‘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.
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Made Mater and Lightning McQueen cupcakes to go with the cake as well
Loooove the cupcakes Kimberly!
THANK YOU. ..
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Your instructions are very easy to follow and understand .I made my cake for a 5 yr old this past Sunday his mother and grandmother were very very pleased made on a very short notice this is the second cake I made from using your tutorials. Please continue to make great tutorials for us to watch I have attached a picture of my cake.
Great work Kimberly. So glad you are finding the tutorial’s helpful!
Very helpful..
Hi I am going to make your 3D teddy cake but I don’t like coffee and it’s also for a 1st birthday. Can I swap the coffee for hot drinking chocolate?
Hi Allison, If you would prefer a chocolate cake, then this recipe will work well: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/chocolate-cake-recipe/
Hello I was wondering if you could do more cakes and desserts without gluten,dairy,and eggs. Also I was wondering if you could tell me the time of the live videos that your doing.
Thank you!!
Wendy
Hello I was wondering if you could do more cakes and desserts without gluten,dairy,and eggs.
Thank you!!
Wendy
Please help my Cars template did not appear in my email. It looks like there is an option in shop to repurchase. The customer service email indicates an invalid address.
Hi Cindy, the customer care email appears to be functioning well. I have forwarded your comment to them and they will be in touch to help you.
Hi Ann,
My name is Gurwant and I am a nurse by profession but baking is my passion and you have inspired me a lot. I watch every video that you upload on youtube and have tried making some of your recipes. I must say that you do an amazing job at baking and creating different desserts. I made the Thomas cake for my nephew’s 2nd birthday. It wasn’t as perfect as yours and the face was a bit bigger for the cake but my nephew loved the cake. Thank you for coming up with all the wonderful creations ☺️?
Hi Gurwant, Thanks for the pic. I think that is an excellent effort and fondant work definitely takes a bit of getting used to. Well done!
Hi Anne, I’ve just recently discovered your brilliant YouTube videos, through research on how to bake a pattern into a cake. I used the video you made including the Swiss roll with the characters from dumb ways to die and created a “Cath Kidston ” Swiss roll and a second comic book where the comic strip was baked into the cake. I wanted to share the ideas and to say thanks for a great video blog!
Thanks Sajida for the feedback and the great ideas.
Hi I just stared watching your videos a few weeks ago and this is the first time I have ever writen in the comment section.
Well thanks for watching and commenting Madison.
Hi Ann.
I purchased your guitar template last month to make my cousin’s graduation cake. It turned out so awesome (with a few flaws of course).
Thanks for all your help. Love seeing your videos. You do awesome work.
Wow Brenda, It looks so real in your pic. Well done!
Hi Ann, my name is Cameron and I am 13 years old. I made these macaroons with your recipe, and they are delicious! You are also a huge inspiration to me to follow my dreams of opening a bakery. I hope that you continue your channel so that young kids like me can learn the art of sugar. Thank you for your awesome ideas!
That is great to hear Cameron. All the best with your baking.
Hi Ann I wanted to ask a few things about baking if you don’t mind answering some of them for me please:
1)in some of your recipes you use gelatan. Does the gelatan do anything in some of your recipes like in cheesecakes. I just wonder if it’s better to include that in my recipe.
2)and also can you a video on piping icing onto cakes because I’m finding it hard doing that on large and small cakes.
Thankyou Ann much appreciated:)
Hi Georgia, When ever gelatin is included in a recipe it is serving a purpose. It is usually to do with setting, texture and stability. Ann has done lots of piping hacks tutorials. Here is just one to get you started: https://www.howtocookthat.net/public_html/8-piping-hacks-know/
Hi Ann,
I’m from a small group of islands called Aland Islands in Finland. We don.t have any cake shops nearby, but during the years I have managed to get hold of some good stuff and been at the internet searching for tutorials and ideas.
Have been following you for quite a while now and I love your tutorials. They are my classe and how I have learnt to make cakes. Made this, using your template for our grandchild turning 4. I only had two days warning so not much sleep. Could perhaps have done better with more time. But this sort of cakes are not common here and people don’t realize how much time you need to put in the making of them.I downsized it to 85% but it was still to big LOL.
Hi Gunilla, You are the first person I have chatted with from the Aland Islands! It is awesome that you are finding the tutorials helpful. Your lightning McQueen cake looks great and yes that cake is a lot of work but so satisfying to prepare. Well done! I am your grandchild loved it!
Big fan
Hi I am a very big fan Ann of your videos
That is great Gemma. Have you tried any recipes??
Hello, Ann. I am from Bogota, Colombia and I love your channel. I’ve been watching your videos for over a year but I haven’t tried any of your recipes yet because I do not eat wheat flour or dairy. Someday I’ll try to adapt one of your recipes and let you know how it goes. I also wanted to tell you that I think what you do is amazing and that your kindness really comes through in everything you do (I mean, this is your post about blogging, it’s so sweet). Best of luck to you from South America!
Thanks Paula for your lovely feedback. Do let us know if you try any of the recipes with a gluten free flour.
using the your tutorial I made a slightly different version on the weekend. I attached a photo of it .
Thank you so much for sharing your tutorial with us!
Christina
Hi ann! Im from India and I tried your mocha cake and it turned out to be brilliant !! I hope you see it
That is great to hear Ayushi.
can you PLEASE make harry potter wands with chocolate!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Ann
Please post/record a foolproof turkish delight recipe?. I just cannot get it right no matter what!!
Abby
Hi Ann,
I was wondering if you would perhaps do a recipe for a Five Nights at Freddy’s giant cupcake (I’ve attached a true-ish picture of him for you 🙂 ).
I was hoping to do it for my birthday the end of this month. I’ve search online but no-ones ‘How to’ videos are as informative or as good as yours…
Best Wishes,
Becky