I have worked as a consultant dietitian in the food industry, then as a community and public health dietitian for a number of years. After which I resigned to take on a role as a youth pastor. We’ve had countless dinners and meetings at our house over the years, so there has been plenty of opportunities to bake and cook for guests. Again and again I have been asked, “Can you teach me how to cook that”. After writing out the recipes numerous times and even having friends come to my house to learn how to cook, I decided to one day start a cooking blog.
In March 2011 my third son was born (three wonderful boys), he was quite unwell and I was up feeding him 3 hourly throughout the night until he was 7 months old. To stay awake during those times I started howtocookthat.net Yes, that’s correct most of the first years posts were typed one handed at all hours of the night while feeding a baby.
I often get asked how can you make all of those cakes and desserts and not be overweight? Well, there is no magic pill – all of our meals are low fat and healthy, I eat plenty of fruit and excercise regularly. I try to only make amazing desserts when we have people coming over to share it with. I did have intentions of adding the recipes that I use for dinner to the blog, but I keep getting sidetracked with desserts – they photograph so much more beautifully.
I have been cooking sweet things and collecting recipes ever since I was a little girl. What a blessing to have a mum that taught me to cook despite the mess that kids make in the kitchen.
Above is a pic of the first recipe I ever wrote out – my friends mum had made the most amazing chocolate cheesecake, so I asked for the recipe. I have a recipe file that is thick with gems collected over the years. If there is no source listed it is because I don’t actually know where they came from or I have adapted or developed the recipes myself.
Ann
Please direct all media, advertsing, business and booking enquiries to: howtocookthat [at] iinet.net.au
FAQ: Where is Ann Reardon from? I live in Sydney Australia but my wonderful subscribers are from USA, UK, Canada, Australia and all over the world.
As seen on:
we respect your email privacy
Hi Ann,
I just came over your site and loved everythg about it and the way you cook and do decoration.
I would appreciate if you can tell us how to make the Chocolate sphere you made in the instragram dessert, it’s so nice and elegant.
Thank you in advance,
With my gratitude,
Imane
Dear Ann, I just wanted to leave you a little thank you note for your perfect macaron recipe and very helpful video. After watching the video and going over the recipe about 20 times (way my mind works), I attempted it for myself and I had EXCELLENT results with just one try. With all the horror stories regarding macarons, I could not believe it. Thank you so much.
My macaron experience is at: gatheringatthetable.com/2013/05/an-american-in-paris-of-course.html
Love and blessings!
They look fantastic Marcia great job
here’s a pic of my cake with your Ombre icing (i flavoured it raspberry), white chocolate flowers and chocolate lettering xxx thanks again!
WOW I love those roses they look so real and your piping is perfect great job.
your literally putting ann in your name thinking people will believe it dumbo
Hi Ann,
I just wanted to thankful for your fabulous site. I made the below cake for my sister yesterday and everyone loved it and I had heaps of fun making it too! I couldn’t have done it without your help 🙂
♥ Bree
Hey can u please make a lady bird cake & bath tub cake ?
Hi Ann,
I love your blog, I followed your Thomas Tank Engine Face tutorial and turned out great so thankyou. Keep up the great work.
Anita
Hi Anita, thanks for coming back to let me know I am glad it worked out for you.
Hi Ann,
I wanted to know if you can give me the brand name and model of the silicone cupcake tray you use when you make the white chocolate dipped oreos with the chocolate transfer sheets. I have purchsed a couple of them but everyone of them is either to wide at the bottom or to deep. I cant seem to find the exact one you use in your video. I would like to purchase the same one you have but don’t know where to get it. Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Lance
Hi Lance,the one I have is too deep but I just don’t fill it all the way up, the brand of mine is willow
Ann, you’re work is brilliant and very inspirational. I wondered if I could ask you for some advice. I am about to make a globe cake, and wanted to know how to best support it. It will be quite large, so I was thinking about making the bottom sphere out of RKT and stacking then carving sheet cakes above it to make the upper hemisphere, but I would ideally like the whole thing to me made out of cake. If I drilled a few dowels into the board as well as used cake boards and dowels throughout, do you think the whole thing could be made of cake? Thanks so much!
Hi M, Yes you could make the whole thing out of cake if you look at the minion cake it will give you a good idea of how to do it. https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/despicable-me-2-3d-minion-cake-decorating-tutorial/
I made the Chocolate Bowls, definitely my favourite recipe.
