Cooking and baking makes me feel productive.

Sometimes I take too much and I get overwhelmed. Still, I love the end, where I pull the lasagna out of the oven, or slide the cookies on to the cooling rack. There’s something soothing about the senses being consumed by a task. The smells and aromas, the sights and colors, the tasting and seasoning, touching and tossing, even listening to the knife on the board, the sizzle of the pan delights me.

I love when I can wow someone with one of my dishes, or surprise them with a little treat. I eagerly seek out new recipes or retool ones I have already tried. I wish I knew better how to work with this enthusiasm, but I suppose a catering business or a chocolate shop or bakery is a lofty idea.