Tip No: 12

This should really be Tip No. 1 because it is my most important one of all. It might not seem like an insider’s secret to you, but I promise you it is. Many people say that they don’t bake, or that they can’t bake, or that the precision required in baking is not their gig, or that baking makes them nervous. Baking needs to have its reputation overhauled! I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve made a pastry, been pretty darn proud of it, made it again, and then again and again, only to learn later that many people avoid making it because it is thought to be rife with tricks and pitfalls. I’m sure that if I had been aware of the reputed difficulty level of such treats as brioche and croissants, I might have avoided making them as well. The best thing about baking (and cooking) is that most of the time your mistakes are edible—and usually quite enjoyable!