ITT we talk about baking

[victoriana]

I love baking. It's one of my favorite hobbies. I didn't see a thread around about baking so I thought I would start one. We can share recipes, funny failure stories, tips and tricks, etc.

I'm really good at cookies and cupcakes and I can make pretty much anything else. I'm terrible with pies, I've never had success with them. I have a weird fascination with heirloom/family/vintage recipes. I will spend hours trying to hunt down a particular recipe at libraries and on the internet.

So... what about you?

[knight_shadow]

I don't bake as much as I used to, but when I was undergrad, I used to test out different pastries that ended up being very good.

I enjoy cooking in general, though. Gives me something to do when insomnia sets in lol

[DubaiSis]

I'm (patting myself on the back) a good cook, and my pastries are great. I used to make croissants from scratch. (who has the time or patience any more?) Seriously, one hundred percent from scratch. And they would bring you to your knees. But I can't bake bread to save my life and that is a travesty. I can make brioche, which many people find difficult, but you'd think that would make a standard loaf of white bread a piece of cake. I ALWAYS end up with a brick. The other thing I don't do well is pancakes. Friggin PANCAKES. I wonder what the commonality is.

[WCsweet<3]

I really like to bake. Cheesecakes and Boston Cream Pies are specialties of mine. I can barely cook meat, but baking is always great. It's a little bit of a stress relief for me as well. Something about following the instructions perfectly means that it comes out right is somewhat soothing.

Victoriana, what is your struggle with pies?

[ForeverRoses]

I love to bake. My mom has some of the best German Torte and Kuchen recipes, but they were all in German- so I had her translate the ingredients and then bought metric measuring stuff so I can use her recipes. mmm

And as for pretty cakes-- I love it when the cake turns out pretty- but I would rather it taste good! (I've tried some pretty aweful tasting "pretty" cakes)

[victoriana]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

I really like to bake. Cheesecakes and Boston Cream Pies are specialties of mine. I can barely cook meat, but baking is always great. It's a little bit of a stress relief for me as well. Something about following the instructions perfectly means that it comes out right is somewhat soothing.

Victoriana, what is your struggle with pies?

I'm great with crusts, but when it comes to the filling, it's always a disaster. From a simple strawberries and jello pie to chocolate silk... I just can't seem to get it right! Any advice?

[BAckbOwlsgIrl]

I hate making drop cookies so I usually make some kind of bar cookie.

I swap things in and out of recipes.

Stawberry Cheesecake Brownies
Blackberry Cheesecake Brownies
Lemon Brownies
Lime Brownies
Oatmeal Toffee Bars
Bailey's Brownies
Dulce DeLeche Brownies
Amareto Brownies.
Lemon Cheesecake Brownies

I want to make a White Chocolate Brownie then make a White Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie

Lots of times I will add fresh berries into the Lemon or Lime Brownies. Same for the White Chocolate Bread.

I also make muffins
Cranberry Orange
Bacon Cheddar Jalapeno
Lemon Cranberry

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by victoriana

I'm great with crusts, but when it comes to the filling, it's always a disaster. From a simple strawberries and jello pie to chocolate silk... I just can't seem to get it right! Any advice?

If I were to guess, I'd say you are not letting any of your fillings get thick enough. Pectin is your friend, and for something like chocolate pies, you want it thicker than pudding. If it's a cooked recipe, turn the temp down and don't be in a hurry. Also, and I hate to say it, but you don't want to use skim milk to save calories. You might try evaporated skim milk if you don't want to go full fat. Oh, and if the recipe says cook it, chill for 3 hours, put in pan, seriously, you have to chill it for 3 hours, and there are no shortcuts. I don't understand the chemistry, but it makes a huge difference in both taste and texture.

[IrishLake]

Victoria. Pies - fruit, sugar, tapioca. Sometimes a few dabs of butter or a little lemon juice or another spice. I make kick ass pies. Homemade shortening crusts too. I also make kickass cookies and bread and cakes and brownies. All from scratch.

I can't cook for shit though. There is a difference between cooking and baking. I'm a pro at the latter, and suck at the former.

[honeychile]

I love to cook, and I love to bake - WHEN I have the time and someone to feed! I really miss my clients, because I was always taking them goodies, saying, "Save me from myself!"

My DH's niece makes THE best pie crust I've ever had. Seriously, why she isn't in the culinary arts is beyond me. My mama made good pie crust, but Rachel's is divine! I do know that using ice water is very important, and only putting a tiny amount in at a time is key. I also know that I will usually get frustrated and buy the nasty, pre-made type! There's a pie crust that's actually a very skinny brownie that I'd like to try.

My DH thinks I make the best chocolate chip cookies he's ever had. I don't, but then again, I don't like them very much. I like oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips OR raisins, but not both. I love experimenting with various trifles, getting the right flavors to blend, not compete, and I love to use VERY old cookbooks, to see what something tasted like a hundred+ years ago. My favorite is The Robert E. Lee Family Cooking and Housekeeping Book. Every recipe has been tried, and brought up to date, but you get to see what it originally looked like.

I make horrible pancakes, too!

ETA: One of the secrets of bread makings is having strong arm muscles! My grandmother sold bread from her home for about 50 years, and one of the few things she ever taught me was how to knead bread!

[Tulip86]

I love to bake.
Cupcakes, cakes and cookies mostly. My cupcakes are sold in a local restaurant and I truly adore making them. Made brownie cupcakes with chocolate chip cookie dough frosting today.

I make cheesecakes and pies as well, and some bread.

I suck at pancakes! They always turn out horrible.

[DubaiSis]

Isn't that funny that a group of people who consider themselves good cooks can't conquer what most people would consider an easy dish? Maybe we're too picky? Maybe we overwork them? I don't know, but mine, no matter how thick I start the dough (it seems) always end up flat, much like my bread! I can make a rockin crepe.

And Tulip86, I'm not a cupcake person, but I would love to hear what chocolate chip cookie dough frosting is! Will you still share info if I tell you it will probably end up spread on saltines? I love frosting (and yes, the store bought vanilla in a plastic jar) on saltines.

[Tulip86]

Sure!
The recipe:

2 sticks of unsalted butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

chocolate chips

Mix butter and brown sugar first, than add the rest, mix well. Add chocolate chips last.

[Sciencewoman]

If someone has a great pancake recipe, it sounds like many of us could benefit from having it posted. I like to make mine with whole wheat flour and blueberries, but they always turn out thicker than I'd like. I keep using the same recipe, but I really need a better one.

[IrishLake]

lol, I make awesome pancakes. However, they're straight out of the Bisquick box, and I use the ultimate deluxe melt in your mouth recipe from the side. I have yet to find a from scratch recipe that tastes as good.