Basic Tools and Equipments

The oven at our first house was almost untouched when we left it and put it up for sale. I probably can count on my fingers the times I've actually used that thing. There is something about how our kitchen in this new house that we moved in that got me to cook and bake. I dunno. Maybe, the walk-in pantry?

So, okay. Obviously, aside from the oven, there are a few basic tools and equipments you will need to get yourself started into being a baker.

Below are some of the basic pieces I started with. I will make another list of the items I added as needed. I got most of my stuff from Wal-Mart. Don't even waste time looking somewhere else to get it cheap. They have the cheapest. Believe me. I've hit myself several times in the head because I bought something from somewhere else, only to find out later that I could've save $2-5 if I bought it at Wal-Mart. Alright! On to my list...

• HAND MIXER - I got mine for $20 from Target. Then I found out later on it's only $15 in Wal-mart. It came with a snap-on case storage case, the traditional beaters and a whisk.You need this to mix the cake batter or the frostings.

• BAKING SET - my friend gave me this Wilton set for Christmas 2009. It has 2-9" round cake pans, a 6-cup muffin pan, a loaf pan, a, a large cookie pan and a rectangular pan.

• MIXING BOWL SET- I got a set from Big Lots for $10. Another friend also gave me a fancy set from Crate & Barrel.

• STRAINER - used to get lumps out of flour or sugar.

• LIQUID MEASURING CUP - the standard Pyrex glass cup for measuring milk, cream, oil or water.

• DRY MEASURING CUPS AND SPOONS - OMG! I don't know why these stainless steel ones are like $20 at Bed Bath & Beyond or Crate & Barrel when they are just $8-12 at Wal-Mart. Why is that? Anyway, you need this for measuring flour, sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, etc.

• RUBBER SPATULAS - I don't even know where I got mine. My mother-in-law probably left it at our house. Since it was all worn out, I got my own set later on at Wal-Mart ($3), of course. This is good for scraping down your bowl and adding ("folding" in cake lingo) nuts or fruits into cake batter.

• METAL SPATULAS - I got two 8" angled spatulas and a 13" angled spatula, too. They should cost between $4-$8. This has countless decorating uses.

• CAKE LEVELER - it's a metal slicer than easily levels and tortes cake layers.

• DECORATING TURNTABLE - not really a basic need but if you have this when you bake and decorate your cake for the first time, it will eliminate a lot of frustrations and difficulties first timers get. I wish I had this the first time I made my cake.

• CAKE SERVING BOARDS -you use this to present your cake in. I use the disposable cardboard cake circles you get in packs of 10 or 12 depending on the size. Then I wrap them in foil.

The last thing I want is for baking to seem overwhelming; I want you to be excited about all that sugar, flour and butter has to offer.

Thanks for reading and please do leave comments if you have a question.