Step 8: Meringue?

Hello there, So how was your first cake? I know it was a success. congratulations! You just made your first cake! I am so excited for you. okay now, enough about that. Lets focus for today. Today's entry is about Meringue. How to pronounce meringue? It's Me-rang.

What is a meringue actually? Meringue is a type of desert or it can also be a mixture. Basically it is made from whipped egg whites and sugar and whipped till fluffy and white. In some recipes other ingredients are added in the mixture such as vinegar, cream of tartar [23], corn flour or vanilla to make their own kind of dessert.

And this is how cream of tartar looks like ;

Who really invented the meringue? Well, it has been claimed that meringue was invented in the Swill Village in Meiringen [21] and improved by an Italian chef named Gasparini in the 18th century.

The question here is how to make the perfect meringue? It's easy! when you are prepping the egg whites make sure that no water and egg yolks [22] gets into the whites. If so, the egg white will not fluff and your meringue will be a disaster.

Soft peak medium peak or stiff peak? These are the types of meringue mixture. While in Giatmara, my teacher taught me really well about meringue. It's very easy and very quick! I will show you a picture of how the types of meringue is

Well, that's about it for today. See you later and have a good day! 

Step 7: Your first cake!

Welcome back, so are you ready for you first cake? I know that you have been patiently waiting for this day to come. Today you will learn how to bake a chocolate sponge cake. Well, lets get started. you will need :

Ingredient

- 5 nozz eggs

- 166 gm castor sugar

- 133 gm cake flour

- 33.33 gm cocoa

- 66.6 gm water

-16.6 gm ovelette (cake stabilizer)

- 83.33 gm Butter (melted)

That is all that you'll need for you first cake. but hey, that not it. Noe, I'm going to teach you on how to make it. now that is something right? Okay. 

Here is how it goes, mix in all of the ingredients together in a mixing bowl except for the melted butter. this method is called "the all-in- method" 

Using a mixer, mix all well until fluffy. Once it is all fluffy and white, mix in the melted butter and using the spatula and stir slowly. And the cake mixture is done :)

Before pouring the mixture into the baking tins,  grease the baking tins with butter or shortening [20] so that when the cake is bake it won't stick to the baking tins.

Preheat the oven for 10 minutes at 175 degree Celsius. Put in the mixture into the oven and bake it at 175 degree Celsius for 45 minutes. *don't forget to change the baking tins side while it is baking in the oven*

Once the cake is bake to full perfection, take it out from the baking tins and cool it on the cooling rack. And have a taste when it's cooled, Good luck! :)

Step 6: Know your tools!

Hello, from the topic it self you can conclude what is today's topic is all about. for a beginners, there are few tools that you'll need while baking. And I've wrote you a list :)

1.parchment paper [5] 2.baking tins [6] 3.cooling rack [7] 4.dough cutter [8] 5.sifter [9] 6.mixer 7.grease-proof paper [10] 8.measuring jug [11] 9.measuring spoon [12] 10.mixing bowls 11.pallet knife [13] 12.pastry brush [14] 13.rolling pin [15] 14.scales [16] 15.spatula [17] 16.spoon 17.whisk [18]  18.zester [19]

If you don't know what are the things i wrote for you, you can just click on the word and it will show you what it is :) the good thing about this tools is that it is not expensive and affordable for everyone. 

All of these tools are important for beginners, and these tools can be found everywhere, So it is not hard for you to find these stuff and buy it. 

While reading this, I know you all must think that "why in the world do I need a cooling rack for?" It's okay, and don't worry, you'll find all these stuff useful once you started baking. 

So till that time comes, be patient and stay positive. Stay tuned for the next steps! have a good day :)

Step 5: Brief explanation about cakes

Hello again! I'm down with a cold today, but don't worry that won't stop me from continuing with the fifth steps. Today's entry is about cakes. The history of cake dates back to ancient times. The first cakes were very different from what we eat today. They were more bread-like and sweetened with honey. Nuts and dried fruits were often added. According to the food historians, the ancient Egyptians were the first culture to show evidence of advanced baking skills. This is how an ancient cake looks like, with nuts and dried fruits. you can read more here. [3]

During the great depression one company patented a cake-bread mix in order to deal with this economic situation, and thereby established the first line of cake in a box. In so doing, cake as it is known today became a mass-produced good rather than a home or baker made specialty. Read more  here. [4]

There are thousands varieties of cakes found all around the world for example sponge cake, butter cake, pound cake, strawberry cake, chocolate cake, vanilla cake, black forest cake, banana cake and so much more. 

For this entry, I hope that you see yourself making one in the future :) So, till next entry, have a good day!

Step 4: A hand mixer or stand mixer, which is better?

Hey there, I hope you are still here. if you are, thank you :) okay today is about which is better? a hand mixer or a stand mixer? But wait a minute, do you know that there two types of mixer? if you do, then good, if you don't, here's a picture of it.

On the left, is the stand mixer and on the right is the hand mixer. First of all you need to compare. the weight, the price (based on your budget) and the quality. Next, you have to determine the available space you have in you kitchen. 

From my personal opinions, hand mixer or stand mixer, it doesn't matter. As long you have a mixer because, both of them are great. the question "which is better?" begun because of human needs and wants. 

So i hope you don't stress out on choosing you mixer, have a nice day. And see you in the next entry :)

Step 3 : Purchase the right oven and mixer for you!

Hello there, are you doing well? I hope you are. Okay lets get started. The next step would be purchasing your own oven and mixer, isn't that great? Okay well first of all, in order to purchase a mixer and an oven you must first make a survey of the price, the quality and the warranty. okay now, you are one step away from purchasing your first oven and mixer. 

Next, you have to ask your friends and families for their opinions about the product.  Ask them "is it good?" "is it long lasting?" "is it handy?" because I think opinions from other is good. it helps us to make decisions. Because your first oven and mixer is important for a beginner. 

Lastly, make a wise decision. Because like I said earlier, your first oven and mixer is important for you. Now, if you followed my steps, your future will change. And stay tuned for the next step :)

Step 2 : Using an oven and a mixer, is it hard?

Hello again, today's entry is about an oven and a mixer. Do you even know how an oven and a mixer looks like? of course you do, but if you don't here's a picture of it

for those who don't know, now you know. For a new beginner, people always asked me a series of questions and one of it "is it complicated to use an oven and a mixer?" well the answer is, No. It's not complicated. because the buttons are all straight forward. They don't have hidden agendas. haha I'm kidding. It's not hard using a mixer and an oven. its very easy. 

Next question, "does it cost you a fortune?" well it depends on your budget and the brand. if you have bigger budget, then you can go for the more expensive one but if you don't, you can go for a cheaper one. I recommend you to buy Panasonic, its quite cheap and long lasting. Trust me, I have a mixer and an oven from Panasonic and it lasted for centuries. Last question, is it handy? well yes. It is handy. because it's not that heavy and you can bring it anywhere you want.

So i hope that I've answered your questions regarding an oven and a mixer. And stay tuned for the next step. :)