The Joy of Baking (and living)

Autumn mornings are kind of special to me. Even moreso when I am all alone here in the house. Sometimes I find myself just staring out the window early when the sun is rising having that first BEST cup of coffee. Today I had plans for baking pumpkin-walnut-cranberry muffins and some banana chocolate chip whole wheat bread. I was a little uneasy about baking, as me and the oven don't always see eye to eye. I do a pretty good job of cooking fresh meals, but baking has never been my strong suit, and once again I was determined to make a go of it.





 

I found the recipe here.It was easy to pull together, and the muffins came out moist and tasting wonderful. My mother always mixed by hand when I was growing up and I follow that tradition. Oddly enough, mixing by hand is really quite relaxing to me. I find my mind wanders from thought to thought during the whole prep time. I have a nice big kitchen window where I can mix and watch the leaves falling in a slow motion towards the ground, the free falling is soothing to my soul. I'll put on some music to bake by, ( I tend to do this while I cook anything) and enjoy the time with just me and the light streaming thru the kitchen window and the music streaming. I think my decision to make peace with the whole baking process and approach it more as an enjoyable time has made all the difference in the outcome.

I think when my heart is in it, it shows. I was rewarded this morning with wonderful, warm muffins and a great smell in the house. Mental note made: the zen of baking is enjoying the process and putting your heart into it.

Today I'm joining some old friends whom I have missed. I'm linking with A Rural Journal

for a special joining together of support for a special blogger, visit if you can.

I'm joining Live and Love Out Loud for Wordful Wednesday and Project Alicia

 

Girls, I must be honest. I woke up this morning a little cranky and unhappy about these nagging hot flashes that are never ending. Then I read this post and realized that I have everything to be thankful for, really.

 

I'm really happy to be back in blog land and visiting you all here. If I don't know you and you are visiting for the first time, nice to meet you and glad you can stop by, if we have met, nice to see you again.