‘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.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for your wonderfull tips and information for bakery.
Since easter, I’m following your Posts and I startet in creating 3D cakes.
My next project should be a notebook, but I need an idea, how to fix the Vertical Monitor on the horizontal cake??
Thanks in Advance
Stefanie
Can you make a rose cake
I have been following you for a while now…you have taught me so much…but you posted the video of the shopping cupcake in perfect time. Here is the result.
Awesome Donna, that cake looks great
hi Ann,
can you please make a shopkin shoppies cake.
from cookielover.
P.S if you do make the cake can you please make sara sushi.
Hi Cookielover. Check out this page: https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/shopkins-cake/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I lover your You Tube channel and I tried to make the Minecraft block cake and the emoji slushie too. The Minecraft cake did not work, but the slushie did. And it was super duper YUMMY!!!!!!!!!! thanks for posting the videos and helping me with the Yummy food!!!!! 🙂
Dear Ann,
Thank you for your amazing cake recipes and techniques, but thank you, mostly, for your generosity in sharing all your skills and knowledge – it is the mark of a true and passionate teacher! I need to ask you a huge favour – I have a three-year-old great niece who asked me if I could make her a fairy cake for her next birthday – have you any ideas or tips? I am stumped! I’ve made a fairy castle before, but not a fairy cake.
PB
Hi Patrizia, Why not do a ‘princess’ style cake and add wings (Here is a an example or two: https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/how-to-make-a-princess-cake-using-fondant/%3C/a%3E OR https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/disney-cinderella-cake/%3C/a%3E ). You could do the wings from isomalt like Elsa’s cloak in the Elsa cake (https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/frozen-elsa-cake/%3C/a%3E ) or from chocolate as in the chocolate butterflies (https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/chocolate-butterflies/%3C/a%3E ). An easy alternative would be to buy the large butterfly decorations florists use or you can get some fairy dolls that come with wings.
Eric–I totally agree. Once a quarter seems like a good deal. I need to do that more often!As for the name of the church…man, you’re good! Shn1ey̵r;thank you so much for the encouragement. It’s been wonderful to worship with you as well. I’ll definitely let you know where God leads me!
I love your show it really entertains me! I’m nine and I love your show. I am a terrible cook but you just
Make me smile every time I watch you make incredible cakes and desserts
Thanks Gracee c! We love your feedback.
Hi Ann Reardon
Im from Bahrain… I have been watching your channel on youtube and really likes your work.
I want to make a cake for my wife on her birthday but i dont have the recipe for sara lee’s Pecan Twist … Can you please make a video on it. As i have seen in your videos that you make bigger version of well know chocolates. Recently i saw your upsized cup cake.
Will be waiting for the reply and video…
Thankyou.
Hi Musab Khalid, Ann doesn’t have a tutorial for that dessert at the present. Here is a similar one that you could adapt. Try the Nutella Star recipe from this tutorial, but perhaps change the filling to something more like the dessert you have in mind.
Hi I am attempting to make your lightning mcqueen cake for my son’s 4th birthday this weekend and just wanted to ask what you used for the syrup you sprayed the cakes with?
Hi Vicky, simple syrup is made from equal parts sugar and water heated until the sugar is melted.
I love wathching your videos
Thanks for the feedback Montanta.
How do you know what cake to do each week? I watch you every day and your the best.
Thanks, Charlotte
Hi Charlotte, Ann spends time coming up with ideas, experimenting and then of course baking! She alternates the type of recipe she puts up each week. Thanks for watching!
Do you know who is the winner for Gravity Defying cake ?
what type of chocolate is compound and where can you find it at?
Hi Fancheska, Check out this link where Ann answers your question and many other questions regarding chocolate: https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/temper-chocolate/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
My 8 year old daughter, Alice, loves your site Andover the last year has watched everything you have posted. Today is my birthday and, inspired by what she has seen on your channel she has created me an amazing chocolate birthday cake. Thank you for bringing her passion alive x
Hi Linsey Scott, That is amazing to hear. Thanks for posting the pic and send our congratulations to your daughther. She did a fabulous job.
Hi Ann!
I was wondering what do you do after you finish making your cakes,,,
Do you sell them or eat them with your family/friends!?
Best Regards from:WassabiTaco
Hi WassabiTaco, Sometimes, Ann gives them away, sometimes her family gets to enjoy them. It all depends what it is.
Hello Ann,
First , I want to say , i am a huge fan , and wondered , what if you can give me ideas for like a checkerboard cake and a good way to like make it look on the outside.
Thanks and Love you ,
Adriana
Hi there Ann first of all I’m a huge fan
I’ve just started to set up my own blog and I just have a few questions :
In regards to characters e.g spiderman, scooby doo etc. What can I put on my blog to back me up (if this makes sense haha)
Is there any chance in the future you could do a detailed blog video showing you’re tips tricks dos and donts ?
Kind regards
Jack Webster
Hi Jack, Using commercial characters requires the appropriate permissions from the company that has copyright on them. You will need to contact the individual company for more information.
Hi Ann,
I really love your YouTube channel, it’s so inspiring and informative. They’re creative and new. I would really like to see a video on how to make a giant Coffee Crisp. It’s my favourite chocolate bar and I love the other giant chocolate bar series.
Hi Ann
I got some Russian piping tips and try to work it , I need to make butter cream harder, and I can’t find a good recipe .did you try this tip yet. What is a good butter cream recipe?
Hi Annoosheh, Here are some great buttercream recipes: https://wellness-wave1.news/public_html/buttercream-cupcake-frosting-recipes/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
dear ann,
they do not sell compound chocolate in England and I dont have a microwave to temper real chocolate. ive tried doing the things in the chocolate secrets video but that was too hard for me
Hi Bengisu, Compound chocolate can be readily found in supermarkets in the Uk. It isn’t always called compound chocolate though. Sometimes it is called chocolate or cooking chocolate, just check the ingredients so you know whether it is real or fake chocolate.