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Farm Kitchen:  Baking as meditation  |
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dreamingofafarm
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Tina
Bangor
Pennsylvania
157 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 08:16:57 AM
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Everyone relaxes in a different way. For me it is baking. I had a hectic week this week and wanted nothing more than to get into the kitchen this weekend and kick up some flour! Well, after two batches of strawberry sandies cookies, a tiramisu cake, and a lemon custard pie I finally feel peaceful this Sunday morning. Side benefits - my house smells completely yummy and I have plates and plates of wonderful desserts to take to a friend's house for Sunday supper! Does baking have this effect on anyone else?
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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urban chickie
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Catherine
Niles
IL
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 08:25:24 AM
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Oh yes! Back when I was still in school, after every major test or paper due, I would bake a batch of toll house cookies lol. In university, roomies got pies. Now I take my anxiety out in numerous ways and my co-workers benefit, though it may show on the hips at times. I love to bake much more than I can eat!!
Catherine
Farmgirl #1370
City Girl By Birth,
Suburbanite By Location,
Farmgirl at Heart
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 08:48:40 AM
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Baking is very theraputic for me too! Yesterday it was raining so I baked a couple of loaves of bread, some rye crackers and chocolate chip cookies. My rhubarb is almost ready for a first harvest and I can't wait to make a rhubarb pie, some rhubarb crunch and rhubarb cake! I put on some of my favorite celtic music and dance and sing and bake!
Why not go out on a limb, that's where all the fruit is! "Mark Twain"
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
Edited by - Fiddlehead Farm on Apr 25 2010 08:49:23 AM |
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sw80689
True Blue Farmgirl
207 Posts
Sharon
Papillion
Nebraska
USA
207 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 11:02:41 AM
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Absolutely!! The kitchen is my favorite room in the house. It is so warm and cozy. Baking is very relaxing to me and I can get lost in my own little world. And the smells and tastes of whats baking are heavenly:)
Blessings,
Sharon
Farmgirl Sister #1393
*We are all angels with one wing, the only way to fly, therefore is to embrace one another* |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 11:25:42 AM
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Me too - I just baked a yellow cake - the recipe uses lemon curd as filling and part of the frosting, mmmm. The only not so relaxing part is the constantly-underfoot-basset hound, she loooves butter and I keep tripping over her
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 11:46:19 AM
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i too find comfort in cooking. goodies i put together on those cozy days and freeze for later. today i am baking choc. chip cookis that i froze.
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farmgirl #1014
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 1:35:56 PM
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Me too!
It's comforting to me knowing that I am making (baking) something special for someone, it brings me great joy :)
Yesterday I made a coffecake with a cream cheese filling topped with Apricot jam and streusel crumbs. It was so good and perfect with a cup of tea after church today.
Tina,
I have never heard of Strawberry Sandie cookies. Could you share your recipe please?
Amy Grace,
I know what you mean about pups being underfoot. My girl especially likes to be there when making treats for her :)
~Sharon
By His Grace, For His Glory
http://merryheartjournal.blogspot.com/ |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Apr 25 2010 : 2:56:51 PM
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I bake when I am upset, nervous or out of sorts. It is totally theraputic. Not sure if it is the act of mixing and baking or that the house is filled with wonderful smells of happy!
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2010 : 05:44:05 AM
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Same here...been a little "tight" around the house moneywise, so to effect savings (and to clear my head) I made 2 loaves of white sandwich bread yesterday. Kneading dough can make even the worst demons, go right away!!! And, now we have wonderful lunch throughout the week :)
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Rea231
True Blue Farmgirl
139 Posts
139 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2010 : 05:48:15 AM
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I oook to relax and clean when I am mad!
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. |
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highlandviewpantry
True Blue Farmgirl
214 Posts
WV
USA
214 Posts |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
691 Posts
Emily
Chambersburg
PA
USA
691 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2010 : 12:11:23 PM
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funny i was feeling fairly down on myself and really throwing around making bagels.... I think I will do that now thanks for the pick me up that I am not the only one who does this
also if the house is clean, my husband knows I am mad
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See my custom costumes, download free patterns, and hear some spook EVPs from Gettysburg, PA on my site, www.alterationsbyemily.com |
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dreamingofafarm
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Tina
Bangor
Pennsylvania
157 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2010 : 1:03:14 PM
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Hello All,
Amy, Here is the Strawberry Sandies recipe - these are so easy to whip up!
1/2 cup sugar
1 box Strawberry Cake mix (best you can find)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter softened
1 large egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put sugar in a bowl and set aside. Beat all other ingredients with a mixer until a stiff dough forms. Roll dough into balls by the tablespoon full. Roll balls in sugar. Put 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Lightly press down each ball to shape into cookie. Bake 12 minutes.
Hope you enjoy them as much as my family does!
-Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 2:54:54 PM
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I too bake for therapy! It's just very calming to me, plus the rewards are great, and I love to share my goodies. So it is a win win! Amy Grace, any special recipe for your yellow cake with lemon curd????
Tina, your cookies sound really good, will have to try them. I have a basset granddog! He's quite a boy! His name is Emerson.
Ruth |
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delicia
True Blue Farmgirl
917 Posts
delicia
cincinnati
ohio
USA
917 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2010 : 4:45:28 PM
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I love to bake and am a much better baker than a cook. Sharon can you share your recipr for the coffee cake that sounds wonderful and Tina I am going to give your cookies a try this weekend.
delicia |
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michgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
148 Posts
Mary
Glendale
WI
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2010 : 05:58:51 AM
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| I also crockpot as well as bake for therapy. It smells wonderful all day and when dinner time rolls around it is all done on a day that I probably won't feel like cooking in the late afternoon! |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - May 23 2010 : 12:13:16 PM
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Tina, I made your WONDERFUL strawberry cookies Friday night to take to my grandson and husband's birthday party. I didn't know how everyone would like them - let me tell you they were a real hit - even with the folks that don't really like sweets!! The only thing I did different was to use mashed fresh strawberries in place of the water. YUMMY! Then my oldest grandson (24 yrs old) who loves to cook, said you know, these would be great with some cream cheese icing on them, and a strawberry half! So he proceeded to produce the pretty little cookie treats for us all to enjoy! Made everyone's day!
Thanks so much for the recipe!
Hugs, Ruth
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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mollymae
True Blue Farmgirl
694 Posts
Molly
Visalia
California
USA
694 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2010 : 8:04:24 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by dreamingofafarm
Hello All,
Amy, Here is the Strawberry Sandies recipe - these are so easy to whip up!
1/2 cup sugar
1 box Strawberry Cake mix (best you can find)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter softened
1 large egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put sugar in a bowl and set aside. Beat all other ingredients with a mixer until a stiff dough forms. Roll dough into balls by the tablespoon full. Roll balls in sugar. Put 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet. Lightly press down each ball to shape into cookie. Bake 12 minutes.
Hope you enjoy them as much as my family does!
-Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Oh my these sound heavenly. We just moved into a new home this week and I need some baking therapy to ease my stress, and I think these will be just the ticket 
Molly - Farmgirl #625
"As waves upon my head the circling curl, So in the sacred dance weave ye and whirl. Dance then, O heart, a whirling circle be. Burn in this flame - is not the candle He?" -Rumi |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - May 27 2010 : 8:19:01 PM
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I also use the kitchen for therapy...all the time! It's one of the only places I feel truly relaxed. I remember three years ago when we were moving from our old house...I can't tell you the HOURS I spent in the kitchen baking and baking and baking...we moved here with a freezer full of baked goods! I guess the kitchen is a great place to relieve stress because its a productive way to work through what's bothering you or to just hang out and get relaxed. :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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missmuffcake
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
kendy
modesto
ca
45 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2010 : 12:33:56 PM
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I love baking too. I think making something and then sharing it is the bee's knees. Looking through cook books for me is very zen like too!
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http://www.missmuffcake.com/ |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3322 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3322 Posts |
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Rxgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
216 Posts
Dana
Id
USA
216 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2010 : 3:30:12 PM
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I feel the same as you ladies. I love baking, I just wish it was as good for the waistline as it is on the mind! I love having my (almost)3 year old daughter help with it too, she definitely enjoys eating whatever she helps to create and it's so cute (although messy) having her bake with me.
Dana
"He who throws mud only loses ground"-Fat Albert |
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dreamingofafarm
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Tina
Bangor
Pennsylvania
157 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2010 : 07:43:49 AM
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Hello All,
I haven't checked in on this topic in a while. I was so happy to hear that the cookies were a hit with your family Ruth!
Wishing everyone all the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
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DebbieSue
True Blue Farmgirl
199 Posts
Debbie
TX
USA
199 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2010 : 11:55:34 AM
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| I cannot wait to try the coffee cake and the strawberry cookies!! I am going to do that TODAY...You ladies are the best! Love the recipes! I love baking as well....I find myself lost in thought and it helps me relax, and of course the family loves it, which is so rewarding! |
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somethingticking
Farmgirl in Training
20 Posts
Sara
River Ridge
LA
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - May 29 2010 : 3:55:13 PM
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| I definitely find baking meditative. The careful measuring and mixing, paying attention to the textures and appearances and smells of things to know whether they're right definitely brings me back to the present. And I find that just cooking doesn't quite elicit the same experience. Maybe because I know that baking sweets is something you do just for the pleasure of it. You're not making cookies because you're hungry, you're making them because the process and the product are comforting, and that it's probably going to give someone else comfort and pleasure as well. |
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Farm Kitchen: Baking as meditation |
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Baking as meditation
