^{Photo by Skyler Ewing}

Eleanor Gaccetta gives her readers a taste of home on Generation of Good Food, a cookbook filled with recipes every family will enjoy. With the holidays are fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to bring out recipes to enjoy with families.

The holidays are fast approaching. Christmas is right around the corner, and coming along with the winter breeze and the ho-ho-holiday jingles are activities that foster stronger familial relationships.

One of the common activities that families typically dive into is baking. Whether done alone or with friends and family, it can’t be argued that the taste of home brings families closer. From enjoying the time spent mixing batter or indulging in its sweetness together, baking is a perfect holiday activity.

There’s simply something special about baking in December: a nostalgic feeling of filling the house with the scent of cinnamon and enjoying the sweet taste of home cookies throughout the day. It’s even more memorable if they start baking from recipes exclusive to their family, like what Eleanor Gaccetta shared in a taste of home on Generation of Good Food.

However, while baking may seem easy to mix ingredients, most bakers would prefer to think otherwise. Flopped cakes and hard cookies can attest to that. So, how do bakers – especially those without prior experience – achieve excellently made cakes and cookies? Whether simple brownies or complicated cakes, nobody will end up with unpalatable bakes by following these tricks.

Mise en Place

This is a French phrase that means “everything in its place” and is what prepares bakers for success. While the baking process   is crucial, it will only be effective and efficient with proper preparation. Baking is a science and requires timing, meticulous measuring, and organization. Having the baking station prepped with the appropriate equipment, and adequate ingredients at arm’s length for accuracy is vital.

Imagine you’re already in the middle of baking, only to realize you don’t have the complete ingredients. Obviously, you can’t miss the step and skip the ingredient. You must stop what you’re doing, look for what you need, and prepare it for use. Doing all this doesn’t only interrupt your “mojo” and possibly fails your process, but it’s also extremely frustrating.

Practicing “Mise en Place” may seem easy. But this is what makes or breaks the baking process. Without them realizing it, more often than not, people forget to prepare at least one ingredient before starting. They must put together a checklist before anything else so they have something to track what they need before any other step.

Familiarize Know Your Oven

An oven can be a baker’s friend or worst enemy.  Hence, homeowners must familiarize themselves with their ovens. No two manufacturer’s make the same oven, they heat differently and may cook differently.

If an oven’s temperature is not calibrated accurately, or if the door doesn’t close properly, all the effort, energy and time spent baking is wasted.  Invest in a good oven thermometer to avoid guessing and risking ruining baked goods and the taste of home. This device measures and allows you to adjust your oven temperature as needed.

Temperature is key to a perfectly fluffy pastry. Know your oven, invest in an oven thermometer to adjust its heat, and enjoy your baked pastry.

Use Room Temperature Ingredients

If a golden rule exists in baking, it would be to keep most ingredients at room temperature. Cold ingredients can’t combine well and may lead to a baking disaster. Hence, taking these ingredients out of the fridge before starting the process and allowing them to rest for at least an hour is essential. Butter, eggs, cream cheese, and milk are a few of these ingredients that should be kept at room temperature for a smoother batter. If you want your batter to run smoothly, it’s best to follow this rule and set aside ingredients for the best outcome.

Read the Recipe Thoroughly

While this is a fundamental procedure, many bakers do not pay attention to all the nuances of a recipe.  It can be easy to miss a crucial step. For the best results, bakers should thoroughly read through the recipe from start to finish. This way, the baker cannot miss any equipment or ingredients and prepare them in advance.

Recipes should be followed thoroughly from top to bottom. Baking is a science that requires accuracy and sticking closely to the instructions.