So, I need to bake some cakes on holiday!

[herbaltea]

I'm coming out to PP for the first time ever at the end of the week - can't wait. I have a daughter with a nut allergy so have to be very careful when giving her any food - as a precaution I was thinking of baking my own chocolate muffins (I think this will be easier than trying to establish with any certainty whether shop-bought/bakery or restaurant cakes contain nuts or any possible traces.)

We are self-catering in Llenaire and the kitchen has a proper oven so I just need to know how easy it will be to buy the ingredients. So I guess I will be looking for bicarbonate of soda/baking powder, plain flour, self-raising flour, cocoa powder and chocolate chips (am assuming that getting hold of eggs will be easy!) I can bring stuff if necessary but if stuff is easy enough to source then it would save me the hassle!

I have already printed out a translation of "my daughter is allergic to ALL nuts and pine nuts. Could you please tell me whether this dish could contain any nuts or possible traces, thanks" I suppose I should also print one out that says "my daughter is allergic to all nuts is it OK just for her to eat her own nut-free cake in your cafe?"

It is the first time we have travelled abroad with her and I am a little nervous to say the least! I also note that almonds feature in Majorcan cuisine.

[Belladonna]

Firstly, you have chosen a lovely area to base your holiday!

I think you are wise to bake your own actually, as you are perfectly correct in thinking that nuts make up a huge part of Mallorcan cookery, and you could never be sure that some are not just "drifting around" within the restaurant kitchen even if the dish does not say it contains nuts.

The mallorcans love to cook so I can't see any problem with getting any cooking ingredients in the local supermarkets - a quick drive down the bypass and you are at a large one. Take a little time to do the translations of what you actually want so you can read it on the shelves though! Happy cooking and happy holiday!

[usandthewoof]

Firstly, I have to agree with BD, it is a lovely area and am sure you will have a great time.

As for the baking, it is very difficult to find Spaniah self raising flour (dare I say impossible) but you can get Homepride self raising flour in the BFS. Alternatively, just buy regular flour (harina de trigo) in Eroski and add levadura (raising agent). Cocoa, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce and icing sugar are all available in Eroski too. I have been baking cakes here for months now and always use regular flour and levadura and the sponge is always light and moist.

If you use specific silicone muffin trays they are difficult to find here but you can get the regular metal tins quite easily in the ferreteria.

Happy baking

[herbaltea]

Thanks! Looks like I'll be heading to Eroski then. Glad to have confirmation that we've picked a good place to stay too! Just one other question, what is the Ferreteria?

[debz1]

Herbaltea a Ferreteria is a hardware shop and they are great for browsing around for all things DIY and kitchen bits and bobs.

Never managed to find a ferret in one 'tho

[Sparky]

Hi Herbaltea you can also buy baking utensils in the Chinese shops at a lower cost and as i assume you won't want to take them home with you this might be an option.