Normally, a very private person, I wouldn’t even consider posting bits of my private life on the Internet for everyone to ogle. But, my therapist thinks that ‘blogging’ would be very therapeutic for me so I am giving it a go – starting with something very personal to me, but not so private that it will feel invasive to share.
Some people pray. Some meditate. Some watch TV or play endless hours of video games. Some use drugs or alcohol. I bake to relax and center myself.
I’m serious. Baking is not just a way for me to pump out tasty morsels to die for, it has become a religious experience for me. I light a couple of spice scented candles – vanilla, cinnamon, apple, etc., put them on either side of the counter I’ll be working on and then I go about gathering the ingredients I’ll need.
I rarely follow a recipe, although I do keep track of the ingredients I use in case something turns out exceptionally well and I might want to recreate it exactly at another time, or pass it on to someone
Once everything is baking, I make myself something good to drink. To counter the crisp, cold weather outside today, that translated into a nice cup of French Pressed Coffee. Then I kick back at the kitchen table, read my electronic copy of the NY Times, and work on some of the interactive puzzles of the day.
Today I made Blueberry Muffins that turned out perfect!
Blueberry Muffins
| Mixed-Berry Muffins
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease muffin pan. Mix the flours, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the egg, milk, and butter, stirring only enough to dampen the flour (batter should not be smooth). Add the berries and almonds and mix lightly. Spoon batter into the muffin pan, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Sprinkle a bit of sugar over the top (I use organic sugar, but turbinado would also be nice). Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. |
Jewels
