I guess I'm going to have to learn to bake

[pomtzu]

If you can read a recipe, and you have measuring spoons and measuring cups, THEN YOU CAN BAKE!!! There's nothing to mess up!!! Start with something simple - like pumpkin bread - it really is sooooooooo easy! Want my recipe?

[Medusa]

If you can read a recipe, and you have measuring spoons and measuring cups, THEN YOU CAN BAKE!!! There's nothing to mess up!!! Start with something simple - like pumpkin bread - it really is sooooooooo easy! Want my recipe?

This has been my experience: years ago when I was renting, I had an electric oven and, believe it or not, I did have a few recipes that turned out pretty well. Since I bought his house, though, it came w/a gas oven and cooking w/gas, I love but I've noticed that baking w/a gas oven just doesn't work. Or is it the baker, ie., moi?

[pomtzu]

Cluck-cluck-cluck (chicken)

I have to admit tho - I don't really like baking with gas either. Electric is much more precise and everything comes out better. Guess you're off the hook!

[Randi]

Mary, your gas oven is no excuse! LOL! I don't think I have ever baked in an electric, so give it another try!

This link has some very easy shortbread recipes, they're quick and easy.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search?q=shortbread

[Medusa]

I knew I wouldn't get off easy, doggone it.

[Karen]

Mary, buy yourself a bag of Nestles chocolate chips, and follow the recipe for Toll House Cookies on the back. They are how I gauge and new oven I encounter, gas, electric or other. And they are pretty darned easy, and taste good no matter what the results look like. And you will have volunteers to help use up the proceeds no matter what. Follow the recipe, and put the first tray in to bake. Set your timer for 10 minutes, even though the bag says 12 ...

Check them at ten, see what they look like. If the middles still seem uncooked, but the dges are already dark, you know your oven is running too hot, just turn the temp down a bit. Put 'em back in. If they seem just not quite done - edges not very dark, middles still looking a tad undone, you oven is probably fine, and they'll be perfect at 12 minutes. If they are still not browning on the edges at 12 minutes, and seem to have spread out a LOT, you can leave them in a few more minutes, but that just means your oven isn't quite up to temperature ...

See, tollhouse cookies - yummy, and helpful as a diagnostic tool, too!

[Taz_Zoee]

That is so funny, because I love to bake but do NOT cook. I think I've baked in a gas oven before, up at our condo in Tahoe. But it was just a box batch of brownies. My homemade brownies are MUCH better.
I am the cake maker for birthday's and holidays on Bruce's side of the family. I cannot go to my family (or some friends) during the holidays without my brownies. I make two different kinds and give half of each. That is my gift for my friends husbands.
I'm wondering if I like to bake because it is so precise. I'm not good at adding a bit of this or that to make it better. Give me a recipe and I'll follow it to a tee.

[Medusa]

Mary, buy yourself a bag of Nestles chocolate chips, and follow the recipe for Toll House Cookies on the back. They are how I gauge and new oven I encounter, gas, electric or other. And they are pretty darned easy, and taste good no matter what the results look like. And you will have volunteers to help use up the proceeds no matter what. Follow the recipe, and put the first tray in to bake. Set your timer for 10 minutes, even though the bag says 12 ...

Check them at ten, see what they look like. If the middles still seem uncooked, but the dges are already dark, you know your oven is running too hot, just turn the temp down a bit. Put 'em back in. If they seem just not quite done - edges not very dark, middles still looking a tad undone, you oven is probably fine, and they'll be perfect at 12 minutes. If they are still not browning on the edges at 12 minutes, and seem to have spread out a LOT, you can leave them in a few more minutes, but that just means your oven isn't quite up to temperature ...

See, tollhouse cookies - yummy, and helpful as a diagnostic tool, too!

Hmmm, I did bake toll house cookies years ago and as I recall they turned out pretty good, too, but again, I baked them in an electric oven. Ok, next trip to the grocery store, I'll buy the ingredients and experiment. Thanx, Karen.