You can make exactly what the recipe calls for, or you can make a big batch of self rising flour and keep it in an airtight container in the pantry. Make sure your ingredients are fresh. It's important that the baking powder isn't expired because then the flour will not help your recipes rise. You can make self rising flour with whole wheat flour too! To make that, substitute all purpose flour for whole wheat flour. 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder and salt as you would for all purpose flour.