Baking is my act of self-care. There are so many distractions in life, but with baking, I can focus on one thing for a period of time and create something delightful. I’ll admit that it hasn’t been all perfectly shaped cookies, so I figured I would share a few of the lessons I’ve picked up so far.
Read the recipe, repeatedly.
Seriously. I consider this part of my learning process. Even experienced bakers read recipes. Maybe one day I will experiment, but for now, it’s recipes for me!
Before you start baking
Use this as an opportunity to take inventory of the ingredients and tools you have. Are you running low on flour? Are all the necessary measuring cups clean? It’s a nuisance to discover something is missing while in the middle of baking. Reading the recipe in advance gives me a chance to figure out if I need to make substitutions or start baking sooner rather than later if the recipe has multiple parts.
During the baking process
I find checking the recipe every so often helps me stay on track. Some recipes also include tips to guide you through certain steps. Those can come in handy if you’re new to a cooking technique, like separating egg whites or proofing yeast.
Failing is a part of the process.
Sometimes things don’t work out even with a lot of planning. I’m still getting used to this and learning to laugh at it. You may be able to turn it all around if your mind isn’t already clouded with defeat.
Wash dishes as you go.
Cleaning up after baking is my least favorite thing to do. As a result, I wash dishes as I work through a recipe. This allows me to reuse dishes while baking and in the end; my tiny sink isn’t crowded with dishes. Now with the cleanup process under control, I can spend more time blogging.
Storied Eats 