Baking Virgin

I'm actually doing Christmas baking this year, and am more than a little worried about accidentally poisoning and killing the entire English half of my family, and maybe even a few neighbors. My mom has sent me very simple recipes that she ensures me I won't screw up... (ha!)... so before I even start tell me if there is anything I need to know.

Is baking soda the same here?
How about baking powder?
And which flour do I use as all-purpose flour, aren't there 184 different kinds here?
Can my cookie sheet have edges on it?
Will I kill anyone?

Sara, I swear I thought you were going to say you were baking some Virgin Mary thingy that I din't know about! 

Sorry, I have no idea, I am not good with the cooking

ROFL!  Well baking soda is the same... baking powder is basically the same but I have found you sometimes need to add a pinch more here... um you want a good all purpose flour for your cookies.  Carrs, Alisons and Homepride are fine and I have even used plain Tesco flour with success.  

I used organic flour to make bread and a few other things and it did make a difference to me.

Edges are fine.  

A few questions to ask are:  what type of oven doyou have?  If it's fan assisted then lower all recipes by 20 degrees C and watch the time closely as they bake faster.  

Be aware of your ovens hot spot if it has one.  Is there a place where things tend to brown faster or even burn? If so rotate the sheet halfway through cooking.

Um.. if your cookie sheet is dark then also watch the temp.  

For really ooey gooey cookies take them out a minute before they seem done.  Remember they keep cooking on the pan.

That's about all I can think of now!

Good Luck!

Wish I could help but Im nightmare in the kitchen but Marlespo your posts crack me up!

Vnice I knew you could come to the rescue! I'll be cooking on my mother in law's stove, which is gas and pretty new so (in theory anyway) pretty good. I need to buy a cookie sheet, I don't think she has one! She's not so much a baking-type person either. I suppose I'll cook a little sheet at a time to test, and then make the rest!!

You will do fine!! My daughter and I braved making chocolate chips here and had no problem-- we followed our usual toll house recipe. Baking soday is called bicarbonate soda here--but we used same measurment and they turned out fine. I agree the key is to take cookies out when they are a wee bit underdone in the center and let them sit on the tray-- of course this depends on having enough trays to not rush to get the next batch in the oven!! Good Luck!

Helena

I just want to suggest a cookie sheet.  We just bought some from ASDA, of all places!  They have three different makes--cheapo, medium, and heavy guage.  We bought the heavy guage and I LOVE them!  They cook things very evenly and are so easy to clean!  (Just used them last night.  Is it wrong that I had choc chip cookies for breakfast today?) 

  (Just used them last night.  Is it wrong that I had choc chip cookies for breakfast today?) 

Does anyone make chocolate chip cookies and not have them for breakfast the next morning!?!? Not in this house!

Helena

 Does anyone make chocolate chip cookies and not have them for breakfast the next morning!?!? Not in this house!

Helena

OMG!  I've got chocolate chocolate chip cookies here for BREAKFAST!!! 

I only brought them with me this morning b/c I didn't want them to be lonely in the cookie jar at home!!! 

OMG!  I've got chocolate chocolate chip cookies here for BREAKFAST!!! 

I only brought them with me this morning b/c I didn't want them to be lonely in the cookie jar at home!!! 

LOL How thoughtful of you!!!

 LOL How thoughtful of you!!!

I bite the HEADS off gummi bears FIRST so they don't have to suffer that long too!
 

Just an extra tip as someone who has spent...ummm.... a bit of time doing the baking thing ( I do a minimum of 25 dozen cookies at Christmas )

Flour is a bit tricky over here. I use plain flour for all cookies but for cakes or bar cookies that need a bit of height and rising, I use self-raising. And I always use a tad more baking soda and baking powder than the recipe calls for.

Good luck. Super easy!  I've got a great and EASY cookie recipe for a xmas cookie that is super scrummy if you're interested..... But you'd got to like coconut and pecans in your cookie...)

LOVIN coconut, and LOVIN pecans!

The recipes I'm making are:

Little Jam Print Sugar Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies
Mexican Wedding Cakes (iffy about this one)

If it is easy and yummy then BRING IT ON!

Oh yeah, I love this recipe! I can get this one in the oven in less than 10 minutes.

Christmas Casserole Cookies
2 large eggs
1 cup caster sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup flaked coconut
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 - 1/4 tsp almond extract (depends on your love of almond - it does add to the taste)

1/2 cup icing sugar

Beat eggs, sugar and salt until pale yellow. Add remaining ingredients and stir until well combined. Sread the dough in an ungreased 9 inch square pan or (8x13) and bake at 350 for 35 mins.

Remove frfom oven, transfer to bowl and stir with a spoon, Let dough cool for about 15 mins then with your fingers, shape into walnut sized circles and put in bowl with icing sugar. Roll about until covered and then cool on rack. let dry for 1 hour if you can bear it!

icing sugar = powdered (confectioner's) sugar??

caster sugar = normal put-on-your-cereal kind of sugar??