(member)

17/08/2008 20:39

Home made cakes

Hi All

Does anyone make homemade cakes these days ?? I personally dont, but it seems the majority of us buy them. It seemed only a few years ago that everyone did. You were always offered a nice cup of tea with a cake or a homemade biscuit as a visitor at someone's house wasn't you ?!

Sue x

(member)

17/08/2008 21:29

Re: Home made cakes

I bake cakes and make scones and biscuits - but then I'm home all day and have the time to do so. Having said that, I'm not averse to buying a cake that someone else has made -today I bought a coffee and walnut cake and some eccles cakes from the local farmers market both of which were delicious.

My mum always baked and I'm of the generation that did 'proper' domestic science at school which meant that we were taught to make things from scratch - unlike my children who when they made a cake were told to take in a packet mix.

It actually takes next to no time to make a cake, but when you're out a work all day I can well understand people not wanting to be bothered. Even if I didn't have the time I don't think I could bring myself to buy a cake or a scone from the supermarket - one look at the list ingredients is enough to put me off.

(member)

17/08/2008 21:36

Re: Home made cakes

I would love to bake more and have just bought an all-singing, all-dancing, mixer to blackmail myself in to actually doing this! My Mum too always baked and my children remember fondly the trips to Nana and her cakes, scones and pies. Duckegg, do you have a good scone recipe please? Gill

(member)

17/08/2008 22:06

Re: Home made cakes

I love making cakes, make them at least twice a week and make cakes for other people as well

(member)

17/08/2008 22:32

Re: Home made cakes

Hi gillian

I use my nan's old scone recipe and it always seems to work. I don't use a mixer for scones.

8ozs Self Raising flour, a pinch of salt and either half teaspoon cream of tartar or half a teaspoon of baking powder (it doesn't seem to matter which) sifted into mixing bowl.

Rub in 2oz butter until like fine breadcrumbs

Add dessert spoon caster sugar and about 2ozs sultanas (or whatever dried fruit takes your fancy)

Add enough milk to make a fairly wet sticky mix - if it's too sloppy just add a bit more flour

I use a knife to mix everything together then use my hands (floured) to flatten out gently on floured surface to about 1" thick (I don't always bother with a rolling pin) Use scone cutter any size you like and place scones on floured baking tray.

Cook in hot oven about 225/gas 7 for approximately 10 minutes or until risen and cooked.

Sometimes I use half white and half wholemeal flour or add slightly more sugar if I want to make plain scones.

I've tried loads of different recipes over the years - some with an egg - others using buttermilk but this one always seems to work for me.

(member)

17/08/2008 22:35

Re: Home made cakes

Many thanks Duckegg, much appreciated. I'm looking forward to them already!!!

(member)

17/08/2008 23:53

Re: Home made cakes

I`ve always baked and used to make `puds for pubs` when the kids were young and I needed extra money. We rarely eat cakes now because of weight and health isues but I love to make some cakes when we have visitors, would make them more often if someone would eat them!!

Still we are both slim and healthy and want to stay that way so cakes are for special treats only - and always home made

(member)

18/08/2008 09:47

Re: Home made cakes

I love baking cakes when I have the chance - my favourite is banana cake with lemon icing but I also love making fruit cakes and fruit or cheese scones. Problem is, the more I bake the more we scoff (particularly the kids!),so homemade cakes are a treat rather than a weekly occurence!

(member)

18/08/2008 10:01

Re: Home made cakes

I bake but not as much as I'd like as MIL keeps giving us cakes. OH usually has a slice of cake in his lunchbox and I find that it only takes 10 minutes or so to throw together a vic. sandwich or muffin mix when I get home in the evening (I use an electric whisk rather than beating together the butter and sugar by hand so it's much faster and use an all-in-one method if possible). I rarely get as far as icing though.

We do tend to have a shop jamaica ginger cake in the cupboard for emergency puds (last night OH had ginger cake and custard) but OH prefers homemade and I enjoy baking.

(member)

18/08/2008 10:50

Re: Home made cakes

I bake cakes and biscuits too!
I bought Mary Berry's cake cook book and her recipies are quite easy to follow and they are delicious.
I make then for my husband and usually have a slice - just for research purposes you understand!
I think once you eat home baked cakes and then tried shop bought, you can really tell the difference, the shops ones taste artifical.
As someone said,some of the all in one cakes don't take very long at all.
It probably costs me more though as my family love them and I end up having to make them one everytime I see them!

Bluebella

(member)

19/08/2008 21:36

Re: Home made cakes

I think baking is one of life's little indulgences.

Baking costs more and takes longer than buying a cake and the end result is not always guaranteed!

But it's so satisfying...

I would bake more often but it wouldn't help the diet very much.

I like to bake when I can take it round to friends - last week I made the Flourless Chocolate Cake out of W&H couple of issues ago - yum yum!

(member)

21/08/2008 05:59

Re: Home made cakes

I like making cakes too. I only make them for special occasions, but I do enjoy the process and the wonderful smell in the kitchen. Brings back memories of when I was young.

(member)

21/08/2008 16:47

Re: Home made cakes

Cake an biscuit making are on of my most enjoyable activities a fatless sponge takes no time at all and filled with home made jam delicious
stella

(member)

21/08/2008 17:55

Re: Home made cakes

Lillie,

I love baking cakes, the only snag there is only the two of us, and I find that unless I freeze them I throw away such a lot. I often make cheese scones, meringues, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate cake, and I love it if it is raining outside, I put my music on in the kitchen and off I go.

When anyone comes to the house I always offer something home made, as I think it is far nicer than anything bought. I think a lot of women these days dont just have the time to bake as they lead such busy lives.

Plasmo x

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