Home Baking: Tips for the New Home Baker, Part 1

While it is easy enough to buy prepackaged goodies in the supermarket, there are many parents and single folks alike who are daring to take on the challenge of producing delicious baked goods in their own ovens. Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked cookies and brownies after school, or a warm cinnamon bun for breakfast in the morning.

Although it is daunting at first, learning to bake is both a science and art that can be self-taught. As a home baker for more than 5 years, I am certainly a novice, but have learned some important basics that can be quite helpful in ensuring an orderly kitchen, a sane cook, and hopefully, a mostly successful end product for you and your family.

The Kitchen Basics

When it comes to kitchen equipment, start small.

While it seems like the best idea to buy all gadgets right now, you're making a mistake. By purchasing your most basic kitchen utensils and supplies, you will first learn basic baking skills, and learn what your kitchen will need as you progress. For example, if you plan on making pies a great deal, you may end up needing a food processor, but not 20 different sized cake pans. Invest your dough (pun intended) in good spoons, spatulas, a few pans and bowls, and measuring cups. As you continue in your baking, you may need those bundt pans and 20-cup food processor. But not today.

Decide what you would like to prepare.

Not everyone is a bread baker, but by deciding what YOU like, you will find your niche in what works best for you. If you are a cake lover, start with that, and find ONE recipe to use. Scour cookbooks in the library (or shell out some cash for one for your home, you will have to eventually), or find out if that family recipe for coconut cake is written down somewhere. Once you've decided on what to prepare, you can shop for ingredients.

Pick just one recipe.