‘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
Hello Ann really love your site And already have tried some of your chocolate receipies and truffles and we all love it. Your effort is great .. love it I had just one question if chocolate is melted with coconut oil would it still be tempered and if not how can I make chocolate when melted and tempered a little more liquid since we here in Egypt lack a little on cooking chocolate with different kinds of chocolate are not very popular here I do melt it and temper it but it is not liquid enough it’s heavy so I can’t pour it into molds I only like spoon it or smear it around to coat the mold. Plz help
Hi Reham Zidan, Thanks for your comment. It is difficult to assist you without being able to experiment with the chocolate you are referring to. It sounds like yo need to heat it just a little more. If you add coconut oil it definitely wont be in temper.
Hi,
Miss Reardon i really love your recipes they are amazing. I did the nougat recipe when it cooled i tried to got it.
but it was to sticky, can you please tell me what i am doing wrong and it flatted just a little bit.
Thank you
Jacqueline
Hi Jacqueline, well done on trying something new. It is difficult know what the problem was without seeing it. Nougat will get sticky the longer you leave it as it will absorb moisture from the air. It sounds like you may have added the sugar syrup too quickly. Ensure your egg whites are whipped till fluffy and showing firm peaks then add the hot syrup in a steady stream, letting it mix as you go. Tip it out on to your tray straight away.
I Google you because I want to make the Ramen gravity cake. I see in the video your extruder for the Ramen is larger than the stadard one I see on line everywhere. Here can I get one like that?
Hi Ann I wanted to ask a question so when I grow up I want to be a baker and own my own bakery I was wondering if I could use some of your cake in my bakery
Hi Jazmine, If you start a bakery then you will be baking the cakes. It would be lovely if you used some of Ann’s recipes, just let people know who they can go to for the recipe if they want it!. Let us know when you make your dream a reality!
Ann I forgot to put this in my comment but can you try making a Alice through the looking glass cake
Can you make a 3D German Shepard Cake and puppies
Hi Ann I’ve tried all your all your recipes I’m only 13 and I’ve been cooking since I was 5 and loved it ever since I watch all your videos and my mum and dad love my baking please can I get a shout out ?? x
Hi Georgia Bonnett, Thanks for being a long term fan. Keep up the baking!
Hi Ann!
I’ve been watching your videos for a while and I am a big fan of your chocolate recipies, so I wanted to make some myself (starting with the bean to bar recipie). I have all ingredients prepared but there’s one small problem… We don’t have cocoa butter in our area and I can’t purchase online (T^T) so I was wondering if there’s a good substitute for it 🙂
Hi Alkamas, Unfortunately not. it is the key ingredient.
I posted a comment on this blog on Feb 8th about the fact I paid for but didn’t receive a template for the Minecraft cake. As yet I’VE HAD NO RESPONSE. Can anyone help me get in touch as there is NOWHERE on the web site to give feedback or get queries dealt with regarding orders. Surely I can’t be the only one.
Hi Moira, the contact provided for issues is provided on the shop page and at purchase. Here it is just to confirm:
Need help with your downloads? Please contact customer-care[at]howtocookthat.net we’re always happy to help.
I have forwarded you query to our tech crew to see what has gone awry. Usually as soon as purchase is made you see link for download. You also receive an email with the download link. If neither happened then it is possible that payment wasn’t processed which is an external issue. If you didn’t receive an email, then it is either due to the address being unrecognised or mis-entered or it could be sitting in your junk email folder. The team will be in touch to get it sorted. Thanks for your patience.
Hi Ann
Can you please make a SMALL size sports car cake. Thanks
I ordered and paid for a template for the Minecraft cake and when I tried to download it , I got the message ‘can’t access this site’. I tried unsuccessfully several times then got a message telling me I had reached the download allowance on my purchase. I didn’t get any download!! I really need the template as I have promised I’d make the cake for my nephew’s son for his 8th birthday. Please help. My order number was 50226. I have left 2 messages already on a different contact point but have had no reply.I can’t see anywhere else to contact you regarding this matter. I live in Scotland – is this why download didn’t work? Seems unlikely.
Have you made an boombox cake?
Hi Ann!
