Here are the Basics for baking that still apply today.

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Baking Basics Read the entire recipe before you begin to be sure you have all the necessary ingredients and utensils. Remove butter, margarine and cream cheese from the refrigerator to soften, if necessary. Adjust oven racks and preheat the oven. Check oven temperature with an oven thermometer to make sure the temperature is accurate. Toast and chop nuts and melt butter and chocolate before preparing the batter or dough. Always use the pan size suggested in the recipe. Prepare pans as directed. Choose cookie sheets that fit in your oven with at least 1 inch on all sides between the edge of the sheet and the oven wall. Grease cookie sheets only when the recipe recommends it; otherwise, the cookies may spread too much. Measure the ingredients accurately and assemble them in the order they are listed in the recipe. When baking more than one sheet of cookies at a time, it’s best to rotate them for even baking. Halfway through the baking time, rotate the cookie sheets from front to back as well as from top rack to bottom rack. Always check for doneness at the minimum baking time given in the recipe.