Oh, the joy of baking cakes!
It’s rather a big deal, hearing this from a girl who freaks out at the very idea of cooking. I’m a person with a miniscule appetite; I eat to live as compared to some of my friends who live to eat. I’d happily go without meals if I had the option. It’s not like I’m totally uninterested in food … it’s more like I don’t see the point of investing so much time, thought and energy (yes, I firmly believe I lose more energy than I gain each time) in eating three square meals a day. Cooking three square meals a day and then eating them sounds infinitely worse. What will I do when I’m living on my own, you ask? I’ll hire a cook, or eat out every single day. Or make plain dal and rice every evening (yes, that is something which I simply pine for when I stay in my hostel).
However. Have I told you my mother makes the most amazing cakes ever? Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, banana … you name it. All in shapes of butterflies and hearts and squares (now that’s what I call a square meal!) and oh, so divine! I assist her sometimes. Milk and flour, butter and sugar, add a couple of eggs, pop it in the oven – and voila! Who could imagine something so incredibly tasty coming out? It’s almost miraculous … watching the batter in the oven swell up so beautifully, and the aroma … ah! Vanilla essence is knee-weakeningly enticing.
When your cake is ready, all soft and warm from the oven … and you take it out … there’s this indescribable soaring joy – yes, I did this. I created this! And then you take your first bite, sinking your teeth in … a slice of heaven, if you will. You close your eyes and let all your senses focus on the delicious taste. No sight, no sound … just the ‘ummm-yummy!’ taste and the lingering scent. After you’ve had a piece … and a couple more, for good measure … you offer a bit to someone else. And watch the pure unadulterated happiness on their face. As they eat, and smack their lips and go, can I have some more? And you feel a gratifying sense of achievement – wow, I did that. I put that smile on their face. I made someone’s day!
And that’s what’s making me re-think my stance. Maybe I’ll enjoy cooking as well some day? Maybe my baking high can extend to a more-encompassing cooking high? Not thrice a day, that would be too monotonous. But once in a while? Maybe my hired cook can get a day off every week. Hmmm …too ambitious. Make that once a fortnight.
So I’m probably not raring to be a homemaker. But at least there’s a non-zero probability now. 🙂
Sunlit Prism 