cake help!!

[sara3]

okay, so in a moment of madness I said I'd bake cakes for the team at work. I so don't bake cakes!

does anyone have any sure-fire, impressive recipes? I guess I need to make about 12 individual cakes. I was thinking chocolate chip muffins.. I can see recipes online, but are they idiot proof? I don't want to be buying fancy equipment that I'll never use again, and only have a hand-blender. (I have an oven, lol!)

I have no ingredients and will be going shopping later today, and will have a practice run first :o)

[redcrx]

http://www.waitrose.c...lueberry_Muffins.aspx
i use this recipe and use either choc chips or blueberries.

use milk instea of buttermilk and watch the times

[sara3]

thank you, red :o)

watch the times? does that mean they may burn? it sounds like hard work already, lol! does it matter if I use skimmed milk?

I can't do blueberry muffins because the team's "earth mother" made them last week. I need to do better ;o)

[redcrx]

skimmed is fine. the times will vary slightly depending on size of cases

[pastafreak]

DON'T get from a bakery or supermarket....they never taste like homemade.

[society]

Sara, I've made this for my colleagues at work and they all loved it. It's quite simple and the ingredients are readily available. http://www.asda-recipes.co.uk/recipe/739.html

I've also made lots of the Asda's desserts and they all came out great.

[sara3]

gosh, I'm swamped with red's, lol!

redhelen, cheating is not in my nature..well, it is.. but I'm determined to have a go first!

redcrx, thanks.. await feedback :o)

[sara3]

wow, society, that is my kinda cake!!

not for today though.. muffins are on the menu but I'll keep that other recipe for next time. I might really get into this baking lark :o)

[sara3]

pasta.. I probably wouldn't know the difference (but have had some horrible ones), but I'm determined to give it a go :o)

[redcrx]

or, really simple crispy squares like these.
http://www.nigella.co...e_detail.aspx?rid=169

i add dried cranberries or nuts or choc chips :)

[pastafreak]

If you are doing muffins sara....the trick is not to mix them too much.....when you mix in the dry,you should still be able to see little lumps of the flour mixture............good luck!!

[society]

there are lots of 'red' people on here Redhelen. lol

[redman41]

Here's another one ! lol

[sara3]

stop it.. you're just trying to confuse me!

redcrx.. I don't fancy them, they look too sweet and sticky, and I am being selfish ;o)

thanks for the tip, pasta x

[redcrx]

did you make them then? how did it go?

[B00]

I'm here!!!

With an offer of assistance/

GIMME!

[society]

I think the cake came out so well and looked so delicious, Sara couldn't help herself scoffed down the whole lot and is now taking a nap. :)

[sara3]

hmmmm......... it was a bit of a fail! chocolate chip muffins..

okay, so I didn't have a muffin tin (I think there's one in the shed, somewhere) and didn't bank on the paper cases wilting. I took them out after 22 mins (it said 25-30) and just saved them from cremation.

they're cooling now. I'm sure we'll eat them and they'll taste fine, but I'll try again later in the week, make less (the mixture wasn't enough for 18 muffins) and reduce the time and temperature a bit.

hey, I'm not Gordon Fluffing Ramsey!

[sara3]

B00, you can have the most attractive one as it's your birthday :o)