My wife cooks by the seat of her pants. She also cooks with her emotions. She has begun her holiday baking and already she is on a role. She looked around the house, took inventory of what was available and came up with a new combination. She has been perfecting the combination and passing out the experiments. At one point there were four cakes on the counter waiting their new homes. People rave about how good they are but I avoid telling them the secret ingredient: prunes.
Yes, prunes. Dried plums. The food of the elderly who have issues. With an orange sauce soaking into the top it comes out pretty good. So to paraphrase the old saying, “When life gives you prunes, make cakes.”
How did she come up with this? Part was looking to see what was available. She had stocked up on prunes for an elderly member of the family. (No, not me.) They were not going as quickly as expected (sorry). Part was knowing how to work with standard things like flour, sugar, salt and all those magic things that make the difference. When the kids were at home and she was really creative we would have a culinary delight before us and it became a family joke to “enjoy it, because you will never have it again.” She did not keep track of what went in so she could not guarantee how it would come out next time.
I do not find basic cooking difficult. Give me the recipe and ingredients in clearly labeled containers and I can get the job done. The key words are “basic” and “recipe.” I need to keep the recipe in front of me. I have experimented with chili and I will go back and check the recipe every couple of minutes. I can never remember the order, amounts or times. With enough focus, I can do the job.
I think you would rather eat what she fixes. The product depends on the producer as much as the produce. It makes a difference how often and how long you have been working with the ingredients. This is true whether it is food or life.
Has life given you prunes? If you have the background of a saint you may be able to bring a glorious pastry out of that humble basic. If you are still feeling your way in life you need to keep the recipe in front of you. Either way will work but don’t try to be something you are not. If you are new to the faith, don’t try to experiment. Read the instructions and follow them carefully. If I tried to make a prune cake by the seat of my pants it would always come out a laxative instead of a luxury.
May your day and life bring a pleasing aroma to the living God.
homo unius libri
A good point, even if told in an amusing way.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteGrace and peace.