Meditation in the kitchen

 

mix until just combined

bake until slightly puffed

batter should be liquidy

don't worry if the crust cracks

cook until more al dente than usual

let it mingle until the mixture gets increasingly saucy

don't be afraid to take it very there

If you feel intimidated by the above directions, you are not alone. And if you're like me, you have this tendency to look too far in and plunge deep into a state of overthink.

But if you're also like me, you love to create delicious food but can't do it without a recipe. And recipes can cause doubt and insecurity.

I've learned to trust the meditative nature of cooking and baking (there wasn't much else to do in those early months of lockdown). It's my way of letting go of what has happened before and avoid dwelling on what's coming next. In order to focus on cooking, I'm learning to be present.

The specificity of the directions is something I've grown to appreciate. 

Samantha Seneviratne's Chocolate-Peanut Butter Swirl Cookies