Baking

Bob

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
So smallest one loves Bake Off.

She's become more than a little obsessed and constantly pesters to bake anything and everything. Cooking I can do, I quite enjoy it, most people convincingly say they enjoy what I feed them, but I'm not a baker, my one and only attempt at pastry left me with something I could break windows with.

I'm starting to think I threw in the towel a little too early.

The beauty of cooking is that knowing which flavours work, it's just a matter of combining them. Baking is far more precise which is why I've possibly steered clear of anything more complicated than a crumble or bread pudding.

Today things change!

I need beginner recipes from you lovely folks and an equipment rundown, I do have a hand whisk but that's really it in terms of baking equipment, I need an experienced hand to guide me through what I need to purchase to have a proper crack at this and what I can get away without for now.

I'm guessing tins, scales and an electric whisk will be top of the list?
 
Bob

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
Thanks @littleme

I'm currently looking at mixers. Do I need a mixer? Some of them are so expensive, do I need and expensive one or are you just paying for a name? I'm so confused.
 
Jade-clothing

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
Hi Bob it really does depend what you are planning on baking so although some things will be standard across several recipes, some cakes do need special utensils. If you're sticking with simple items for now though you really just need scales, baking tins, wooden spoon, bowl scraper, measuring jug, baking parchment, rolling pin if you are going to attempt pastry again!
Lots of things can be improvised, those are the basics. I don't use an electric mixer - never have. I cook and bake everything from scratch by hand and I'm not overly keen on labour saving devices - I guess I think of it as cheating.
I'd stick with simple basics at first - victoria sponge, scones, cup cakes and work your way up from there!
 
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Bob

Bob

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I want to have a go at everything - not all at once.

I've just had to look up bowl scraper, I never knew such an item existed - take that as a starting point of my baking skill level.

Small one wants to do cakes and bread so that's where we'll start, I've just been looking at recipes for scones, I have done them in the past and they've been ok but that's where my baking skills end. I've got the stuff in so might do some today.

I've never made bread before - I'll use that as challenge one.
 
littleme

littleme

250,000th poster!
Its a well known fact that I have the kiss of death when baking is involved, but I love Bake Off - Mini-me (12) loves to bake (I get to put things in the oven & then remove them) - so following for tips for minime
 
Jade-clothing

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
Bob said:
I want to have a go at everything - not all at once.

I've just had to look up bowl scraper, I never knew such an item existed - take that as a starting point of my baking skill level.

Small one wants to do cakes and bread so that's where we'll start, I've just been looking at recipes for scones, I have done them in the past and they've been ok but that's where my baking skills end. I've got the stuff in so might do some today.

I've never made bread before - I'll use that as challenge one.
Click to expand...
I made some bread last week. Home made bread is so delicious. Best tips are knead, knead and knead some more and make sure dough is warm enough while it's rising.
 
Bob

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
I've just got two loaf tins to start and I've got a round one that the bottom comes off somewhere that I've had for about 10 years and it's still unused.

Bowl scraper, scales and parchment should be arriving tomorrow via the amazon man along with a new food processor as I've been long overdue for an upgrade, mixer research on hold.

Hubby has just requested coffee and walnut cake.
 
Glam

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
Jade-clothing said:
Hi Bob it really does depend what you are planning on baking so although some things will be standard across several recipes, some cakes do need special utensils. If you're sticking with simple items for now though you really just need scales, baking tins, wooden spoon, bowl scraper, measuring jug, baking parchment, rolling pin if you are going to attempt pastry again!
Lots of things can be improvised, those are the basics. I don't use an electric mixer - never have. I cook and bake everything from scratch by hand and I'm not overly keen on labour saving devices - I guess I think of it as cheating.
I'd stick with simple basics at first - victoria sponge, scones, cup cakes and work your way up from there!
Click to expand...
What this lovely lady says! ^^
You can buy scrapers etc from Poundland and Wilkos, not at all expensive. I have a electric hand mixer, only because I had an operation on my mixing hand yrs ago and I struggle to do some things with that hand.
Bob said:
Hubby has just requested coffee and walnut cake.
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I have a brilliant recipe for this, I'll do my best to find it and I'll pm you xx
 
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Bob

Bob

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Glam said:
I have a brilliant recipe for this, I'll do my best to find it and I'll pm you xx
Click to expand...

That would be amazing thank you!

Cheese scones are in the oven - wish me luck.

Not sure still about this baking lark, can't seem to follow a recipe, had to substitute half of the cheese for another type then threw some thyme in just for the hell of it. Fingers crossed it doesn't affect 'the bake.'

Seen as the kitchen is a mess I'm contemplating a sponge, I don't have vanilla extract and really don't want to have to drag the small people to the shop, is it vital?
 
Cue

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
Kenwood Chefs are often available for reasonable prices at the boot sale, KH warehouse, etc.
Click to expand...

Or if you’re feeling lush, KitchenAid Artisans are second to none (despite what people say about the plastic gear, it’s better to sheer a 10p gear than a £50 motor if you overwork it). The wife has had one since her birthday a couple of years ago and adores it.

However, a good mixer is not cheap.
 
Noah

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Basically I stick to bread and a few cake recipies that I know I can mess around with. OH not into baking so I cook things ocasionally. Never used a mixer in my life. Did Jade-clothing mention that you need to knead bread - a lot ?!
 
Jade-clothing

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
Noah said:
Basically I stick to bread and a few cake recipies that I know I can mess around with. OH not into baking so I cook things ocasionally. Never used a mixer in my life. Did Jade-clothing mention that you need to knead bread - a lot ?!
Click to expand...
yes, but it's worth mentioning again. LOTS of kneading required!
 
Jade-clothing

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
Bob said:
That would be amazing thank you!

Cheese scones are in the oven - wish me luck.

Not sure still about this baking lark, can't seem to follow a recipe, had to substitute half of the cheese for another type then threw some thyme in just for the hell of it. Fingers crossed it doesn't affect 'the bake.'

Seen as the kitchen is a mess I'm contemplating a sponge, I don't have vanilla extract and really don't want to have to drag the small people to the shop, is it vital?
Click to expand...
All the best bakers chuck whatever in the mix. I very rarely use a recipe unless it's something I've never made. How did they turn out?
 
Bob

Bob

Well-Known Forumite
Jade-clothing said:
All the best bakers chuck whatever in the mix. I very rarely use a recipe unless it's something I've never made. How did they turn out?
Click to expand...

They were pretty good, though slightly stuck to the tray.

My sultana sponge thing was pretty good as well I hate the microwave (it sits up the corner of the kitchen gathering dust, very occasionally used for microwave rice or to start off jacket spuds) so did it in a loaf tin in the oven, turned out a little like a loaf of tea cake. Perfectly edible so a result!

Today I'm doing a crumble - does that count?

@Glam I've been and bought the coffee cake ingredients, it will be attempted one day this week.

I've also bought bread flour for more half term baking fun!
 
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