A Lesson in Baking

I do not really know the reason that I started baking. I have plenty of people in my life who bake and they are good bakers. I am never at a lost for delicious home-made cakes, pies, or cookies. I have always loved being in the kitchen and I have always been a pretty good cook. But baking is something else. Baking is the marriage of art and science in the kitchen. The left brain and the right brain connecting in a manner that creates birthday cakes in the shape of cars, apple tarts, and macarons. For me baking became an outlet but not for creativity. I have plenty of creative outlets and I did not need another one. The more I baked and the better or more confident I became in my skills I realized that baking was an outlet for love. Baking encompassed my love for food, my love for learning, and my love for taking chances. It also became a way to show my love to others.

Baking someone their favorite baked good takes time, effort, and energy. To me all of these are an expression of love. The lesson I learned is that when I bake a cookie, or a brownie or a cupcake for someone I am saying to them I see you, I care about you, and I want to give you something special. My hope is that everyone who samples, buys, or eats my baked goods will know that they are an expression of love.

By Larry Woodland