7: Chronicles of a procrasti-baker

Throughout high school and university, whenever an exam or submission was coming up, the aromas of baking filled the house. My family knew something was stressing me out when plates of scones, banana bread, lemon cake or chocolate brownies appeared magically - although there were never complaints.  

If it wasn’t baking sweet treats, it was cooking something hearty and cosy- the colder the weather the better for this. While cooking, my brain switches off, and is able to focus just on the food. Everything slows down, the food will take as long as it needs to, no matter how many other things are happening- and it forces me to relax, and stop stressing- if only while the pot is on the stove.

 Cooking is something that allows me to calm down and feel more connected. I was lucky enough to grow up in a household where there was always fresh, healthy, good quality food and home cooking. Coming from a Spanish background, the food is often quite simple but very labour intensive and time consuming.

Despite the fact that I’ve moved several times since those high school procrasti-baking days, wherever I’ve been, when there is olive oil, I can breathe a sigh of relief (Bonus points for smashed avo, I am an Australian millennial after all*). I could write praises to the heavens for olive oil all day. To get to the point though- it forms the base of the meals that my grandmother, mother and I make. It is always present in the pantry- in an enormous 5L tin (with a backup so that it never runs out).

Olive oil is a base, but those meals are combined with the appreciation of mealtime that has been instilled in me for as long as I can remember. As a child, we were never allowed to have any distractions at dinner- every day was a sit-down family meal- at the dining table. Since those days of discipline, it’s the meals shared with old and new friends, and the Sobremesa* that these lead to that create a true sense of connection- be it to people or places. Sharing a meal is one of my favourite ways to get to know someone, to make friends, to chat, and to relax.

Family breakfast in Madrid, with my sister, great-aunt and great-uncle.

At university, a tutor once said to my class, “If you’re a chef, you can also be an architect”. I’d be impressed at the person who could fit both careers in- they are both known for long hours, however I do understand the way that a meal coming together can echo the way that a building does the same- without a solid foundation, quality materials and care- it simply won’t work. Essentially though, both are about people.

Food is essential to survival. Cooking is a balm to my soul.  

Until next time*

AP

*1.     If you haven’t heard the jokes about housing affordability in australia / smashed avo toast- here’s a nice article to start off with: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/food-drink/millenials-react-to-bernard-salts-attack-on-smashed-avo/news-story/a0e8473f9e80663d7569364930aa0321

*2.     “Sobremesa is the leisurely time after we have finished eating, before we get up from the table. Time spent in conversation, digesting, relaxing, enjoying. Certainly not rushing. Not reserved for weekends -though it can be longest on Sundays- even weekday and business meals have their own sobremesa. For Mediterraneans, how we eat is as important as what we eat.”- defined by: https://sobremesa.life/about

*3.     By next time, i’ll probably still be eating the mountain of roasted vegetables and banana cake I made last night, while procrasti-baking from life admin.