Getting Ready to Bake

 I've learned that every step and its order counts too.. it will make the difference in the outcome of your bread. Here is what I learned!

1. Always pre-heat oven. Simple huh? well to all of us out there who finish mixing, then puts pan in oven and THEN turns ON the oven.. this is for you!! You'll wait longer if you don't pre-heat. The bread will be cooked unevenly.   When the idea comes to you.. and you say I'm going to make a cake, get up and turn on the oven :)
2. Prepare your baking pans.  Choose on of the following:

• butter - spread evenly with hands, please don't use paper towels or napkins to spread you will take part of the coating if you do, your bread might stick to pan.
• cake release- Wilton sells this, its a coating that you apply to pan with a brush follow directions on bottle.
• Spray butter- or how we all like to call it PAM! (or any imitation brand will do) A very fast and easy to do just spray evenly and let it sit. (This is the one I prefer)

3.   Last but not least.. Have your recipe (or box recipe) ingredients and utensils ready  and you are ready to mix!!

4.   When done mixing, pour the mix into pan, always fill half way. If you over fill you will create a sticky situation inside your oven.  When the mix starts to rise it will spill in chunks and the bread is ruined, we really don't want that do we? I learned  my lesson!! (yes it happened to me)  Don't open the oven to check on cake for the first 20min.. it will cause heat to escape, the first 20 minutes are very important.

5.  When bread is done allow it to cool in pans for a good 20minutes or more. Best if left to decorate for the following day.  If you try to take bread out right away it will crack and or brake in pieces.

GOOD LUCK!