Hiding fandom in the underwear drawer since 1977

There are some super smart, savvy folks who are aggregating useful info about DW and how to make it a little more like Tumblr.  I saw the other day that  branchandroot had some things about mobility sites and I saw a g-doc go by on Twitter and then umadoshi  went and put together a handy set of tabs and links.  Also this super helpful comm from two people I've been following for awhile fictional_fans 

In other news, my niece attempted to bake a cake over the weekend and I got frantic texts about 7 inch cakes pans (seriously, who has a 7 inch cake pan much less 2?) and her discovery that substituting coconut oil for butter will result in things tasting like coconut (SURPRISE) and that in fact that "sugar in the raw" is not substitutable for icing/confectioners sugar.  I'm trying to figure out a way to put together a baking box for her for Christmas without spending a fortune.  If you were advising a beginning baker who has NO equipment, what do you think she needs (forgive the American measurements)?

My essential list which is a list of some things to buy and some things I can give her

• electronic scale in grams and ounces (this is the high ticket item but when you think about it, is cheaper than buying measuring spoons and cups and it's a really good discipline)
• parchment paper
• one cupcake pan (I have 4 and can give her one)
• Rimless cookie sheet (I really don't want to part with one of my four but maybe I should... oh gawd no I can't)
• 2 8 inch round pans
• 1 8 inch square pan 
• 1 13X9X2 pan ( have 4... maybe I can give her the older one that isn't too gross)
• small loaf pan
• handheld mixer (I have an extra)
• Print outs of easy recipes with my handwritten notes on them.

I'd love to give her some basic spice ingredients, too, but getting good quality is expensive and I mean, I've got nielsen massey vanilla bean paste on my Xmas list).  I"m really torn about the pans.  You need good pans and I just don't like the idea of spending money on stuff that warps.  OTOH she doesn't need the higher quality stuff and buying all this can get expensive too.

I've got a number of quarter and half sheet pans I'd be happy to part with but I find I don't actually use them because their sizes are not super convenient for what I do and they have rims, so I don't use them for cookies and they aren't deep enough for cookie bars/brownies.

I thought about giving her baking book  -- Rose has a new baking basics book, but I think some personally culled recipes picked for their ease makes more sense.  She would need the book for how tos and understanding but I doubt she'd sit down and read a baking book the way I would and thsoe books can get SO emphatic.  (BTW, I did the apple walnut cake recipe that's provided for free.  It was super good and I've now managed caramel 3 times following Rose's recipes without so much as a burn.  I'm really happy about that) 

King Arthur Flour brownie (from their cookbook, not the website but this is close)
Alton Brown Chewy Chocolate Chip
Better Homes and Garden Quick Bread (can be modified orange, lemon, tangerine, omit poppy seeds)
King Arthur classic one pan chocolate cake
Basic no-knead bread
Classic carrot cake with cream cheese frosting (no particular recipe in mind; I'm going from memory of what I used to bake back in the 70s)

It is BANNED BOOKS WEEK!  go forth and be subversive!

Over the past couple of days, I have noticed an uptick in kudos over on AO3 and to a lesser extent, a number of anon and guest reviews on fanfiction.net.  So, if, after reading, you pop over here, welcome and hello and thanks so much!  If you are new and did find this and are so inclined, I'd love to know how you found me.  Is there some recent post, or a stray comment somewhere that sent you into the wallow and bottomless pit that is my rambling?  Anon commenting is enabled here so drop a line if you want to and introduce yourself if you like.

I know there's one recent rec in comments to a Susan story courtesy of therck (and thank you!).  To that end, if you have not seen it, ursulav  wrote an amazing problem of Susan story, Elegant and Fine, It is wonderful so do go check it out.  wellinghall also mentioned Ursula's story in comments an entry or two ago here, so now I am reccing it properly!

I had wondered if the uptick over on AO3 is due to a Tumblr post a new reader told me about which warned people away from my work.**  The reader looked at the stories that were recc'd, decided they were not her favorite flavor of delicious cake and decided to check out those who were condemned, meaning me, for which I am so grateful!  Huzzah for new, cool imaginary friends! So, I wondered if others might have seen the same post and come via the same circuitous route!? 

**(This isn't new.  Would-be readers have been warned away from me for years, I'm way too old for this nonsense and wasted too much hand-wringing energy on it (and yours as well gentle reader).  I like playing over here in my sandbox with my cool, imaginary friends and our yummy snacks and the teens in my life think it's hilarious.  They call me a hippie.  (yes, I hope you didn't just snort Diet Coke through the laptop at that prospect)  So, I'm not reopening that can of slimy worm bits, but was wondering if others have come via the same route.  In which case, maybe I should thank my critic, yes? 

Last, work on the final chapter of this part of the H&M story arc proceeds.  I thought it might go up this weekend, but it's  not.  Soon!  And an event that I sought to avoid last year, I have decided to embrace this year.  So, bring it on.