‘How To Cook That’ started when I needed a way to keep my mind active and my body awake during night feeds with my third son. I loved cooking desserts and people were always asking for my recipes, so the topic was an easy choice. As obvious as this sounds if you intend on starting a blog make sure:
1. It’s a topic that you enjoy.
2. An area that you are trained in or have experience. If it a how-to site you’ll need more knowledge than the average bear.
3. You LOVE it. If your blog is a success you are going to be producing the same topic of content for years to come. It should be fun for you.
You are still reading so I assume you are passionate, excited and have more ideas than you have time to write about. Welcome to the world of blogging. I’ve made a video to guide you through setting up your new website. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you think!
1. Click HERE to follow along with the video and set up your website.
(Disclosure: I get a small affiliate commission if you buy hosting through the above link, commissions are small so please don’t let that influence which company you choose to host with, go with whatever suits your needs the best).
2. CHOOSE A DOMAIN NAME
A domain name is your website address. For example the domain name for this site is “howtocookthat.net”.
3. ADD HOSTING
Buying the domain name is like putting that web address on hold so no one else can use it, BUT you are not yet using it yet either. To actually use your web address you need ‘hosting’, a company to store your website information and send it out to the world.
4. INSTALL WORDPRESS
Wordpress is free and totally customizable and you don’t need to know anything about coding (HTML/java etc) to use it.
5. CUSTOMIZE
Choose a ‘theme’ for the website. The theme is the general layout of the site. Click through the many ones available and choose one that will work for you. You can always come back later and change the theme at any time. Make sure you choose a theme that is ‘responsive’, which means it works on any size screen from mobile though to desktop.
Add various ‘plugins’ as you need them. Plugins are like mini tools or apps to help you do things on your blog. If you want your website to do something specific like have a shop, play your music, add a page of youtube videos, a gallery for your photos, share buttons… there is bound to be a plugin for it. You can add a plugin, test it out and delete it if it is not what you want, just like you would do with an app on your phone. Like apps there are heaps of free and paid versions of plugins.
6. CONTENT
Now it is time for you to add content to your website. Just a word on copyright. You can not copy or use other people photos or text without written permission. Every picture you find on google images has been taken by a real person and you can’t just steal their photos, you need permission.
7. GO LIVE
On the dashboard / admin area it will say “your site is currently being displayed as coming soon click here to launch it”. Click it and it is live.
8. ENJOY
Enjoy creating your very own piece of the internet.
we respect your email privacy
Hi Ann,
I think it would be cool if you bake a cake drought ‘Dory’ from the movie “Finding Dory”
Hi Ann,
I’m Shamiza and I live in New Zealand… I’ve recently started following your videos on YouTube and my goodness where was I all this while… Your videos are absolutely genius… Your tutorials are so much in detail and yet so easy to understand… I love making and decorating cakes too just as a hobby but not a professional… for this Mother’s Day I made a makeup cake for my aunties and mum then I saw you tutorial for a makeup cake afterwards… Mine wasn’t as flash but I was very proud of it until I saw yours.:: youre truly an inspiration and I’ve been able to learn so much from you… Hope to hear back from you soon!
Shamiza
That is great Shamiza. Keep baking and being creative!
hi Ann I was wondering if you can make another Minecraft cake or can you make a little big planet cake it would mean a lot to me if you do I’m your biggest fan
HI ANN
I JUST WANTED TO ASK U THAT THE CHOCOLATES U MADE ,FOR HOW LONG CAN WE STORE THEM AND WHAT CREAM YOU USED IN IT
LOVE YOUR RECIPES
JUST WANNA KNOW MY ABOVE QUERIES
THANK U 🙂
Hi Rishabh, Chocolates containing fresh fruit will only last as long as the fruit so usually only a few days. Other truffle chocolates will last well as long as they are kept in a cool dark place in an airtight container. Ann recommends consuming then within a couple of weeks, but they will usually last beyond that. Ann uses cream with 35% milk fat which in Australia we call pure cream. Different countries have different brands and products so it best to look for a cream that has a similar fat percentage without other added ingredients. Refer to this page for further assistance: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/cream-use/
I love the apple pie, s’more, and, brownie
Hello Ann 🙂 I really want to purchase a candy thermometer but can’t find a good digital one that isn’t really expensive :/ I was just wondering if you would be able to send me a link to where you got yours?? Thank you x 🙂
Hi Jess, Ann suggests using one like this: http://goo.gl/2FpA2W
can you do a globe.
