I would like to start baking! Where do I start?

[fuzzpig]

I have decided - admittedly mainly due to seeing lots of gorgeous baking books at work (library) and feeling hungry - that I should learn to bake!

I have pretty much never baked anything other than those little kits. Although I do make a damn good butter icing thingy (whatever it's called - see? Clueless!)

So, I was thinking of getting together some basic supplies but I have no idea what I need. Stuff like baking powder/soda, I mean WTF?

There is also the gluten issue - DH is coeliac so I'd like to try some gluten free stuff as well.

So any advice for a total newbie? :)

*asda not adds.

My 17 mo and I made biscuits tonight for his lunchbox, easy peasy and no equipment. Measure 100g each grated Parmesan, butter and plain flour. Sqoodge together (with a toddler to help if poss). Sqoodge out onto the counter and flatten (I used a pin, he used fingers). Cut out into shapes and cook 180 for 8 minutes. Delicious!

Thanks! I love the word sqoodge, is that a technical term? :o

Had attempt 2 at fairy cakes (good grief I am such a beginner it's embarrassing!), normal flour this time. Not as disastrous because I was more precise about time/temp but I didn't get enough air in so they were very dense. How do you know if the mix is airy enough? DH (who actually used to be a chef many years ago, but due to health is in no state to teach me) just said "oh, you just know" Erm thanks DH

Sounds like your going into this big style. I'd get a hand mixer (£15 ish?). It makes much lighter cakes.
Did you mix butter and sugar, then add eggs then flour? Or dump it all in a bowl and mix?
If you do the first method, the marg and sugar goes pale when it's got lots of air in. All in one method (second method above) I wouldn't do by hand.

Add icing sugar to my list above.

What's your technique? Creating butter flour first or all in? Are you using a mixer if doing it by hand?

Are you using self raising flour or plain?

I use Sr but still add some baking powder.

Stupid stupid phone, I meant creaming the butter, not creating.

Your probably better ignoring that first post. It makes no sense

I did what the recipe said! (only a random one online)

Eggs first, whisked up with a hand mixer thingy, then fold in flour, then butter.

Maybe the recipe is crap - as I've no frame of reference I don't know! I think you are right about getting a book to start the basics with. Will look at work tomorrow.

I use a mixer and cream 200g butter with 200g caster sugar, then add 4 medium eggs, one at a time. add 200g Sr flour a spoon at a time, a few drops of vanilla essence and a tsp if baking powder.

Into cases and bake for 15 mins at 150 degrees.

Never fails.

I do all in one fairy cakes with a wooden spoon with the DCs (they don't like the noise of the mixer) and it comes out fine so long as the butter is very soft to start with.

My technique is weigh two eggs (in shell), then use exactly that weight of SR flour, caster sugar, soft butter and the eggs. For a sponge cake I use exactly the same plus 1tsp baking powder and use a 20cm cake tin

Beat it all in, till it is all well mixed and getting lighter (it never gets as pale as with a mixer, but it works) put in paper cases in a muffin tray, bake for 20 mins at 190 (gas oven but I use a shelf thermometer), need to check for brownness at 15 mins, they might need a little longer. 25 mins or so for the 20cm version.

I always start with creaming the butter and sugar then add eggs and flour. Use a handmixer if possible and mix until butter/sugar is light and fluffy, then add eggs and fold in flour. Don't mix too long once flour is in or they will go stodgy.

There is a great banana bread recipe here, which has never ever failed me. I add choc chips or caramel chips for extra yummy-ness.

Dan Lepard has a lot of GF recipes, I think. Someone mentioned him upthread. Check out the Guardian website for some free recipes.

Traybakes - these are my favourite ones. Baked in a swiss roll tin. Think Rocky Road or Millionaires Shortbread type stuff. Not strictly baking, imo.

My fairy cakes for the DC are: 100g each of soft butter, sugar, sr flour. Cream wih a wooden spoon. Add raisins or chopped glace cherries. Into cases and cook 15 mins 180.

I'm not a very accomplished baker but these are nice and children like decorating them :)

Forgot the baking powder (1tsp) and a pinch of salt. Soz

Oh FGS and two eggs. Ignore all my posts

If your dh gets gf stuff on prescription try tritamyl flour (it's self raising and I'm sorry but I've probably got the spelling wrong) but my mum uses it for all of my dads's gf baking. She's a good baker/general domestic goddess (w 10 dcs there's never been much money about so most cooking basic and done from scratch) but she struggled with the transition to gf when dad was diagnosed at 50ish.
She finds that for cakes an 'all in one' works best when done in the food processor (and would be the easiest way to start too) so you may be on to a winner with that 3eggs, 6oz each of flr, sugar and margarine. Whizz it together, let it stand a little while you line the tin or something then whizz a bit more before shoving it into the oven.
We've never had much luck with gf scones they're always like bricks!
Best of luck and have fun experimenting. :0

A friend bought me the Hummingbird recipe book after my first was born - brownie recipe is SOO easy and to die for!! I also really like Lorraine Pascale Baking made Easy - you can find her recipes on the bbc website still i think. The soda bread and scones are really fab - i was so impressed with my own creation i took a photo and texted it to all my family!! :-)

Honeybuns gluten free baking was released a few weeks ago. Easy peasy recipes once you have the ingredients in. Traybakes and flapjacks are gorgeous. £5 from the Book People. They use sorghum flour in a lot of the actual cake recipes but it can be replaced 1:1 with rice flour which is easier to find.