Easy Pastry Baking

Just about every person who has ever entered the kitchen has wished for some easy pastry baking methods at one point or another. In fact, it is such a common desire that there is a large branch of the food industry devoted to solving exactly this dilemma. But what are some of the methods available for easy pastry baking? Well, the next time you are in the mood for some pastry, try these methods to see if they help make things just a little easier.

• Use premade mixes. Since the cooking industry has taken such an interest in helping people make this a reality, why not take advantage of it? Purchasing and using ready to use pastry shells or premade mixes can save a lot of time and frustration. While it may seem a little bit like cheating to use such methods, no one will really know if you adjust the recipes just a little to make them your own. In fact, many companies make their premade mixes as plain as possible to allow you to do exactly this.
• Read the directions. Whenever you are trying a new pastry recipe, the very first thing that you should do is read the recipe. This rule of thumb goes no matter if you are reading the directions for a premade mix, or are reading the directions from a cook book. By taking the time to read the directions thoroughly, and familiarizing yourself with its order, you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle.
• Easy recipes. There are easy pastry baking recipes all over the place, and most of them work. You can find some recipes on the back of such things as Tenderflake, Crisco, or just about any muffin mix in existence. Most of these recipes that you have seen in such places are exceptionally easy to follow, and all will produce some great tasting pastries. Look around for other great sources of easy recipes. Some of the best resources that you could use are your friends and family. Whenever you come across a great tasting recipe, ask for a copy of it and play around with it.
• Experiment. The single best way to accomplish some easy pastry baking is to experiment. Mess around in the kitchen, combine and try new recipes, and see what works for you. IF you come across a good recipe, play around with it a bit to make it your own, and see if there is any way that you can improve it at all. The key to becoming a good cook is to, in the words of the immortal Julia Child, "Never show any fear."