How to make a perfect cake…..

At some point we’ve possibly all wanted to make a perfect cake, often for a special occasion, and we’ve probably made many over time and not been overly concerned about it being perfect, and it generally is great, until you really need to be!!!

So upon deciding to make this perfect cake, it’s then deciding which would be the best recipe to follow. A new one you’ve never tried before? Or good old faithful, the one that is usually consistent?

If you use the same recipe that’s gone wrong in the past why would this time be any different!

Now you’ve chosen the recipe then next you’ll need all the Ingredients. So then you’ll need to make a shopping list, and find time to go shopping. Of course considering which of the supermarkets will have all the required ingredients!! Bog standard saver range just might not deliver the best result, and this one needs to be perfect!!

Then you’ll need to find time to make it! Not forgetting to allow for the preparation, mixing and cooking time and the cooling time.

So with all that and back home, made a drink and put the ovens on (At the correct setting – checking for fan assisted time, or maybe try it in the air fryer?? Maybe not as not tried before!

Starting at the very beginning, assemble all the required ingredients, mixing bowls, spoons, spatula, sieves etc. Warm the margarine/butter, get the eggs to room temperature and hey presto – you’re ready!!

You’ll need the recipe with you while you make it so that you can follow the correct instructions, just because you’ve read it through once doesn’t mean you’re going to remember it correctly.

Often this IS the mindset that we have when deciding to begin this healthy weight loss journey. we put in all the thinking, effort, planning and preparation to begin with and guess what – we get the results we expect, want and actually deserve. However, sadly somehow this slips away!!

So here’s what tends to happen when making a perfect cake over time!!!!

When making a cake the first 2 things in the bowl are the fat and the sugar.  It didn’t say a set of spoons would be needed and usually a knife will do. [Fat is essential for a healthy diet, but is the most concentrated form of calories, so it is imperative that it is measured accurately in some way]

It says cream together, but it’s hurting so if it’s just stirred a couple of times, it should be enough. [Without essential beating/creaming the cake will not raise properly, whether or not it hurts do you want a perfect result]?

It says 4 eggs (protein) but 3 are off so only going to add 1 and going to make it up with a little more flour (carbohydrate).  [By reducing the protein and increasing the carbohydrate I’m unbalancing the recipe and altering its chances of success]

It says mix in the eggs little by little and then fold in the flour, but as there’s only 1 best to put it in together and stir it a couple more times. [By going for the quick easy option, the cake won’t rise to it’s predicted expectations]

It says skimmed milk, but many don’t like that so I’m only going to put in ½ the amount of semi skimmed milk. [That sounds familiar]

The next ingredient is water to soak the fruit, horrible stuff so going to use a little squash, or on second thought why not some diet coke in instead. [Again that sounds familiar, the water is essential to revitalise and rehydrate the fruit any other fluid does not do the same job]

Not keen on fruit? Why not leave the dried fruit out, maybe put a little more flour and a few nuts in instead, because nuts are good for you. [Again you’re changing the balance and the outcome for a successful cake]

It now says put it in a 9 inch round lined tin, but can’t find a tape measure or any baking parchment, normally use this one, it should be ok and it’s a non stick so no need to line it, just wipe a bit of fat round just to be sure. [Guesswork is an easy option but as you all know it doesn’t work]

It says cook for 1 hour at gas mark 4/180 C but time is tight and I’ve got to go out in 35 minutes so it’ll just have to be 220 C and take it out after ½ hour. [If you want the right result give it the time it needs, even if I’d followed the recipe properly, weighed and measured and not swapped ingredients if I’m not prepared to give the time it needs it won’t be right]

When you take the cake out what do you think you will get?

Will it be perfect, because you did it by the book? Where on earth did you go wrong, and it keeps happening!

But that is how so many members interpret the recipe for weight loss success over time, it’s so personalized that it actually bears no resemblance to the formula you began with. By making so many changes and returning to the habits and behaviours that were originally there. which wasn’t successful then so why will it be now?

There are a series of factors that can affect your perfect result.

Not following the recipe is one of them, not being healthily active is another and a major factor according to a recent report is the size of your portions.

So if you are not happy with the results week after week you know what you need to do!

Remember – if you always do what you always did
You’ll always get what you always got!

JACKIE AND SONYA