The obedient cook

I spent my evening making Oatmeal cookies with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. I filled the cookie jar for the family, and enjoyed a few when they were still oven hot and soft. The rest I'll be delivering to clients tomorrow. There's something very grounding about baking. I love the precision of it, the exact mix of ingredients and the right temperature for the right amount of time, et voila, deliciousness.

Generally, I'm not a color inside the lines person, but when I cook, I enjoy that. I tend to overthink everything, and following a recipe frees me from that. I get the chance to step out of my head and into my senses. I can see and taste when the cup of butter and the cup of brown sugar have been mixed to just the right consistency. I'm so in the moment that I know if I'm adding the oatmeal and flour at just the right pace. I trust my senses and actions, and if the dish doesn't turn out right, I know it's the recipe and not me. I've burned a dish or two over the years, but for the most part, when I follow the directions, the eating is good. I admire creative cooks who can stand before an open pantry and come up with new dishes and entire meals, but that's just not one of my talents. I've tried it, and the stress is just more than I want, so I follow the route that lets my creative energy flow to where it's best suited.

I like discovering my own directions for my life and for how I spend my time. I like the unexpected turns I find when I write. I like how I surprise people who think they have my personality pegged. Following directions in the kitchen gives me a little more mental energy to do those things. I'll appreciate those moments of just being and following in the kitchen and enjoy a bit of consistency in the results. I think if I did that anywhere else though, I'd get terribly bored, but it's nice to know that I do have this bit of balance.