why i bake

there is laundry to do and a house to clean and news releases to be written and what am i doing?

i am searching furiously for a good how-to on sugar cookies and piping and flooding royal icing. i bake when there is a lot going on. a habit i picked up in college.

when there is a lot to do, i look for something to bake. cooking and baking have this complete start-stop. beginning, middle, end. at first they are ingredients, then there are lots of steps, and then there is a nice result at the end.

when a cookie is made or a cupcake is frosted, you can’t go back. you can’t undo and restart. you can’t analyze it further or re-write it better.

when i am baking i am alone. with written instructions that don’t talk back or make other suggestions or tell me i am wrong. there is no one to impress. this sounds heartless but some people are energized by being around a big group. i am energized by being alone.

when i am done, i don’t have to turn my baked goods in anywhere. anyone who gets them is pleasantly surprised, rather than expectant, as with the nature of work. and if i messed them up? fine. no one knew they were coming anyway.

i get a renewed sense of confidence. somehow, i think that if i could make these cookies well, i surely can plan an event or be a good friend/mom/wife. i can quickly and efficiently show myself i can actually do something. well.

that is why i bake.

here are some of my favorite baked things:

olivia’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

chocolate chip cheesecake brownies

classic crumb cake

peanut butter cookie pie

cream cheese pound cake with blackberry sauce

flourless chocolate cake with chocolate ganache

chocolate-dipped cupcakes

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