I have a pile of library books that I need to return tomorrow, so I pulled this from the "need to return pile" and am spending the afternoon reading, and thinking about how much baking is like knitting.
Confections of a Closet Master Baker: One Woman's Sweet Journey from Unhappy Hollywood Executive to Content Country Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado
Gesine Bullock-Prado had written a lovely and light "memoir" about her days of working in Hollywood, being Sandra Bullock's sister, and then leaving that life behind to settle in Vermont as a baker. The Bullocks have German heritage, and the books starts off with Gesine's memories of St. Nicholas and Krampus coming to their door with stockings full of sweets. She then goes on to talk about different German delicacies she had as a child, bringing back many memories of MY childhood in Austria and many years later, many trips to Germany. .
I'm in the first 1/3 of the book now, where she describes her morning schedule at her bakery and shop: she starts at 4:00 am making coffee using fresh beans, and then gets on with finishing up croissants and more. Her writing is light yet compelling, and I thought: this is just like knitting! We think ahead of what we want to knit, as bakers think ahead of their ingredients (she describes the satisfication of having a baking list versus having to work on someone else's script before she left Hollywood). Knitters follow through a pattern (most often LOL) as bakers follow recipes. And then both knitters and bakers "improvise" or modify the pattern/recipe, making it their "own." And amidst it all, there is a wonderful final end product.
The message I get already is that ... baking makes her happy, and baking makes other people happy. Gee, again like knitting :)
The book will be a quick read, but happily it is full of wonderful recipes. I will have to contain myself not to jump up and start a batch of scones!
And I also love to bake.
No comments:
Post a Comment