For most folks the end result of baking—the cake or pie or cookies—is the ultimate prize, but my favorite things about baking involve the details. Silly basic things you may never have given a second thought.
You: What sort of things?
Me: Thanks for asking.
Things like…
reading old recipes ~ Old recipes come with smudged fingerprints and fuzzy memories and smells of past gone days with people who spent far greater time in the kitchen than I do.
measuring ingredients ~ Yes, I measure my ingredients beforehand because not only does this ensure I follow the recipe, but also I get a little thrill from using measuring cups and spoons and tiny glass bowls. Just call me Barefoot Contessa. (I wish.)
playing with my Kitchenaid ~ Anytime I can use my Kitchenaid mixer, I’m a happy baker. There’s something about watching butter and sugar cream together with such ease.
using vintage pot holders and wearing an apron ~ Yup. Remember making pot holders from loops at the kitchen table while your Momma baked a 7-Up cake? I still have my potholder (and my sister’s), and I use them. And aprons? I have a bunch.
licking the spoon and the beaters and the bowl ~ Yes, yes, I do. Don’t push the whole “don’t eat raw eggs” agenda on me. I’ll just go ahead and say it—cake batter is one of life’s greatest simple pleasures.
all the smells ~ I believe sugary buttery creamy smells stir up happy endorphins. Breathe them in y’all.
watching the cake rise in the oven ~ Watching cake rise beneath the glow of the oven light and through the hazy oven window amazes me every time. Resisting the urge to open the oven door before the buzzer dings is a baking game for me.
poking the toothpick in and watching it come out clean ~ Ahhh.
taking pictures ~ We all do this, right?
Voila! My Velvet Elvis Poundcake. (One day late for Elvis’s death date week. ?) If you’d like the recipe, and surely you do, click HERE.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
[tweetthis]My favorite things about baking — probably not what you’d expect. #mykitchen #simplerecipes #ambaking [/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
Elvis, Are You Lonesome Tonight (His last song ever…)
I baked banana bread yesterday and used my Kitchen Aid also. I could smell the pound cake as I read – yum!
Banana bread sounds yummy too.
See??? You are such a great blogger! And writer too, but I see it as two different kinds of talent. Also, yum.
They are different, I agree! Thanks, my almost famous friend.
My mother was a great cook and “loved” to bake. The aroma of baked bread and cinnamon rolls often greeted us as we came home from school.
Left over Pie crust that was baked and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon was a special treat. Thanks for the memory!!
Those potholders! I remember making them, too! It was frustrating if they weren’t a perfect square. Love this post, Talya.
me, too! 100%!
I love to bake. Cookies, cakes. pies are all fun to bake. I saw a cooking show last weekend that is new to the Food Network. Miss Brown explained the difference in cooking and baking. She said that just cooking a meal, you can adjust the seasoning and taste the meal before it is served.Add salt and pepper if needed. With baking you have to just wait until it comes out of the oven to see if you make a home run cake. I stopped using pudding mixes a couple of years ago and I will never again use a mix for my banana pudding . That meringue was a mile high.
I love to watch cooking shows!!!
Oh I love simple cakes so much. I’ve baked your plain cake three times now since you posted it! (I tagged you on IG @jennylovescharlie)
My son & daughter-in-law gifted me with my first ever kitchenaide stand mixer a few years ago & I absolutely love it. It stays on my counter & I use it for so many things…..shredding hot chicken breast or pork, mixing chicken salad or meatloaf filling…..& of course baked goods. Cooking is definitely something I love to do.
I never thought about using my Kitchenaid for shredding chicken breast! Great idea. Thanks for tagging me on the cake. I’m glad you like it!
I feel the exact same way about every single thing you mentioned above about baking. You are a gifted writer! Baking is truly an art. I didn’t realize that until my later years. I’m a Jan Karon fan and the first time I made the Orange Marmalade cake from that series of books I was amazed at the beauty of that batter! Every intricate little step in that recipe brings together such an exquisite batter and then cake. If you love baking and sharing you’ve got to try this recipe.
Thank you so much! And yes, I will check out that cake. Sounds delicious!