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My scones turned out like biscuits and my biscuits turned out like scones! Only just edible.  With a disastrous attempt at pastry too not so long ago I am losing confidence fast. I used to be pretty good at baking! Do you think that you can just - for no obvious reason - lose the knack? I may just give up. . I need a Plan B.
18 Comments
Mary B
27/3/2019 06:28:17 pm
Oops! Don't you dare give up ! Baking is a skill like riding a bike so I don't think you can lose the knack. A wobble of confidence maybe but I wondered if checking your ingredients might help ? A while ago I had a series of baking disasters and found that the flour I was using hadnt been ground properly. Another time a batch of cakes refused to rise but changing the brand of margarine solved the problem . I'm sure you'll be eating delicious home baked goodies again soon and probably tempting the rest of us with photographs of your efforts.
Freda
28/3/2019 02:06:31 pm
Oops is the word. I did what you said and don't want to admit how past its best befor date the flour is!! (And thanks for making me laugh about it Mary B x)
Sheena
28/3/2019 12:31:29 am
Keep at it, Freda, as I think baking is something that needs to be practised. Your basic skill is still there but the more you do the better you become. When I baked a lot it was easy but now I only do it occasionally it is much more difficult......and erratic!
Freda
28/3/2019 02:08:49 pm
I was used to thinking it was easy when I baked more often! Perhaps I could concentrate on it for a couple of weeks and improve again and get the greezer filled (which was the plan). Thanks Sheena.
The fats we use these days can alter the baking - a lot of it has a higher water content and a lot less fat content so alters the baking and texture sometimes. Also fan ovens I find bake differently. You never lose the skill but may need to bake more rather than give up.
Freda
28/3/2019 02:10:30 pm
i used butter - which made me feel even worse about failing - such waste! You are maybe right about baking more.... A week or so ago I made a squash, spinach and goats cheese tart... at least that's what it was when it came out of the oven. When it went in it was a homemade pizza! (Apparently gluten-free yeast-free pizza dough turns into a crispy cow pat.) So I think the secret to successful baking is not to assume that what we're making is what we'll get... And we just have to do what politicians do best and put a different spin on our disasters. I'm thinking Cherry Volcano Biscuits? Or Monster Eyeballs? How well received those would be at a children's birthday party! My inner child would enjoy them too... :-) Don't give up!
Lotta
28/3/2019 03:20:46 am
Just a thought... maybe you could be 'enchanted' by whatever appears when you open the oven? With no preconceptions it could be fun!
Freda
28/3/2019 02:15:34 pm
A step too far for this perfectionist I fear!
Freda
28/3/2019 02:14:43 pm
You make me aware that my expectations are very high Lotta. I want them to look exactly as they look on the beautiful picture in my beautiful book - nothing less will do! I wouldn't even serve them at a children's party though - they are kind of doughy in the middle and don't have much flavour and very little crunch. The cherries are quite nice.
Judy
2/4/2019 09:45:30 am
When life gives you lemons...eat the cherries.
Rosemary
28/3/2019 03:32:54 am
I can relate to this. Although I say it myself, I have in the past produced many delicious pies and cakes, but recently have been frazzled enough to forget the baking powder, have the scone dough too wet so the scones spread and joined each other. I think frazzled is the word here, always thinking about the next task. Many a day 'Stupid woman' and Calm down' pepper both my internal and verbal monologue. After your emotional baggage post, I wrote a poem called ' So What ?' Nil desperandumm I say, Freda, carry on cooking and if it comes out wrong, tough and So what !
'Freda
28/3/2019 02:18:23 pm
So interesting Rosemary. Your So What!) ' got me through a financial query I had to make today - thank you thank you.
Julia
28/3/2019 05:18:44 am
This came on the perfect day for me, Freda. I rarely bake anymore, since i am gluten-free, and i do not need the calories, either! But this morning i baked a cake for a friend in mourning..i made about 3 major mistakes..i hope the cake will be fine! But was wondering if maybe i am losing my marbles..not my touch! I love Lotta’s spin on your biscuits..:-)
Freda
28/3/2019 02:20:02 pm
Talking of marbles, I do make a good marble cake - I think I wrote a post on it once....
cath
28/3/2019 10:02:27 am
What a pity they were only just edible. When still baking, I often found the baking that looked totally unpresentable tasted so good, that I rather enjoyed having it all to myself.
Freda
28/3/2019 02:23:53 pm
I am eating all of this myself - not great but can't bear to 'waste it'. I know there is something wrong with my thinking there....Gosh everyday life can be exhausting. I - like my scones - need to lighten up :-)
Judy
2/4/2019 09:42:13 am
Ah, me. I'm utterly knackless. But when, by accident, my bake is perfect it makes the occasion unforgettable. Those melt-in-the-mouth moments shine in my memory. Leave a Reply. |
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