First time baker... where do I start !?!?

[mumtosp]

Hi all,

I've never baked anything - it just isn't a part of the culture where I come from . Now I have a DS and I'm very keen to learn how to bake... especially since he is allergic to wheat and I would like to make some occasional wheat free biscuits and cakes for him :)

I would appreciate some tips on where to start?? What do I need to buy? (I have an oven :) ) Don't want to go overboard and just want the some basic stuff to start small...

TIA and have a great New Year ! :)

Ingredients wise, I'm not sure, as I don't cook wheat free, But I'd assume:
Flours (self rasing and plain) I think Dove farm do gluten (so wheat free, I assume) free flours and baking powders. Maybe ground almonds and rice flour.
Sugar - caster and brown. icing sugar.
Butter and or marge
cocoa powder
Eggs
rasins, chocolate chips, glace cherries, mixed peal, syrup, oats (wheat free or gluten free?)ground ginger depending on what your thinking of cooking.

I think I'd invest in gluten free cooking book, as substituting doesn't always work - think you'd be better starting with proper recipes rather than trying to adapt.

Equipment: some mixing bowls, wooden spoons, scales, maybe measuring cups (depends if you get an americian book or UK one!), cake tin (maybe a pair of 18-30 cm tins), bun cake tray/12 hole tin (and the paper liners), loaf tin if you get keen. A hand held mixer if your feeling committed ( say £10

Will come back if I think of more.

Enjoy the results.

Thanks addictedtosugar :)
I'll first start off baking with normal (wheat) ingredients and use DH as a guinea pig and later move on to wheat free cakes once I'm more confident...
I better start shopping :)

Also, any specific place where I can buy all the baking tools or any store is fine ?

Anywhere.
Apart from the wheat free stuff, I'd start in the supermarket for the lot.
Woollies used to do a great range in pyrex bowls etc, so somewhere similar to that might be worth a go?

Were a chocolate house, but a sponge cake and some chocolate chip cookies might be good places to start?

Type into "google" wheat free baking" and you will find a lot of help and advice,for basic cookery equipment keep a look out at Sainsburys/Morrisons/Asda for their baking trays and cake trays they will all be on offer at the moment,invest in a hand blender or whisk for beating air into your mixes and a set of measuring spoons.Best of Luck and remember they don't always come out as you expect first time so don't give up.

I got great advice on this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/food_and_recipes/a1722793-I-have-never-baked-before-what-are-your-top-tips

Good basic cookbooks are Delia Complete Cookery Course, and I learned using the Be-Ro cookbook which was one my mum sent off for from the packet of flour. I think Homepride and all the main brands of flour have similar books you can send off for at about £3 each.