I like making list. It's a habit of mine to make list of something. When I got pregnant, I made list of things to get ready for the baby. When I was few months away from my due date, I made list for my projects and assignments at work to rush off in order to have a stress-free maternity leave.
So, of course, now that I wanted to venture into the world of baking, I have to make a list!
Else I won't ever get to start anything. Seriously. So here it goes:
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EQUIPMENTS/TOOLS TO GET
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NOTES
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Electric/convection Oven
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NEED HELP!!!!!! (Read below for details)
* 22/08 updates: SIL gave me her spare oven! Woohoo!!
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Measuring Cups & Spoons
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To measure dry & liquid ingredients.
Liquid ingredients to use glass cups.
One of the baking book I read advice me to buy a few sets..
(so I don't have to keep washing throughout the recipe)
* 17/08 updates: To consider measuring scale instead of cups.
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Mixing Bowl
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Again, I was adviced to get different sizes:
Large for mixing dough & cake batters
Medium for measuring ingredients
Small for melting chocolate, mixing icing etc.
* 17/08 updates: At least 1 must be heat proof.
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Sieve
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Essential for sifting dry ingredients to aerate them.
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Spatula
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* 17/08 updates: Flat surface is better than spoon shaped one.
Flexible rubber/plastic type is useful for stirring, mixing, folding etc.
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Wooden Spoon
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A set of wooden spoons is good for multiple uses.
* 17/08 updates: Use handheld mixer for better results.
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Wire Cooling Rack
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Get one large enough to hold 2 cake layers or get 2 smaller racks.
Allows steam to escape so the bottom doesn't get soggy.
* 17/08 updates: One large wire rack is sufficient.
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Wire Whisk
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Is used to whip air into ingredients.
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Oven Mitts and Aprons
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As long as can withstand the heat, I don't care what design or colors.
* 17/08 updates: Apron is optional, but get THICK mitts.
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Baking/Cookie Sheet
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Buy heavy ones as they don't buckle/wobble & distribute heat evenly.
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Pastry Brush
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Common liquids used with a pastry brush are milk, water & egg whites.
Use a pastry brush to brush marinades over meats also.
* 17/08 updates: Buy those made from synthetic/plastic bristles.
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Cake Pan
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Round tins are used more often than other shapes.
Most useful sizes are shallow 8 inch sandwich tins for ponge cakes,
or 9 inch tins for larger cakes.
* 17/08 updates: Get basic aluminium pans w no non stick feature
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Bread Pan
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May be made from aluminium, stainless steel or glass.
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Rolling pin+cover, pastry cloth
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Rolling pin is used to roll out dough or crush cracker crumbs.
Rolling pin cover is a stretchable "stocking" that fits over the rolling pin.
Pastry cloth is a large canvas cloth on which pastry or dough can be rolled.
* 17/08 updates: Optional items.
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Others to get as well...
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* 18/08 updates: Baking paper, airtight containers for leftovers,
cake saver,
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Others to consider later...
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Pie Pan, Pastry Crimping Wheel/Pastry Cutter, Pastry blender,
Cookie cutter, Pie Weights, hand-held mixer, muffin pan
* 17/08 updates: Use heavy beans or rice to replace pie weights.
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Now if you noticed, my 1st item which is electric/convection oven = I really need help in this. Right now, I am pretty sure I want a:
* Table top oven cos there's no space for a built-in one
* And hubby wanted one that can do rotisserie as well...
Anyway, I've been looking around a few electrical shops but so far, am still confused and frustrated with a couple of features:
* Oven size - what is the good enough size to get? 30L? 42L? What?
* Window/Door area - I've read somewhere that this is also a factor to consider... don't want to burn my own hands while taking out the tray you know... so, I'm kinda looking for with the door which goes a bit lower than the flat 180 degrees...
* Temperature - I get really frustrated seeing those ovens with buttons that I can't read the temperature level properly.
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I can bear with this,
cos there's dots on each increments of 10C
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But with button like this,
How do I tell where is 180C for example??
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For any of you reading my post who are experienced in baking and would like to share your opinions and feedback, I would totally appreciate your feedback on my list, things like whether I should forget about getting it, or get this particular brand cos it's good, or any other things I left out in the list and so on. Of course, I'm definitely not the type who goes for any branded products - so, please don't recommend it to me. As long as it's proven good to use, easy to handle and practical, I'll consider it! And I'm going to print out this list when I go shop for it!
(Note: Please note that IE8 users are not able to post a comment in my blog, so you have to use the comment widget on my sidebar at the top! Sorry for the inconvenience!)
(*Images taken from Google search)
