...bake (raspberry-mango macarons)?

One of the things I've wanted to learn how to do (like learn the technical stuff) is bake. I've always had an interest and a knack for baking. When I was a child/teenager, I would LOVE the winter holidays because it meant I would get to bake. I'd look through cookbooks for recipes, create a shopping list, and then go crazy in kitchen making treats galore.

As an adult, I don't generally have time to bake. But recently, a research assistant of mine mentioned "The Great British Baking Show" when I shared that I enjoyed watching "Chopped" on Food Network and "Sugar Rush" on Netflix. After one episode TGBBS, I was hooked. It was like a crash course in baking, introducing me to things like proving dough and lamination. I fell in love.

And I told myself at some point, I'd take some baking classes. As a matter of fact, for Christmas, my husband purchased a class in croissant making for me. Unfortunately, it's been cancelled for the time being, due to the pandemic.

So then I thought: why not just bake. Now. Just because.

And so I did. 

I found a recipe for French macarons (my favorite dessert) and raspberry buttercream. And then baked and baked and baked!

I gathered all of my ingredients...

...prepared the shells, tapping the air out and letting them sit...

...baking them accordingly, waiting for a rise and the appearance of "feet"...

...and preparing the buttercream with raspberry syrup.

And here they are! Not perfect, but I'm happy with this as first attempt. I'm excited about what I learned from Attempt #1, and already have an idea for Attempt #2.

Preparing my favorite cookie was therapeutic. Being creative and exploring with ingredients and flavors was so much fun! 

This was also a nice reminder that even something seemingly complicated, like a French macaron, is just a bunch of pretty basic ingredients + patience.

Going to share Attempt #2 soon!

In a time of need...baking definitely helps me.

...blog?

Today is March 20, 2020. It is 8:45 am PST.

And it is an unprecedented time. 

Individuals all around the globe are mostly shut away from the outside world due to an invisible virus sweeping through our world, countries, cities, towns, neighborhoods. Taking victims mercilessly. 

With no clear indication of when these shelter-in-place orders will end.

And as I spend hours sitting at my dining room table, frantically creating an online course for undergraduates (face-to-face teaching is my day job and the show must go on), something began to stir up inside of me. Perhaps the small sprout that had emerged from a tiny seed within me--one that has always been there, planted from way before I can remember, one that has been able to grow in some ways but is thwarted in others--started to sprout new branches. 

I'll call this plant my muse (can imaginary plants be muses?). A metaphor for creativity. For building, making, creating. Generally, it inspires me to write--poetry, books for children, short stories. But with the quiet of my window-side, make-shift desk during this moment of stillness, the plant is growing. It's urging me to do. Branch out in my creating, building, making.

So, I started this blog, which I am calling "in a time of need..." Because in this time of need, it is urging me to be creative in ways that my regularly scheduled, day-to-day life does not usually afford. 

Thus, my plan for this blog is to reflect, which is a practice I think is good for the soul anyway. 

to 

reflect

to 

play

to 

build 

and make 

and create

and share 

some insights 

about myself.

to journal

to share

to use as a 

tool to heal 

during

this time 

of need. 

For me.

And to grow.

Join me?