The art of baking crept into our lives and minds hundreds of years ago and now is one of the principal sources to calm our worries. LILA Gazette Explains. 

By El Haberman – 6th grade.

Have you ever felt that the rhythmic stirring of a whisk calms your nerves after a long day? What about the calming crack of a risen merengue? Or the satisfying wait while watching  your souffle bloom? I have! As the pandemic swept over us like a gigantic wave many of the citizens all over the world were drowned in anxiety. With all of us separated from the activities we loved, many of us clung on to our kitchens. This was the starting point of the solution to calm all our worries, baking as therapy. 

While not an official type of therapy, baking is recommended by all kinds of specialists; from psychiatrists to nutritionists. Although it became known during the rise of the pandemic, baking therapy has been around for centuries. It brings us closer to our families, friends and provides a safe space for people of all ages. Is it just a coincidence that babies love playing with play kitchens? Why do toddlers love scooping sand by the cupful in sandboxes or making messy mud pies? This is where the art of baking begins and will continue to captivate for a lifetime. Is there anything more gratifying than concocting the perfect cake or cookie? What about the aroma of a baking biscuit in the oven? Satisfaction is a key to relieve stress. When successfully baking something, others compliment your work which makes any baker gleam with pride. 

¨Baking forces us to be present in the moment, very similar to meditation. When we are completely present and focused on baking, it’s like escaping the outside world for a few hours.¨ said Dr. Yalda Safai on the website Cheryl’s Cookies. Baking offers us a type of meditation that most of us enjoy. It allows us to be calm while making something that is useful. Even the famous baker Mary Berry proves to us that baking is not just an activity you complete in your kitchen “Cooking and baking is both physical and mental therapy.¨ Is it not evident that baking can ease stress off of anyone’s mind? Every week I look forward to waking up on a sunny Saturday morning and assembling the perfect chocolate cake topped with a smooth buttercream frosting with my mom. Wouldn’t you? 

Catalina, my older sister, is quite a few years older than me and I feel that despite our age difference baking has brought us closer together. There’s more to baking than perfecting a baguette or  baking a beautiful clafouti. It is the journey that every baker has to go through when baking. Of course, you can enjoy this wonderfully challenging process by yourself but it is even more magical when sharing it with someone you love. 

For example, one early afternoon Catalina looked at me with bright eyes and said “Let’s bake!” By 5 o’clock a towering carrot cake enrobed in a light fluffy cream cheese frosting was sitting on our windowsill. Baking came to the rescue when my sister Flora was feeling tired and dreaded the busy day ahead but the next thing I knew she was laughing in the kitchen with my mom making a big batch of chocolate espresso hazelnut granola. 

Then there was the time my neighbor, who recently lost her husband, was feeling sad and lost as she walked along the street as she once did with the love of her life. Even though we did not know her very well we baked a tumeric lemon loaf topped with candied lemons to brighten her day. As she opened the door her eyes lit up and a smile grew on her face. ¨Thank you!¨ she cried.  Finally and most notably, Passover of 2020 began the day after my grandfather passed away from Covid, alone in the hospital. On the evening of April 8th, with very little appetite, we baked our own matzo crackers and nourished ourselves with the most delicious matzo ball soup, filled with both grief and endless love. Even though it had felt impossible to eat, preparing the matzo meal and then carefully forming each matzo ball with my family made our pain more bearable.  

So as you can see, the smallest ounce of baking can light up a gloomy day in a matter of minutes, from one crumb to the next. To make your day a little more delightful here is a delicious Carrot Cake recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Perhaps it will be a welcome addition to your springtime table!