Baking is a way of preparing and cooking food. As a hobby, it’s something that nearly everyone can enjoy because it usually involves eating what you have made. Tasty baked goods can usually be made with simple ingredients that you already have around the house, such as flour, eggs, milk, sugar, and butter. Depending on the recipe, you might have to go to your local supermarket and pick up a few other ingredients, but it will be worth it when the recipe comes together. Aside from ingredients, if you want to bake you will also need an oven. A small toaster oven will do if you don’t have a full oven.
There’s almost no end to the types of creations you can make in the kitchen, especially if you have a sweet tooth or family members to devour what you make. Commonly baked goods that you can try making include: breads, cookies, pastries, pies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins and squares. Each of these baked goods will have different requirements and methods as to how they’re made. You can make them your own by making ingredient substitutions according to your own preference and dietary requirements.
If you have a reason to make something sweet, such as a holiday or a bake sale, you can tailor your creation to the occasion. For instance, if it’s a bake sale to raise money for a new community library, why not make cookies that are cut out and decorated to look like miniature books? If you’re celebrating a holiday, such as Halloween, there are hundreds of recipes out there to help you make your treats scary and delicious. The internet is a great resource for recipes and baking ideas that have a holiday theme. The Joy of Baking is one website that features recipes for practically any theme you might be looking for.
When baking, there are a couple of things that you should keep in mind. You should always look up the temperature required for the recipe beforehand and preheat your oven in order to give it time to warm up. Having an oven thermometer, such as the AcuRite Stainless Steel Oven Thermometer, can help you to determine whether your oven is hot enough. It can be a more accurate measure of temperature, as oven knobs and dials can be off by several degrees.
When you bake something, make sure that you have greased the baking container properly. If you don’t, you might not be able to get the baked good out of the pan. If it’s muffins that you’re making, grease the edges where the muffin will puff up. You can use butter, lard, oil, or a cooking spray such as Pam to prevent your baked goods from sticking to the container.
Sometimes you get started on a recipe and then realize you’re actually out of a key ingredient, such as baking soda or butter. That doesn’t mean that you have to run to the store, but you should be careful when changing the recipe to suit your needs. Always make ingredient substitutions with caution, because you never know how it will change the consistency of what you’re making. For instance, substituting a spread for butter can be problematic as they do not contain the same water and fat content. If there’s a way to get your hands on the ingredient without going too far out of your way, such as borrowing a small quantity from a neighbor, that is always a better option.
There are a ton of advantages to baking. Firstly, baking your own food items is practical. For instance, say you decide to make fresh bread for your family members to take to work or school in their lunches. Since you’ve made it yourself, it is far less likely to contain any hidden ingredients, such as preservatives or chemical additives, as it might if you were buying it from a grocery store. In addition, it’s probably much tastier than store-bought bread. If you have allergies or special dietary needs, for example if you’re need gluten-free food, baking your own goods is one way to accommodate those needs.
Many people who bake also enjoy the process of creating something. It provides a certain amount of stress relief and can be therapeutic for anyone with a busy and hectic lifestyle. If you bake with your children, not only do you get the opportunity to spend quality time together, but it’s also a great teaching moment. And don’t forget that whatever you decide to create, you get to share afterward.