After our articles on quiche, cream puffs, and pies, we received a lot of questions asking about the basics of baking. We classified these questions into several groups. First up are questions on the oven and the mixer.

Q: I am a follower of your column. I am glad that there is a column that I can regularly read to learn more about my new interest. I even cut and clip your articles for future reference. I just want to ask if I can bake even if I do not have an oven at home? I want to make cookies first. Is this possible with an oven toaster? (Tessa Aquino of Bulacan)

Adoree: Hi, Tessa. Thanks for writing us. Actually, I’ve been asked that question a lot of times before. There are some items which can be baked using an oven toaster, just limit the items you will be baking to cookies, bars and pies. You have to bake them in smaller sizes though. For cookies, just scoop half a teaspoon to about a teaspoon of the dough on a tray. For pies, make individual sized ones. In these cases, since the heat of oven toaster is quite near the item, you will not easily burn them. You should also watch the item carefully while inside the oven toaster to avoid over-browning or worst, burning the item. Good luck, Tessa.

Jun Jun: Hi Tessa. Please get yourself an oven to bake a regular size cookie sheet. You will never get good results with an oven toaster since you have limited space and you will have to a keep the oven turned on for a longer time than usual. It might even cause fire in your home. An oven toaster was created to toast or heat food no longer than 10 minutes, so please take this into consideration.

Q: I have been reading your articles for more than two years now. I wonder what I can bake without the use of a mixer. Our family spends a lot of time in my parent’s house in the province and there are times when the electricity is down. Please suggest items and give tips too as to how I can bake without electricity. Thank you in advance. (Jing Pasyon of Quezon City)

Adoree: Jing, if you have a gas oven in your parent’s place, then there should be no problem. You can forgo with the mixer, just mix or beat your batter or dough manually. It will just take you longer to do the mixing but the result will be the same.

I suggest you make ‘easier’ items, like cookies, bars and pies. These items do not require you to have a mixer. They can be mixed with a wooden spoon or a wire whisk. Actually, some cookies and bars are better off if mixed manually for they come out chewy and moist, just like chocolate cookies and brownies.

Jun Jun: Use recipes with melted butter or fat that are in liquid form so that you don’t have to mix using a standing mixer. Gas ovens are readily available in all parts of the country so this will not require any electricity.

Q: I would like to ask about what to do in case the power went out or what if the gas supply went empty while I have something inside the oven? Is there a remedy? (Sydney Tieng of Caloocan)

Adoree: For power interruptions, there are really no remedies. You can just try your best to keep and maintain the heat inside the oven at the shortest possible time. But, I guess you just have to do it all over again. As for running out of gas, there should always be a stand-by so you can simply transfer the pipes and tubing and turn the oven again. Do not open the oven door so that the heat will not escape.

Jun Jun: If this happens in the last few minutes of baking, you can still make use of the residual heat in your oven. If this happens in the first 20 minutes of baking and you have to bake longer, whatever you made will just collapse and will turn into something similar to pancakes. The best method is to repeat and pray that the electricity stays.

Q: Hi, Jun Jun and Adoree. I came across your article while I was on a plane going to Boracay. I would love to be good at baking, because I like having friends over at our house. We live in a condo and I only own a four-burner gas range with an oven? Can I use that to bake cakes? My concern is the size of my oven. I think I won’t be able to bake cookies, cakes and bars if there is more than one pan. Can I bake in several layers? Help! (Josie Capinpin of Muntinlupa)

Adoree: Hi, Josie. Your friends are so lucky to have you. Your four-burner gas range can be used for baking any item. I suggest you get an oven thermometer so that you are assured the temperature is accurate.

It is also advisable to bake your items in just one layer. If you have other trays waiting, do not bake them together so you will have different layers baking at the same time. The middle rack will surely bake slower while the top one will brown faster on the outside while the inside is still unbaked. In short, they will not bake evenly. Most cookies and bars can wait, just bake them one after the other. For cakes, they have to be baked right away so plan your baking. Just divide the recipe into two and do it twice.

Jun Jun: Your small oven can bake small batches of cookies and one pan type of cakes. Cookie dough can wait. It can be kept in the chiller while waiting for a batch to bake. With regards to the cake, make sure you have just enough batter for one. Cake mixtures cannot wait for the oven and must be placed in the oven right away. Bars and brownies are not as fragile and can be done in your type of oven. Enjoy baking!

More questions? Email us at mbdining@gmail.com