The Stress of Baking

Today, let us discuss STRESS BAKING – currently a highlight of how I spend my free time!

My stress is greatly reduced by not teaching full time and by not having to jump through whatever ridiculous hoops the educational system has in store for us next, but I am still dealing with a divorce which has been bumpy for several reasons, a co-parent who has moved back to Alaska, and solo parenting a kid who has gotten a bit more liberal with the gender binary than many people are comfortable with.

All of which cause stress. And the urge to build a blanket fort and hide for the next few years, but whatever.

And stress and being home effectively alone after the kiddo is in bed means BAKING.

I’ve made a lot of cookies.

A truly ridiculous amount of cookies.

In the past month or so, I’ve made at least three batches of cookies, two loaves of bread, four batches of muffins, a double batch of waffles for the freezer, pancakes, 30 minute yeast rolls, cabbage burgers, breakfast pizza pockets, and who knows what else.

Admittedly, two of the batches of muffins didn’t turn out/tasted yuck, and the rolls, cabbage burgers, pizza pockets, and pancakes were all for dinners.

But I only decided that after I made them.

There is something soothing about baking. Following a recipe, adding ingredients, watching Bertha (my KitchenAid mixer) whisk yeast and sugar and water together.

Kneading dough is therapeutic. Watching butter and sugar cream together is meditative. Eating cookie dough is just a good way to handle ridiculous days.

I think it’s the magic of baking, too. Yeast and sugar and water makes foam after a few minutes. Leave a covered pan of rolls on the counter and when you check on them, they’ve grown to twice their size.

Maybe I just like the feel of bread dough in my hands. Or cookie dough on my lips.

I bake because then I don’t have to think. I bake because life is expensive. I bake because cookies are delicious.

What are your stress hobbies?