Baking Tip of the Week - Learning to Bake and Recipes to Start with

I started baking when I was living at home and attending University. My mother worked fulltime and I started baking desserts when she was having friends over for dinner. It was something I enjoyed and as I understood the science of baking my skills improved.
When learning to bake, start with simple recipes that you can make mixing most of the ingredients in a bowl.
I have a few tips for baking:
baking takes time and requires concentration
set the oven to the correct temperature
use the correct tin size
start with your ingredients at room temperature
bake on the middle shelf of the oven and bake biscuits in batches rather than use the bottom shelf if the middle shelf is full
cream your butter and sugar until pale and fluffy
if the recipe requires you to mix sugar and eggs, beat them until they have doubled in size, then carefully fold in the remaining ingredients so that you keep that volume
when making mousse or a semi freddo, beat the sugar and egg yolks well - your dessert won't taste of raw egg

When learning to bake I suggest you start with something easy like a tray bake and progress from there:
Chocolate tray bake biscuits
Chocolate and Shortcake Bark
then try some muffins
Jam Muffins
a carrot cake
Carrot Cake
a banana loaf
Banana Bread
brownies
Brownies
No bake cakes
Chocolate and Ginger Dessert Cake
Chocolate Cheese Cake
a single layer moist cake
Honey and Apple Cake
cupcakes
Coffee cupcakes
an iced loaf cake
Chocolate Loaf
a sponge cake
Coffee and Pecan Cake

But most of all have fun! As your confidence grows, challenge yourself with increasingly difficulty recipe. Bake what you and your family enjoy eating and teach your children to bake if they show and interest.