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
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Hi Ann,
I have only recently started experimenting with cake decorating and you site has been an amazing source of knowledge and inspiration. Thanks! 🙂
I haven’t see anything on here about allergy free baking, however just wondering if you have any tips on Gluten and Nut Free baking. My Sister has coeliac disease so I would usually make her something with almond meal as I don’t really like how dense cakes become when you substitute normal flour for GF.
It is her 18th birthday in about a month and she wants me to make the cake, problem is it’s a joint party and her best friend is allergic to almonds. Some of the Packet cakes are okay, but it feels like cheating!!
Any Flour substitute ideas or fail proof recipe’s world be great?
Thanks Emma.
Hi and thanks again for this wonderful site!
I was wondering if you have any idea how to make chocolate rocks ?
I included a picture in case you don’t have that where you live.
Hi Joel, I have seen rocks made using white chocolate fudge mixed with oreo crumbs rolled into rock shapes. But if the ones in the picture are like the ones we get here they have more of a candy shell filled with chocolate. The shell on them would probably be made in a way similar to M&Ms and smarties where the chocolates are rotated in large containers as a liquid candy made of sugar and corn syrup is sprayed onto them. Once the coating is dry they get sprayed again and that is repeated until it is strong and then it is sprayed with a final coloured layer. So not something that you could do at home. You could use reusable molding gel to make molds and then colour white chocolate and make chocolate rocks.
Thank you for the answer!
Yes, it’s the kind like M&M; too bad we can’t do them at home; they would have fit perfectly with your geode!
Hi Ann,
I love your attention to detail in your cakes & throughout your videos. I made the minion cake which turned out fantastic. I would love you to make a 3D Peppa Pig? Well actually George Pig which is Peppa’s little brother. My 3 year olds request & George must have his cuddle toy dinosaur. Yes I have my work cut out for me. Any tips you have i would appreciate it? Thanks Jodie
Hi Jodie, well done it looks awesome 😀 for a peppa pig either buy or do an image search for a peppa pig toy so that you have an idea of what it looks like in 3d. Print out a picture to use as your template and start from there. If you’ve made this minion you can make peppa pig.
Hi Ann, i-m writting from Mexico 🙂
i have just started baking a few months ago and i find it so relaxing and love to share the things i make with my friends and family, i´m no professional but if i wasn´t working where i am i think i would love to be a cook and i find your website sooooo helpful when i´m in trouble or when i look for new ideas.
So, i recently heard about this vanilla cupcakes infused with hibiscus syrup and mango topped with hibiscus syrup buttercream frosting and i would so much love to try them since i´m a big fan of hibiscus, but i can´t really find the recipe, i can only find recipes for mango cupcakes :S
i think i may use that recipe and just add the hibiscus syrup but i´m afraid i´d mess it up cuz i have no idea about the quantity …. any idea about how to solve my problem????????
Thanks for reading and Thanks for your blog 🙂
Hi Daniela try this recipe but use the hibiscus instead of cherry.. https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/red-velvet-cake-recipe/
This is really a lovely story, I’ve got goose bumps all over my arms, just got to know ds site today and I really felt like having d opportunity to exploit, but my challenge is that we hardly have most of d dessert ingredients here in my country-Nigeria, at least, they are not as common as its suppose to be.
Hi Tope, My friend in Cambodia has the same problem some ingredients are hard to get so you may need to experiment with what you have.
Hi Ann,
I just wanted to take a few minutes to express my gratitude. I am a 35 year old typical single aussie male. I’m not too bad a cook in the kitchen or on the barbie but baking & decorating is my downfall or should I say ‘was’.
I discovered a clip of yours on YouTube & I was drawn in by chocolate butterflies of all things! They amazed me & from then I became an obsessed ‘howtocookthatter’. I decided to try to make one of your cakes, glaze it with ganache then decorate it with a chocolate sphere & butterflies! It turned out absolutely amazing thanks to your tutorial being so simple & easy to follow.
Once completed my flat mate & I jumped around the kitchen screaming like teenage girls we were so excited. In all our excitement we attacked it & were lost in food heaven as we munched our way through it. It was only as I looked at the crumbs & the few bits of chocolate we couldn’t shove in I realised I’d forgotten to take a photo! I should have remembered as you always say to post photos but I guess I just got too excited. Next time!
