I always consider a ‘kitchen’ to be a battlefield of sorts. A physical and emotional field where there are techniques, strategies, conflicts, planning and rationing, (pain too) where you emerge victorious or down right defeated. As terrifying (and exaggerated) as that sounds, there is a section in this battlefield that evokes joy in me, and that section is where the ‘oven’ is kept. Experimenting with that weapon or in simple words, ‘baking’ is what invites me to voluntarily and wholeheartedly enter that zone.
Baking has always been intriguing for me. I am not sure if it is because I have enthusiastically seen my mum bake cakes when I was young and even tried baking it with her help, or the fact that baking leads to instant gratification when done precisely (if only life worked the same way), I’ve always fancied it. I remember there was a point where I would push off cooking as much as I can, out of my life, but not treat baking the same way! While I can’t completely do away with cooking now, baking still remains my favourite child. Though some may classify baking as a subset of cooking, I don’t completely agree with it. It has its uniqueness and distinction. I consider it to be a wonderful culmination of science and art.
The amount of science involved in baking, right from the proportions of ingredients taken to the type of reaction each ingredient yields when combined is incredible! The process involves methodical precision and care, as a misstep can be catastrophic. Unlike cooking where customization can be done at any stage to mend mistakes or maybe change the technique as you go, baking is something where the possibility of pulling your hair out of frustration, of messing it up, doesn’t happen till the very end. It is like a strict art form where you have a set of instructions and techniques that are to be followed with precision and dedication.
Baked food has a wide scope to appeal to your olfactory and visual senses: a pleasing artwork! The level of creativity you can bring in terms of decoration and presentation are plenty. I am sure you have watched master chefs and bakers on tv, create intricately designed complex treats, and be completely awed by them. That’s art!
There is something about baking that is mentally rewarding. The more you get involved and study deeper about baking, you’ll understand the science behind it; and its elaborateness will keep you engrossed and concentrated like a scientist working on a breakthrough experiment. The process lets you concentrate and your mind is completely involved in it, free of negative thoughts and worries. The working of yeast and its magic can make me patiently stare at the bowl waiting for tiny clouds to explode when it is combined with warm water. Just how children fancy bubbles, I fancy the tiny bubbles in that bowl. Similarly, the act of deceiving twins, ‘baking powder’ and ‘baking soda’, have showcased their different properties in disastrous ways during my baking adventures, but have made me learn and accept them for who they are. (Did I just personify my baking ingredients?).
As strange as it sounds, from my personal experience I have observed how the food you cook reflects your state of mind. Food that is cooked as an obligation to yourself or others vs food cooked out of love and dedication tastes different! The latter is sure to satiate souls! Since, there is no way other than precision and wholeheartedness while baking, the latter approach is the only way to do it.
Baking can be categorized as a hobby too. Since, any form of activity done for pleasure in your leisure time is termed as a hobby, baking definitely qualifies as one. Though it involves work, it is a form of learning and it alleviates stress. It makes me cheerful! In my baking endeavours, I have always stuck to my safe zone and worked with my comfortable elements. If I did venture out to the unknown, it was usually rare and in a calculated slow pace; but thanks to the lockdown, my boundaries are pushed and experimentation has been at its peak. Mistakes have only led to a confidence surge and an urge to experiment further. Next time I hear quotes on working hard and persevering, I am not going to relate it to life goals and achievements. I am going to look at it through a baker’s eye. An eye so keen; an eye so enthusiastic; “Let’s look in the oven, shall we? My perseverance sure smells good.”
