I grew up on a farm, not a big farm. We had a barn stacked high with hay. We had a big garden. We had 16 acres of alfalfa. We had cows we fattened up so we would have meat in the winter. When you live on a farm you do a lot of baking. You don't buy cookies or cakes at the store. You use the bare ingredients and make them yourself.
The creation of cookies takes preparation, time, and attention to detail.
It takes preparation. You have to have all the ingredients. In the beginning, the list of ingredients to buy is extensive, but after you have made a batch or two, most of the ingredients are sitting in the pantry waiting to be mixed.
It takes time to mix it all together, to wait for it to cook and to clean up the enormous mess that always ensues.
It takes attention to detail. You can't miss any direction on the recipe. You must use all the ingredients, you must have the correct measurements and the correct cooking time. There have been numerous times when I forgot one tiny teaspoon of baking soda in my cookies and they looked more like pancakes than cookies. These mistakes help you to begin to understand the role of each ingredient.
Some people are so adept at baking they no longer need a recipe. They know how everything works together. They know how flavors complement each other and can create without instruction. I am not one of those people. I need step-by-step instructions. Without them, I feel overwhelmed and lost.
Not everyone can bake. My husband doesn't bake well. Instructions and exact measurements are not his strong suit, but he is a great cook. He can put 5 random items together and make an amazing meal with no instructions at all while I am lost without my step-by-step plan.
Sometimes life is like cookies. We are given a set of circumstances and have to put them together just right to make it all work, to make it taste appetizing and not fall apart when the heat is added. Most of the time, we don't have a recipe. Most of the time we don't have instructions. We can only use our experience and the experience of others to hope that these ingredients turn into something enjoyable.
When my life ingredients become unexpected or difficult, I have to turn the unknown into a plan. Sometimes I make doable lists that I know I can accomplish. Each time I check an item off of the list, I feel like I am adding an important ingredient that will make my cookies better. Sometimes I work hard to control everything I can control so the unknown and scary ingredients don't overwhelm me.
I can't be like those amazing bakers who, with their extensive knowledge of ingredients, know how to make cakes and pies without recipes. I can know myself to the extent that I know how I must maneuver around the unexpected surprises that try to mess up my recipe.
I know I like peace. I know I like order. I know I like cleanliness. I also like to avoid conflict and pain and will often turn my eyes from it and focus on things that will either distract me or make me feel good. I spent a lot of time watching television when I was battling cancer and in the early days of MS. It was easier to escape into someone else's story than try dealing with mine. I dealt with my own ingredients in small increments. I would take on a little at a time. At the point when I was weary and overwhelmed, I would escape and rest from the battle.
We can't make cookies everyday. The ingredients will run out quickly and that is simply too many cookies to eat. We make them once in a while. They are a special treat. We pull out the recipe, find the ingredients, measure carefully, mix, then bake. The more time and attention we give to the process the better the cookies.
Whatever ingredients you are dealt today, find a way to make some good cookies. Find a way to measure out the pieces that make you whole and happy. Find the ingredients that will give you a treat and will bring peace and joy to your day.
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