Many of the recipes in this book call for some basic prep work, such as melting butter or crushing graham crackers, before you start the other steps. Read the ingredients list and directions all the way through to find out what you need to do before you start baking. Here are some words you’ll see in recipes:
Stir. To mix rapidly with a spoon, whisk, spatula, or electric mixer until smooth.
Cream. To mix butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until it turns fluffy. This adds air to your batter, which helps your baked goods rise.
Whisk. To combine ingredients with a whisk. You can whisk dry ingredients, like flour and baking powder, or wet ingredients, like eggs and milk.
Mix. To use a spoon or electric mixer to combine ingredients evenly. Use a bowl that is big enough to hold everything with extra room for the mixing activity.
Process. To mix ingredients in a food processor. Read the machine manual, and ask an adult for help when using a food processor for the first time. (See Lesson 6: Kitchen Safety.)
Grease the pan. To rub butter or vegetable oil (or use baking spray) on baking pans so food won’t stick. Don’t forget the sides and corners of the pan!
Grease and lightly flour. Once you’ve greased your pan, add a tablespoon of flour. Tap all sides to lightly flour the entire surface.
Line with parchment. To lay a sheet of parchment paper on your pan, which will keep cookies and breads from sticking to them.
Knead. To fold the dough in half, press with your palms, then turn and fold again. This makes your scones and breads light and airy by developing the gluten.
Melt. To turn a solid into a liquid by applying heat. You can melt butter or chocolate in a saucepan over low heat or in a bowl in a microwave for 10 to 20 seconds at a time.
Brush. To paint melted butter or egg wash on dough or bread with a pastry brush.
Sift. To process flour and other dry ingredients through a sieve or sifter to break up any clumps. Most flour you buy in the store is presifted, but if your baking powder or baking soda looks lumpy, you might want to sift it with the flour to mix it all together.
Add dry ingredients. To add a mixture of flour and other dry ingredients to a batter. If you’re using a stand mixer, you can prevent the flour from flying around the kitchen by carefully holding a dishtowel around the bowl, keeping fingers out of the way.
Cut in the butter. To use a special pastry cutter, or two forks, to combine butter or shortening with dry ingredients until crumbly.
Roll out. To flatten out dough with a rolling pin. Rolling between two pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper prevents sticking. You won’t need to add extra flour, which can make your baked goods taste less buttery.
Cut with cookie cutters. To cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Use the sharper side to press into the dough. Cold dough is easiest to cut. If it sticks to the cutters, dip them in a little flour.
Cut with a Wheel. To cut dough or piecrust with a pastry wheel or a pizza wheel. The pastry wheel makes a zigzag pattern. The pizza wheel makes a straight line.
Crimp. To pinch the edges of a dough into a decorative pattern, or to press two edges of dough together to seal them.
Grate. To shred ingredients, such as carrots or zucchini, against a grater. When the food you’re grating gets really small, stop grating to protect your fingers. Grating citrus rind is called zesting. (Note: you can also use a cool tool called a zester to grate the rind.)
Scoop. To make drop cookies or fill muffin pans using an ice cream scoop. It’s less messy than using a spoon, and the cookies, muffins, and cupcakes will come out evenly shaped.
Scrape with a Spatula. To get every last bit of batter out of the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula.
Test for doneness. To check to see if your baked goods are finished baking.
Cool. To let your baked goods cool down after baking. Some baked goods you can eat right away, but others need to cool in the pan or on a rack. Follow the recipe instructions.
When following a recipe, it’s important to measure the ingredients carefully. Here are some tips.
Liquid ingredients. Measure larger amounts of milk, water, and other liquids in a glass or plastic liquid measuring cup. Pour the liquid into the cup and read the measure from eye level.
For smaller measures, like a teaspoon, use measuring spoons. Work over a small bowl to catch any spills.
Dry ingredients. It’s important to measure flour, sugar, and other dry ingredients with dry measuring cups or measuring spoons that can be leveled off. Fill the cup or spoon with the ingredient, and then run the flat part of a butter knife across it to get an exact measure.
