Every once in a while, I meet an amazing person that inspires... well, sheer jealousy. And Charlotte is one of those people. She is a feminist, youtube sensation, seamstress, bass player, and all around adorable human being. Oh WAIT, did I mention she's 14? She blogs at MonChatDansLaLune and I am honored that she is our Baker Babe today. So happy introduce all of you to her... Charlotte, everyone. Everyone, Charlotte.
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Name: Charlotte
Occupation: Seamstress, and Bass Player in The Lonely Parade
Dream Occupation: a Musician, or a Film Director
Age: 14
What was your earliest memory about baking?
When I was really young, my mum and my grandma and I would bake cookies, and my grandma let me eat some of the raw cookie batter. Such a treat!
Howd'ja Start Baking?
I started baking with my mum when I was really young (mainly cookies or brownies), but I started baking on my own when I wanted something really yummy to eat but also wanted to satisfaction of having made it myself. When I was younger, I also used to serve tea at a Museum, and on occasion when they ran low on scones and oatcakes, I would always lend a hand.
When you picture "a baker", what do you see?
Honestly, I usually think of Wallace, Gromit, and Piella the Bake-O-Lite Girl, from the Wallace and Gromit movie, 'A Matter of Loaf and Death'! Aside from that, I picture someone in a warm little cottage, with flour all over their apron, baking an array of delicious things for their friends and family.
What qualities or skills does it take to be a baker?
For me, it takes a lot of patience! It's really hard for me to have to work on something for a long period of time. I like having things done instantaneously, so having to work to make something to mix properly, or even waiting for it to finish baking, is really hard.
What is the biggest baking FAIL you ever had?
Oho... :) One afternoon a couple of years ago, I was trying to bake the scones we used to bake at the Museum, and I accidentally substituted salt for sugar, so to try and make it better, I had to dump about 3 times as much sugar in to the mixture. They tasted awful! Another extreme failure was last year, when my friends and I were having a giant birthday party for all of our favourite band members, so we had to make a cake. Instead of putting icing sugar in the icing, we accidentally put regular white sugar, so the icing was crunchy! It was so weird :P
How do you feel about Martha Stewart?
Well. I'm not quite sure. Martha Stewart really doesn't cater to my demographic, and I've never really looked up to her for crafting or baking ideas. Aside from the odd cookie recipe, I've never really had much to do with her.
Tell me something random most people don't already know:
Instead of going to the mall, or thinking about boys and makeup like most normal teenagers, I make short movies and music videos with dolls! I have eight 18 inch American Girl Dolls that I use for the movies. I also have a very nice (cough cough) Canon Rebel T3 that I use for filming, that I bought with my own money, by sewing and selling doll clothes on my Etsy shop.
If you had to be an ingredient in a recipe, what would you be?
I think I'd probably be flour. It's pretty essential in baking as far as I know, and I like being needed. I like holding things together, which is probably why I like being the Bass Player!
Would you share your all time favourite recipe with us?
YES! One of my ABSOLUTE favourite things to eat is Shortbread and I have a really fricken easy recipe for it! Just be warned, it's very rich and addictive!
Really Fricken Easy Shortbread:
1 Cup Cornstarch
1 Cup Icing Sugar
2 Cups Flour
1 1/2 Cups Butter (room temperature)
Mix together dry ingredients, then mix the butter in using a pastry cutter, then once all the ingredients are combined and look crumbly, cream the mixture with a wooden spoon. Smoosh it until it is basically one ball, then press it into a 9x9inch baking pan (no need to grease it!) Bake it at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. When it is done baking, let it cool for 10 minutes, then cut it in to squares. Then let it cool completely and flip the shortbread on to a baking rack.
Then you may eat it.
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Thank you Charlotte for everything! I'm so glad the internet introduced us.
If you're interested in becoming a Baker Babe (or you emailed me and I forgot to get back to you) drop me a line. I would love it!
I am also looking for "This One Thing I Really Love About My Body" submissions. I want those too!
xoxoxo
I am also looking for "This One Thing I Really Love About My Body" submissions. I want those too!
xoxoxo
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