During my time spent in front of the mixer I've learned few lessons.
1. Make sure you're prepared.
Baking: Often times, I'll see an interesting new recipe on Pinterest and start putting ingredients into my mixer before I realize I'm fresh out of a key component. Many batches have been ruined due to my misguided enthusiasm.
Tip: Before you start, make sure you have enough flour, butter and eggs. You can make delicious pizza logs without yeast, but run low on flour and you're up the pizzeria without a dough ball!
Life: So, be prepared! Start your papers early to ensure you've gotten all the research you need.
2. The recipe doesn't always know best.
Baking: Everyone has different tastes, so what you'd imagine being a perfect sugar cookie may not match up with your neighbor's tastes. I mean, who hasn't had the chewy vs. crunchy debate with friends? So, all recipes are different!
Life: Find yourself unfulfilled in what you're "supposed" to be doing? Take a step back and take a new path! It may just be better than the first.
3. Substitutions are OK!
Baking: Do you have specialty dietary restrictions? Vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free or gluten intolerance? Maybe you're like me and never have quite exactly what you need.
Substitutions are a baker's best friend! Two cups powdered sugar for one cup granulated white sugar. Even exchange applesauce for oil!
Life: Enrolled in a class you don't like? Switch it up with one that you enjoy that fills the same credit! Life is too short to struggle through unnecessary things.
4. Sous bakers are helpful -- sometimes even necessary.
Baking: Raise your hand if you've ever made donuts from scratch! I'm proud to say I can raise my hand with this group. A bored morning and an already planned day in with my best friend ended up with us deep frying delicious balls of dough and dipping them with icing at 11 a.m. But I wouldn't have been able to pull it off without her -- trust me, I've tried. We even need the help of my younger sister when we realized the middles were still too doughy.
Life: Accept help when you need it. No one expects you to be perfect.
5. Know your limits.
Baking: If you've only been baking for a few months or so, then you may want to reconsider tackling a crème brûlée. Each baker is at a different stage of their skill development, and that's OK!
Life: People complement each other, filling in the gaps of knowledge, skill and understanding. The sooner you realize your own limits, you're able to surpass them and improve!
6. Practice makes progress.
Baking: Despite the old adage "practice makes perfect," I can promise you that it simply isn't the case when it comes to baking. You could make "the best" double-fudge chocolate chip brownies in the world, but there will always be someone who doesn't like them -- or enjoys their own recipe more. Improve against yourself, not others.
Life: It doesn't matter if the classmate next to you got a 95 percent on their exam. If your score jumped from a 75 percent to an 85 percent, then you're doing just swell!
7. No two batches are alike.
Baking: I've made cookies more times than I can count, but not once have batches come out the same each time. Some are bigger or crunchier than expected. Things just work out that way!
Life: You can study until the cows come home and you still may not get the grade you anticipated. Just roll with the punches.
8. We eat with our eyes.
Baking: To be honest, most times I'm too tired by the end of baking that I just want to eat all of the warm cookies and be done with it. But I can vouch that it will much more pleasing to plate your cookies first!
Life: Next time you want to roll out of bed and sulk to class in last night's pajamas, consider throwing on some clean clothes and see how much better you'll feel about that 8 a.m. physics class.
9. Listen to the experts.
Baking: Although my own family doesn't pass down recipes, I can only imagine how much easier my baking experience would be if I had a baking mentor to guide me through the beginner's jitters.
Life: There's always going to be someone older and more experienced than you. Sit and listen to them. You may just learn something new!
10. Enjoy your accomplishments.
Baking: There's a reason we call it a baker's dozen. Put your feet up and enjoy that extra doughnut! Besides, how do you know it tastes alright if you haven't tried one?
Life: After a long week at school or day at the office, kick back with a good book and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You deserve it!
Happy baking!
