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Any amateur bakers out there?

Lottie

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
701
Hello,
I have been a PS member since 2008 but haven't been on for quite a while (life gets in the way sometimes!) so a quick wave and hello to all before I start :wavey: and I hope no one minds me popping back

I just wondered if there were any keen bakers out there - I started baking when my youngest was newborn (he is one now) and have found it to be my favourite way to relieve a bit of stress or wind down from a busy day, I usually plan what I am going to make during the day and then hit the kitchen for a couple of hours as soon as the children are in bed. My current favourites are Macarons (lots of processes and piping which is very therapuetic!) however my husband definately does not have a sweet tooth so I usually have to rehome lots of goodies. Would love to hear what your favourite thing to make is and what you couldn't live without in your kitchen?
x
 

marcy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Feb 27, 2007
Messages
26,275
I am the family "cookie" baker and have been making them since I was old enough to try. I also bake cakes, brownies and breads (all from scratch) but cookies are my favorite. It's certainly a comfort food and activity for me - the food part is certainly something I don't need though. I like to cook as well.
 

aviastar

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
1,190
My favorite is apple pie; I love creating new ways to design the top crust and I have gotten cookie cutter shapes, handbuilt pottery techniques, and all sorts of crazy ideas involved. Some are more successful than others. To say the least. :lol:

I also bake cookies, cakes, cobblers, some breads and biscuits. I do fairly well with most things, but I am not a good cake icer, I don't know why, I've tried many different tricks and techniques, so I tend to stay away from cakes that will need fancy (or even perfect but plain) icing jobs. I do love to fill cakes, though, with homemade jams which usually makes up for the unkempt appearance of the frosting :bigsmile:
 

jas

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
May 9, 2006
Messages
1,991
Oh yes. It is my meditation and my joy. Like a poster above, I wish I had the decorating skill, but my goodies always look rustic...which is not necessarily sloppy.

My favorites are based on the season. Right now I'm all about berry cakes, peach pie, ice cream (yeah, that doesn't count much.) Made gloriously hearty 4 berry muffins this morning. Will make lime-ginger cookies later this week.

Spring is about rhubarb and strawberries, lemons and limes. Mostly cookies and cakes.

Autumn is, for me, apple, pear, pumpkin treats.

Winter is all about chocolate, for me. Being caged in means I have the time for a ridiculously time-consuming (and sinful) chocolate pie.
 

ChloeTheGreat

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Dec 25, 2009
Messages
682
I started off with cookies a few years ago...then went on to cakes for a while...now I am perfecting cupcakes.
I try all different recipes, both good and bad. I am building my repertoire of fool-proof cupcakes. I try different flavor combinations with fillings and frostings. I have had many people request my cupcakes for their parties and special occasions.
Thanks to the recent passage of the Texas Cottage Food Law, I will be able to sell my cupcakes in the near future. :appl:
 

Lottie

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
701
Am drooling over these replies, is a cobbler what we could call a crumble over here - fruit base with a sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon topping?

Jas I also love seasonal baking, Next door have a Victoria Plum tree that overhangs my garden and tomorrow I am going to offer to swap half of my cakes if I can make them with their plums.

I love that we all seem to have a specialist item - we are a one stop online bakery!
 

Mrsacornblue

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Messages
229
I love to bake. It's very theraputic and relaxing for me. I love to do cakes, cookies, bars, crumbles....have not perfected pastery yet (probably because I don't care much for it!). I'd love to swap recipes if anyone is interested. :appl:
 

Asu

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Jul 13, 2008
Messages
225
I like to bake,mostly cakes and cookies,but I only do it when there is some occasion,since I have an incredible sweet tooth and if there is something sweet in the house I end up eating it all.My husband,on the other hand,is a professional baker,and own a bakery,so I never lack baked goods :lol:
 

AGBF

Super_Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 26, 2003
Messages
22,143
I used to be an avid baker, but have not baked anything in several years. Maybe this thread will get me back into baking. Loss of my kitchen when I left one house for another; depression; and loss of people for whom to bake all contributed to my loss of enthusiasm in baking, I think. I did, recently, buy a new bread machine, though (as yet unpacked). A Zojirushi. I had wanted one for years, but my old Panasonic just wouldn't die (and still has not!) I haven't used any breadmaker for so long that I thought I'd just buy the Zo anyway with an eye to starting fresh.