Butter. Follow the measurement marks on the butter package. Find the line for the correct measurement, and then carefully cut straight down on the stick through the paper. Unwrap the portion you need and add it to your recipe.
Here’s a handy chart to help you convert recipe measurements.
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1 teaspoon = 5 milliliters |
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1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons (or 1⁄2 fluid ounce)= 15 milliliters |
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1⁄4 cup = 4 tablespoons = 60 milliliters |
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1⁄2 cup = 4 ounces = 120 milliliters |
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1 cup = 8 ounces = 240 milliliters |
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1 pint = 2 cups = 16 ounces = 475 milliliters |
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1 quart = 2 pints = 0.95 liters |
Many of the recipes in this book require that you keep safety measures in mind, especially when you use sharp knives, an electric mixer, or a hot oven. It’s important to work safely in the kitchen, so here are some tips.
Knives & graters. Make sure your knife is sharpened properly (dull knives are more dangerous because they can slip while you’re cutting), and hold it firmly, with your fingers out of the way of the blade. Always cut with the blade moving away from your hand.
When you use a grater, watch out that you don’t accidentally scrape the tip of your finger or your knuckles. That can hurt a lot! Dry your hands when cutting and grating — wet hands are slippery!
Mixers and food processors. Keep your fingers out of the way of the beaters when working with an electric mixer.
With a food processor, be especially careful when you are fitting the blades into the machine or taking them out to be washed. Never try to operate a food processor with the lid off, and of course, never stick a spoon or spatula into the bowl without turning the machine completely off first.
Microwave. Different microwave ovens have different directions, so ask an adult to show you how to use yours. Never use metal or aluminum foil in the microwave. Always use microwave-safe dishes. Glass, paper towels, and some plastic containers are fine. The wrong material could damage the microwave or even cause a fire.
Oven, stovetop, and toaster oven. Before you turn on the stove or oven, check first with an adult. He or she can show you the proper way to use the range and explain the different settings. When you are cooking something on the stove, always stay in the kitchen!
When your fresh-baked goods are ready to serve, your friends and family will be happy to enjoy them. Here are some ways to make the most of your treats.
Eat them fresh. Most of the foods made from recipes in this book taste best the day they’re made. But a few, like Monkey Munch Banana Bread and Zombie Zucchini Bread, actually taste better a day later. Check the recipe for serving and storage suggestions.
Pack ’em up. Store your baked goods in sealable containers or plastic bags. Most of the items can be stored at room temperature and will last a few days. You can also store unbaked piecrust and cookie, cracker, and bread dough in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Give a kitchen gift. Baked treats make great gifts for teachers, friends, and family members. Bring your parents and siblings a basket of breakfast breads in bed on their birthdays or special days. Wrap up cookies or homemade breads for teachers and friends. Use the fun labels and gift tags at the back of the book to make your goodies special.
Celebrate with sweets! Mark a big birthday or holiday with a special homemade cake or decorated cupcakes. See Bake Up Mix & Match Cookie Crafta Birthday Party! and Mix & Match Cupcake Decorating Party for some ideas. Make any celebration more fun with the stickers in the back of the book.
Make Special Holiday Treats. Bake up some holiday fun throughout the year. Make cookie hearts for Valentine’s Day or reindeer for Christmas (Mix & Match Cookie Craft), Pumpkin Patch Muffins for Halloween, and cookies decorated like turkeys for Thanksgiving (Mix & Match Cookie Craft).
Looking to raise money for your school or a charity? Host a bake sale. Follow these tips for successful sales. Check the fun extras at the back of the book to make your sale special.
Set up the sale. Cover your table with a tablecloth. Include a vase of flowers or other seasonal decoration.
Price it right. Include a sign with all the prices.
Make the food look yummy! Serve most of the cookies and bars in individually wrapped containers with handmade wrappers and stickers. You can decorate using the stickers and labels at the back of the book.
Include a recipe card. You can write down the recipe and give it away.
Advertise! Create a fun sign to post to spread the word.