Why I Bake

I bake when I’m stressed. I bake because it makes people happy. I bake because I love it. I will bake to prove I am better at it. Baking gives me a sense of pride; it’s something I’m good at.

I showed up to a new semester of class and somehow my baking skills got brought up. Everyone was talking about my strawberry pie; I will be making that again soon. About the food I use to bring into class.

Showing up to class, to work, or to someone’s house with homemade cookies or a pie makes people feel good. It’s the same with sending cards. I send cards for many occasions because people like to get mail; people like mail that isn’t bills even better. With email and the Internet though, people don’t send cards as much. I’m one of the only people I know who sends card. Christmas cards, birthday cards, valentine’s cards, thank you cards, I’ve even been known to send thank you cards to people who come over and eat a dinner I cook.

The main reason I cook and bake is to make people happy. Chocolate chip cookies are ready for class as I write this.

Sugar, Sugar or The Best Gift Ever (Sugar Cookies)

Star Wars and sugar cookies, what could these have in common? My Brother. To be more accurate his birthday/Christmas gift. My brother, like most brothers is hard to shop for. He either has it or doesn’t need it or he wouldn’t find it as entertaining as I do. But this year I found the perfect gift. Star Wars cookie cutters. He does love his Star Wars.

But wait, he’s also got two small kids at home and I can’t imagine him or his wife rolling out sugar cookies. This leaves the loving sister, me, to make the cookie dough, roll it out, cut the shapes, package them up, and then ship them half way across the country. I hope he knows how much love I have to do all of those things. Braving the post office alone to get the package shipped is a nightmare. This is also the first time I’ve made rolled sugar cookies. I cut them as a kid with my grandmother but this was a new experience for me to make the dough.

It turned out well. The true test is if he gives me an A+ but he’s always complaining that my cooking is to health. Okay, I’ll admit to using whole-wheat pastry flour but only because my roommates flour has bugs in it. Such grosso-bunnies. I was already half done with the cookie dough so I just used my flour. Yo bro, real sugar and butter! Here’s the recipe.

3 cups flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup white sugar

½ cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 Tablespoons coffee creamer, or half-and-half. I used all natural sweet-cream flavored coffee creamer

1. Preheat oven to 375°

2. Cream together butter and sugars

3. Add egg, vanilla, and creamer

4. Start mixing in flour ½ a cup at a time. After 1 cup flour add salt and baking powder, then finish adding flour. At some point you will have to put the mixer up and start using your own arm power with a spoon.

5. The dough should be thick in consistency. Now through it into the refrigerator for an hour, or overnight.

6. Flour surface, grab a chunk of dough, and knead it in your hands to get it warmed up a little so it doesn’t crack when you roll it out. Use a rolling pin to roll it out and cookie cutters.

7. Place on ungreased pan and back 7-9 minutes.

8. Now you have sugar cookies.