Overheard my neighbor say 'baking is just following instructions' and I snorted

I was taking out the trash last week and heard this guy telling someone that baking is easy because you just do what the recipe says. I wanted to yell at him about the time my sugar cookies spread into one giant cookie because my butter was too soft. Real bakers know it's about feel and timing and a little luck. Has anyone else had a non-baker tell them their hobby is simple?

2 comments

2 Comments

alice24224d ago

Totally agree with you both. My first attempt at macarons turned into sad little puddles because I overmixed the batter and didn't know what "lava flow" consistency actually looks like. Following a recipe is step one, but the real skill is knowing when to trust your eyes and hands over the paper.

aaron89624d ago

Oh man, the sugar cookie pancake story hit me right in the baking soul. It drives me crazy when people think following a recipe is all it takes, like humidity and oven quirks don't exist. Solidarity from someone who's definitely cried over a collapsed souffle.