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Every cloud has a silver lining and so did Covid-19. The dreaded pandemic, since early 2020, saw us confined to four walls of our homes. Extreme lockdown conditions and mandatory quarantines kept us isolated from the outside social world. This often resulted in people feeling anxious and stressed. Social distancing measures and economic shutdown gave rise to new consumer habits and behaviors. It also became highly important that we looked after our mental wellbeing. Taking some time out for ourselves and doing things that are productive and keep us distracted from negative thoughts have taken the form of regular rituals. People are embracing different channels and activities such as meditation, painting, reading, music, writing and something your family and you can do together… such as cooking or baking!
As long as you know how to bake, life is sure to be sweet
Baking, during difficult times, emerged as the perfect way to spend family time while also testing out individual artisanal and creative skills. A report published by Forbes says that in 2020, more people rolled up their sleeves and took out their rolling pins. Millions embraced the opportunity to explore their inner baker to relieve stress, give children a positive activity to do as a family and put freshness on the table.
The benefits of baking have been found to be multifold. Some consider it as a form of meditation. It is a way for us to focus our minds on something fruitful and away from worries. It requires concentration The entire process of building a cake may act as a way to release any tension we may have; mental, physical or emotional, thus having a therapeutic effect.
Furthermore, baking allows us to stay in control of ourselves. Having a recipe and to follow instructions can add a bit more discipline and structure to our lives that makes us feel more in control. Baking liberates imagination and creativity; this certainly helps in emotional wellbeing. Baking creates a unique aroma, which invigorates all our senses and transports the status of our mind to be happy and at peace.
This week TIWIW brings to you, a few different ways in which baking can be integrated in our routine!
1. Baking as a Hobby:
Baking is fun-full, colorful and flavorful. a more fun experience. Whisking eggs, kneading the dough, starting the mixer, pre-heating the oven – all these are surely going to get us in a joyful mood on a lonely afternoon. Joining online/offline baking lessons will not only help us with professional tips on starting our cake baking journey, also gives us a chance to make new friends. Once you become a baking expert, the hobby can turn into a soft profession whereby you can host baking classes for new starters and make it a more integral part of your life!
2. Baking as a Family activity:
Baking works well as an exciting activity having a family bake-a-cake time! Set up a zoom call and have a mini family cake-off. This can be a fun new family activity and recipes can exchange hands. In-person family baking can also be converted into a healthy competition between two groups – Super Mom and Cool Dad groups. This is also a great way to get kids introduced to baking to ignite their passion at an early age.
3. Baking as a Creative skill:
Baking is truly a creative process. It is an art and involves skillful precision. The ingredient mix allows us to let go of our imagination to craft unique artistic bakes. Modern technology is helping us to include edible food prints and inclusions to uplift our fanciful minds to the next level. There is no boundary and all we need is to let our creative juices flow in every direction.
4. Baking as a Celebration:
Sharing is a very fulfilling activity. Baking helps us to distribute our bakes with neighbors and friends making us feel great. Use baking to bake a personalized surprise cake as a gift for them on their special day. Invite your kids’ friends home and bake a great treat for them. Use seasons to follow different themes and specific ingredients to welcome change in seasons. From yummy Cheesecake for dinner to a soulful pie, soft and moist brownies to crunchy biscotti, tea cakes and rusks to coffee cookies and pastries – there is so much to celebrate with baking.
5. Baking as a Home business:
Due to COVID, unemployment rates increased significantly. Home baking has helped so many to start home scale businesses as an apt source of income during tough times. Use your creative talent to be an entrepreneur and also spread the knowledge by starting baking classes!
TIWIW will be your good buddy with any of the above directions you take. Whatever you need for baking – ingredients or accessories or inclusions or bakeware – add it to your wish list and get it fulfilled. You can even express your wish to be enrolled in a baking class and let a good friend or family member make it possible for you. In a similar manner, encourage your friends to express their special Bakery cravings and you satisfy their sweet appetite.
Bring your Pattisier cap on and Bake on !!
What do you think?