Can you do a Gilmore Girl cake? Maybe a cup of coffee and a book.
Hey Ann, I like all your tutorials and cakes!!!!!!!!Can you make a Mario Kart themed cake, please?
I purchased your handbag purse cake template im confused could you please help me out so what size do i enlarge the templates to for the size cake that you did and also the larger one
hi, just ensure that the printer is printing at 100%. It should print over several pages and then you just piece it together.
have fun 🙂
Hi Ann
i just have a request
can u make me an anime cake that has Neji Hyuga from Naruto?
i just REALLY wanna try it but i wanna have an example from you on how should i do it cause you see im still 13 so i cant do it on my own. AND ALSO IM FROM pHILIPPINES.
AND ALSO IM A SUPER HUGE FAN OF YOURS
I live in south africa and absolutely love you you tube videos ,, I have learned so much. You have a great teaching method and make everything look so easy.
Where can I purchase an extruder on line?
Hi Mechele, Here is one: http://goo.gl/LsxUkD
HI having a hard time getting contest entry to submit so I am putting it here as directed on facebook 1. 7 colors 2. in April 2011 3. Thank You Ann Reardon for your website and youtube channel. You are simply the most creative, best instructor on the internet.
Please do the 10 best Oreo recipes next
Pretty please
I tots love ur recipes it’s amazing
Wow so amazing ann oh I forgot can you help me make a chocolate cake guitar thank you
Wow ann you’re so amazing It’s my best friend birthday and I wanna know how to make a chocolate cake guitar even if I’m 13 my family will help me make some for my best friend birthday so thank you
omg i am only 11 years old and i cooked one of your cakes and it was AWSOME. I LOOOVE YOU ANN
Plz let me know the receipt fr modeling Chocolate using compound choc and wht should be the proportion of corn syrup to be added.will it be same proportion for all the three varieties.thnks
Hi Sonia, This page should help for a start: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/modeling-chocolate-recipe-make-modelling-chocolate/ .
Hi Ann,
I just love your cakes. They are fantastic..!!
I have twin girls and their 3rd Birthday is in about 6 weeks time. One twin want a Brave Merida doll cake and the another twin wants a Snow White doll cake.
I was hoping you could do a you tube Tutorial for a Brave Merida doll cake or/and a Snow White cool cake to give me some guide to make it myself. As I will have a lot of cake making years ahead of me.
Thank you in advance.
Reagan, NSW
Hi Reagan, Ann doesn’t have examples of these character cakes on her blog at the moment, but you could easily adapt a recipe and create your own. A doll cake using an actual character doll would be the easiest and create their outfit using fondant. Here are a couple of examples you could use as a basis: Elsa cake – https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/frozen-elsa-cake/ Cinderella – https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/disney-cinderella-cake/
Hi Ann,
I just wanted to say thank you for constantly making amazing videos for all of us to watch. I have been watching your videos since the start and have made countless different desserts. Your videos are so unique and different to everyone else’s as they are simple, easy to follow and anyone can give it a go!
I saw that you are having a breville mixer away and it would really help as I would be able to make more of your lovely recipes because I don’t have one at home 🙁
I have entered the competition and my email is (email removed)
Also I wanted to mention how excited I got when I found you were located in Australia! I live in Sydney and would love to meet you one day 🙂
Thank you for everything you have done!
From a very big fan 🙂
Hi Ann I’m here to phillipines I want a cake for my birthday. You have to make it and have to copy your angridins …
Hello Ann, I am from France. I am a big fan of yours. My daughter’s birthday is coming up (end of June) and she wants a VIOLIN cake. Can you show us how to make one? Many thanks.