I am new to this site and I already read some of your recipes and they look delicious might plan on making some if I ever open a cafe with my best friend or just hoard them for myself and make them in secret. I look forward to looking at new recipes, keep up the good work!!!
Thanks Erin
I love your website and all the recipes on it. But there’s one thing I’ve noticed that’s missing from your site… gluten free cake. I saw the chocolate pinata “cake” but have not been able to find a real cake that is gluten free. Maybe I missed something and there’s a super fantastic gluten free cake hiding in here somewhere. But I can’t find it.
The reason for this request is that several years back my mom discovered that she has a slight aversion to gluten and if she eats it she becomes sluggish and unproductive, but she loves chocolate cake. And for her past several birthdays we have been experimenting with different recipes and (at best) end up with a semi-mediocre cake as a result. Can you help?
Also, any ideas on making gluten free crepes? (We make blintzes every Christmas and I’ve ended up with everything from crepes full of holes, to ones that have no flexibility, to ones that won’t spread out enough no matter what I try.) (Its not that I can’t make crepes, as I’ve made fantastic gluten filled crepes for many years.)
Thank you so much!
Hi Erin, Ann’s chocolate cake can be made with gluten free flour and many followers have found it works well. Obviously gluten is a key element of keeping cakes soft and flexible. Replacing the all purpose flour with a quality gluten free flour works best when there is another sticky ingredient like chocolate. Try this one with your choice of flour and see how it goes: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/chocolate-cake-recipe/ . Ann’s fudgy vegan cake with a gluten free flour has good results too: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/best-vegan-chocolate-cake-recipe/ .
Hi Ann! For the giant Tim Tam, how many small tim Tams does it yield or make?
Hi Raven, this recipe is not designed to make standard size Tim Tims.
Hi
I love your videos, just wanted to know how to make milk chocolate with dark chocolate bars ? What are the ingredients that are needed and he process of making them
Hi Ann,
I love your videos and think they are incredible, and so easy to to follow. I was wondering if you could give me any advice on how to get traffic on my blog and youtube channel. I have just started a cake blog called Vanilla Sprinkles to express my love for baking and the passion and determination one 16 year could can have. I would really love any help or advice from you.
Love Lauren
P.s if you would like to see the blog itself just the www. before vanillasprinkles and then a .com.au at the end. THANK YOU!
Hi MissLozzyBeth, Congratulations on starting your blog and channel! It took quite a while for Ann to build up traffic on her channel. Perhaps you could think about what other girls your age would love to see and hear about in the area of baking and how they would most enjoy seeing it presented. The other thing you can do is check out the Youtube play book: https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/playbooks/youtube.html . It is full of awesome hints and tips to get more traffic through your channel.
For x-mas I made the chocolate spiral dessert.
After 5 ours and 2 days it was ready to serve!
Thnxx for all the good idears
Hey Ann your desserts are amazing! You should totally try out for the show cake wars!!! Anyway I was wondering if you could make a frog cake! My daughters birthday is coming up and I want to know how. She loves frogs!!!
Thank you!!! ????????????????
Thanks for the feedback Sadie.
Great work Wendelyn. It looks fantastic.
Hi Ann
I really love your work
I ask you if I make blogs same yours
I like to make own business
But in Arabic language
I will send you some of my jello 3D
I need your advice
Thank you
Hi Rehab, Your gelatine work looks lovely.
Hi ann I’m nine years old and I liked every your vids! Can u plz do another gingerbread house?That first one was very great!
Hi Gracee, Ann has done a new gingerbread house every year. Check these out: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/?s=gingerbread
A young couple iIknow is having a Nightmare Before Christmas themed wedding. They would Love to have a wedding cake similar to this (with something more appropriate to their theme tan a Tardis on top). How would iit done?
BTW,I LOVE your videos.
Hi Crystal, I cant see a cake in your pic and am not particularly familiar with the story but it sounds like you might be looking at a fondant covered decoration for the top of a tiered cake. You could look at some of the following cakes for inspiration on fondant decorating: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/?s=clash+of+clans https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/brain-cake/ https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/cakes-cake-decorating-frosting-recipes/page/4/