mine

geek0

Not exactly baking but another favourite here is home made rice pudding , we do ours in the slow cooker.

rockie4

Definitely Twinks hobnobs they are delicious and sooooo easy :j

MrsM's courgettecake/muffins is another quick and easy one - not sure how to do a link but the recipe is in the main index

newlywed

Be-ro all the way I think!!! Try the website (you can order the book for £1.50 from there too). http://www.be-ro.com/f_insp.htm

Has all the basic pastry recipes in there and scones, biscuits cakes.

They are graded with coloured squares as to how difficult they are

Cheapskate

Also, look at the top of the page in the main OS forum & you'll see 'Indexed Collections' - within that are different cooking/baking recipe collections - even cheaper than travelling to your local library for a book!