More baking suggestions + Cake
Posted by Lisa Johnson on Mar 8th, 2008
If you remember this post, I said that I’d be writing a series of posts to help you get baking. This is the second and last post of the baking series. After you have the ingredients, you need the right accessories to measure, mix, and bake them. The following list includes some basic items that you’ll need to get started.
Mixing bowls – You have to put all your ingredients in something, so you’ll need some bowls. I recommend a set of three to start – small, medium, and large. Also I recommend getting microwaveable bowls, so if you need to melt butter or heat up some liquid, you can do that quickly. I have several metal bowls that I regret buying.
Measuring cups – You can buy a set of individual measuring cups or a sturdy 2-cup glass measuring cup – generally Pyrex. It has all the smaller measurements marked off that you’ll need, plus it’s microwaveable.
Measuring spoons – I use these all the time for measuring extracts, salt, and leaveners.
Wooden spoons – These are sturdy and will hold up to a thick batter or dough. I have several of these.
Wire whisks – The more I bake, the more I appreciate them. I recommend getting a large and small whisk.
Baking sheets – I recommend two for baking more cookies at once. I also bake bread on them.
Round baking pans – I recommend starting with two of these, so you can make a two-layer cake. You can also bake rolls or biscuits in these pans. Later on you may want to get a bundt cake pan.
Square baking pan – If you like brownies or fudge, you’ll use this all the time.
Loaf pans – I use these for quick breads. This pan also pulls double duty for making meat loaf.
Muffin pans – I recommend a medium size muffin pan to start. I make muffins all the time and like different sizes, so I also have a mini-muffin pan and a mega-muffin pan. I just learned about a muffin-top pan, which I will probably get eventually. And of course, you can also use these for cupcakes! Who doesn’t love those? Another use is to make mini-quiches or frittatas.
Hand mixer – If you need to beat egg whites until foamy, this is priceless.
These items are a great start, but of course there’s always more and the cost adds up. I’ve found some great deals on pans at yard sales. Hopefully when the weather gets warmer, I can find some more.
This past weekend, I had some friends over for a potluck dinner and I made the dessert. I was running behind schedule and needed something fast. I cannot imagine a more delicious and elegant cake made so quickly. Find Dorie Greenspan’s Swedish Visiting Cake recipe here. I didn’t have almonds or the time to zest a lemon, so I doubled the amount of almond extract. One of my guests couldn’t eat dairy, so I used margarine instead of butter. I dusted the cake with some powdered sugar after it baked and cooled. Perfection.
at 8:22 a.m.
Hi Lisa. That was just so much fun. Thanks.
My daughter and I have a blog that deals with boomer issues to boomerang issues (her generation). I will be referring to your blog quite a bit because I have not found a better source in the blogosphere than your BoomerGirl. Thanks for the information.
Cheers,
Beckie
ljohnson
at 7:50 p.m.
Hi Beckie! I'm glad you enjoyed it!