I don't have a lot of time, so I tend to use mixes when I have a lot of cooking to do. This is one of the best I've found - cheap, easy to use, and is almost fool proof.

All you need is water, an egg and the mix, along with a cake tin or cake cases to cook it in. If you use a mixer and follow the instructions, you can have the mix done and in the oven in less than ten minutes. You don't even need an electric mixer: Although it is the easiest way to make it, the mix is simple enough that it can be used without one as the majority of the work has already been done. Before buying my mixer I could make this one by hand, allowing twenty minutes to half an hour to mix and get the lumps out.

This is a basic sponge mix and can be used in a number of ways. Although it is meant to make a sponge cake, I tend to use it for fairy cakes. The only change needed is to put the mixture into cake cases instead of baking it in a tin and you can get 12-18 out of a packet depending on the case size. These make a nice cheap addition to a lunch box and can keep for several days in airtight storage. It can also be used for trifle sponges.

When they say the mix is foolproof, it also makes it easy to experiment with flavoured cakes. I've made lemon, chocolate and coffee flavours successfully. Because the mix is so cheap and quick to make, if something goes wrong you haven't wasted a lot of time and money.

The only problem I have had is that it occassionally comes out a bit dry. I found using a large egg instead of medium, or adding a desert spoon of milk instead of the same amount of water can solve this.

The best thing about the mix is the price - under 30p for eighteen fairy cakes or a sponge cake is a very good buy. If you consider the cost of flavoured cakes this is an even better buy.

Since it is so easy to use, it can also act as a good introduction to baking for younger or less-confident cooks. Overall, this is a cheap and easy way to make a sponge cake which is just about foolproof.