When I was younger baking bread (by hand) was probably my favorite thing to bake. Pies were my least favorite, although they fascinated me. I also loved making cobblers, crisps, and tortes. I enjoyed making cakes if I didn't have to play with parchment paper and layers that that needed babying. I had no patience for cake decoratng. I was a basic, farm kitchen kind of baker!

Deb/AGBF
:read:
 

centralsquare

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
2,216
I like to bake a simple white cake with chocolate frosting. So simple, so basic....but so good!
 

marcy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Feb 27, 2007
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26,275
I decided to back a batch of chocolate chip cookies this afternoon. I was bored and stressed so what better way to help with both than hot chocolate chip cookies. :lickout:

Here's my recipe. They aren't as runny as regular toll house cookies:

1/2 c unsalted butter
1 t vanilla
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c brown sugar packed
1 egg
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
7 to 8 oz chocolate chips

Cream together butter, vanilla, sugars and egg. Stir in flour, soda and salt mix. Add chocolate chips. Bake at 375 degrees. Makes about 2.5 dozen cookies

A silly side story. I am easily amused so when my husband started working at a new job I put poison stickers or stickers with skulls and crossbones on his food. When I started working there I'd pack our lunches together and I'd use a sharpie and write on his baggies "with poison". So now whenever I bring in a bag of cookies for work everyone calls them "death cookies". Since everyone at work loves my cookies they are always requesting "death cookies" from me. If someone doesn't know what we are talking about they sure give us a strange look. :lol:

photo.JPG
 

Lottie

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
701
Marcy they look delicious! Have printed out your recipe to try. Love the idea of show and tell - yesterday I picked up some fresh apricots at a fete and made a Cinnamon and Apricot cake, its a Bill granger recipe and to be honest I think he was a bit mean with the sugar so it tastes a little bit too wholesome for me - cake should taste like cake! I do like that what sugar there is has caramelised with the apricots though.

Apricot Cake.jpg
 

Lottie

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
701
However my favourite things to make are Macarons - so colourful and so many millions of flavours, these are my most recent - Raspberry and White chocolate with a raspberry core. Sorry if the photos are huge - will work out how to make them smaller!

Raspberry Macs.jpg
 

Dandi

Ideal_Rock
Premium
Joined
Jan 9, 2006
Messages
6,652
Ladies, all of those pictures are spectacular, you are all SO clever!! :appl: :appl: Lottie those macaroons are stunning, and my absolute favourite colour :love: :bigsmile:

Have you seen 'The Cupcake Thread'? It's one of my all time favourites!! :lickout:

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-cupcake-thread.81117/?hilit=the']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-cupcake-thread.81117/?hilit=the[/URL] cupcake thread

I adore baking, mostly cupcakes for events (weddings, birthdays etc), and lemon meringue pie and apple cakes are amongst my other favourites. DH loves coming home to find some lemon or jelly slice in the fridge!
 

Lottie

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
701

TristanC

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Jun 6, 2011
Messages
995
Lottie UK|1312792899|2986306 said:
However my favourite things to make are Macarons - so colourful and so many millions of flavours, these are my most recent - Raspberry and White chocolate with a raspberry core. Sorry if the photos are huge - will work out how to make them smaller!

Where do you live??? I LOVE Macaroons! Or Macarons. Or whatever the darned difference is.

I personally like to do sticky date pudding and some baked cheesecakes. Nobody should allow their baking to slip for a few years. Once you start again, you'll realise how thoroughly enjoyable it is.
 
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