Beautiful Lisa, I am often asked for ideas of what to put in them and strawberries and cream is a great one.
Running across your site was a blessing. I was going to make balloon decorations. I like these so much more because they’re so practical (LOL you can eat them). Chocolate and fruit are separate so everybody’s covered.
Thank you for sharing your ideas. I have tried your Mickey Mouse cupcake and Princess cake for my 3 year old little girl. She was so delighted! You videos are very helpful and recipes are easy to follow. Continue to share your amazing work! Thanks again!
Dear Ann
I am very impressed by your video tutorials!!! Loved all those chocolate garnishes.I just loved it.I have done few chocolate garnishes and using molds made chocolate toppers.I had used HERSHEY’s Semi sweet Chocolate chips and Baker’s Baking Chocolate bars.I had melted those 2 products and made perfect while designing it.While garnishing within few minutes it gets melt down 🙁 Where do we get Chocolate melts as you mentioned Candy melts are fake.I ll be highly grateful in thanking you for telling me name of the product for chocolate melts.?I am currently living in the US.Awaiting to hear your comments or mail me please. Do visit my blog for my few chocolate garnishes on my cupcakes and cauldron cupcakes and you will notice it is melting down 🙁
Hi Archana, If you temper the chocolate it will not sag at room temp see this post…
https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/how-to-temper-chocolate-in-the-microwave/
Hello Ann.
I’d like to introduce your some recipes.
Can I obtain permission?
For example http://mole-cook.com/recipe%EF%BC%86how-to/%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%82%B3%E3%83%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%BC%E7%90%83/
Hi masa, yes that is fine as long as you clearly link to the original post as you have done.
Hi Ann, I have just discovered your site after searching for a macaron recipe for my nut allergy son-in-law. Fancy, after being told there is no substitute for almond meal! Haven’t made them yet but at least there’s hope. I’m now about to venture into your other amazing recipes. Thankyou so much Margie
Thanks for leaving a comment Margie, I just read an article this week about someone who used stale bread, dried out and then ground to a fine crumb to replace almond meal. I have not tried that one yet.
Hi Ann, I just wanted to say that when I read your introduction, I was struck first and foremost by your kindness and generosity of spirit. That, to me, is very inspiring. You’re a real blessing to many! Thanks very much for this blog of yours.
HayleyG
Hi Ann love your YouTube channel made the pavlova came out prefect thanks for showing me. Can you please make a black forest cake my wife’s birthday coming up in a few weeks and want to try one.
Hi ann, Ur videos r superb…. My chocolates keep melting wat do i do… Wat type of chocolate compound shud i use…. I m based in india… Its pretty hot out here… Pls help…. I make chocolates at home n sell… Lukin for innovations pls help
Hi Rekha, chocolate needs to be tempered to give it a higher melting point see this post https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/how-to-temper-chocolate-in-the-microwave/ but even when it is tempered it will melt at around 35 degrees C so that it will melt in your mouth. ‘fake’ chocolate has a higher melting point than that see the same post for a video explaining the difference.
Hi Ann. I made a version of your cake to look like a gold ore block from the game, with golds, orange and greys for the mosaic. The cake was marbled gold and grey, with grey buttercream icing. I have to say that grey is not the most appetising colour for food! Regardless, my son and his friends enjoyed the cake. I made a papercraft Steve to go in front which ended up being a nice touch. Being the second cake I’ve made (first an Xbox remote) it highlighted some basic cake making skills I needed to master, but after what must have been 15-20 hours I got there, which included a 4×4 test cake! A few wonky bits on the final product, but I want to have another go some day (another son’s birthday in Sept!) so it can’t have been all bad. I really want to thank you for your post and video. I would never have attempted this cake without them. I appreciate your help.
Awesome Mark, thanks so much for uploading the picture and happy birthday to your son 🙂
Thank you, Ann, for such a wonderful site. Your videos are so good! I like it when you show us how something should look and how it should not. 🙂 (“How is should not look” is sometimes more helpful!!) I have marked your site as a “favorite” on my toolbar. And thank you for giving the US measurements at times. Although with with internet, it is easy to find conversions or to find out what “castor sugar” is or what can be substituted if need be. Thanks again for taking the time to share. Keep up the good work!!
thanks Diane 🙂
Hi there!
I just wanted to thank you for your amazing website and the fantastic recipes! 😀
I have always loved baking and this website is a fantastic inspiration! thank you very much.
Kind regards from Holland!
thanks Myra and greeting from Australia : )