Ann, cooking has never given me such a thrill & it’s all thanks to you! I can’t thank you enough for sharing your knowledge, It has brought me so much joy in only one cake & I can’t wait to tackle my next.
Hi I’m a student in Puerto Rico for international baking and pasty and my classmate and I have watched every single episode you made and because over here the minions were so popular we noticed the 3d minion cake you made in a pervious video and this have us an Idea to create a minion type cake for one of our big project and I really wanted to show you our work and thank you for the inspiration and talent that you offer to us as rising future pastry chefs. It would mean the world to us if we could hear what you have thought about our cake.
With lots of love , April Vega and Adriana Lopez
Hi April, I love this cake, I like the way his legs are sticking out of the top tiir like he has fallen through, so much fun. Great Job.
Hi Ann,
I don’t see any subscription link on your blog. Do you have that option? Thanks so much.
Hi ann! I’m loving your blog and all tutorials.
I’m about going to college next year.
I’ve been loving all about cakes, desserts and pastry since i’m a very little girl.
Do you have any recommend college for pattiserrie?
Thank you.
Hi Evita, I am not sure what country you are in but I would suggest contacting a pastry chef in your area and asking them about the pastry school that they went to and which ones they would recommend as they will be much more knowledgable on the matter. All the best with your studies
hello,
I love your work, my daughter loves hello kitty and shes been asking me for a while to make a hello kitty cake for her 11th birthday, and your video of the hello kitty came on youtube just before her birthday so it made my life easy 😉 I made her the cake and she LOVED it…..so did everyone at the party!! I couldnt find black liquorice same as the one you used so I couldn’t do the out line of the cat, thanks for the great videos and keep up the great work……take care, love from mauritius
Hi mahwish, that looks so cute Happy birthday to your daughter and well done for improvising on ingredients you couldn’t get.
Hi Ann love your channel soooo much and can’t wait to try the recipes!
Hi Ashley, thanks for watching and visiting the website 😀
Hello Ann!, when your filming I noticed that the camera was right above what ever your doingand your hands are both working so how do you do that?
Thanks!
Gianna 🙂
Hi Gianna, I put my camera on the overhead cupboards in my kitchen
Annnn,
You are just sooo good. Oh my God! my niece’s first birthday is just around the corner n now after seeing few of your videos, I am so determined to bake her first birthday cake myself instead of ordering from out. But I have a question. How do i make the batter for the fondant. Please help. Keep up the good work. Your site is added to my favourites now 🙂 Thanks
Hi Almas you can buy fondant or make it yourself the links to the fondant recipes are all on this post… https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/sugar-paste-fondant-cake-decorations/
Hi Ann,
I was planning on making my sisters birthday and I didn’t want to spend money on icing. I’m doing homemade. I was wondering. Do you have to use icing sugar or mixture to make butter cream?
hi kayla you can use either of them the mixture is easier because it doesn’t form lumps int he packet.
Made this using your roll cake tutorial! I love your videos!
love it halle
Hi Ann,
I accidentally came across your videos while searching for French macaroons.. You are doing a great job. I have a 5 year old daughter who just loves your princess’s cake. Do you have dessert recipes using puff pastry? If so pls share them. Thanks:)
Try millefeuille.
Hi Ann
As a home economist who also loves cooking special treats, I was moved by your story in last week’s That’s Life! (Issue 27) and just wanted to say I was not disappointed by your site. It is fantastic. Good on you! 🙂
Thanks Cheryl 😀
He loved it and I was quite pleased it worked! Thank you Ann. You bring me such joy, fun and kitchen confidence! 🙂
Wow it looks great Margaret awesome job 🙂
Here is a picture of our blue ombre a la rainbow design for my fiance’s birthday. My nine year old daughter was an excellent sous chef keeping me in step with the right colours handed to me at the right time! It went a lot faster than we expected! many thanks and I hope you like it!:)
hi Ann
first off u r so pleasant and adorable and i truly loved your story n the blog too 🙂
secondly, i came across your videos while searching you tube for a tutorial on making fondant cakes. i am really interested in learning to make fondant cakes because i want to start a bakery soon that serves homemade cupcakes etc. funny tough , i am a novice in the field but am enthusiastic on mastering it so i can make a living off it.. can u ps guide me in the right direction??
already a fan of ur cook book
beenish
Hi beenis, The best thing to do is practice, practice practice. You will get better as you go, watch as many tutorials as you can so you get an idea of different techniques that can be useful.