My mother was the person who first taught me how to bake, a skill I built a career on. Although my subsequent training in a professional setting involved much larger quantities, the things my mother taught me still held true: measure the ingredients carefully (then double check), use the correct mixing method and trust your senses rather than a timer when determining when something is cooked. If you want your children to have an interest in cooking, start them off with something they like, which typically involves sweets.
Rolled sugar biscuits (pictured)
This recipe is based on one in Rose's Christmas Cookies by Rose Levy Beranbaum. Cookie cutters are inexpensive and come in shapes to suit all occasions. Place similarly sized biscuits together on one tray, thus ensuring they all bake for the same amount of time. Cool them completely before icing.
170 grams unsalted butter, slightly softened
120 grams granulated sugar
? tsp salt
Finely grated zest of one lemon
