Baking Pleasures and Literary Treasures

In the flurry of monotonous hustle and bustle of present times, finding comfort and solace in simple pleasures has become an absolute necessity for many. By engaging in their hobbies, people can escape reality and find peace and happiness in their minds. I also find myself not excluded from these simple pleasures. For myself, the perfect combination of tranquility and joy lies in the enchanted fusion of two classic hobbies: baking and reading books. These two activities are a cherished escape for my introverted self. Not only did they help me find peace, but they also helped me find the treasures of my hidden creativity. 

For as long as I can remember, I loved baking. It started when I saw my family members baking, which led us all to get together to enjoy the delicious delights. Eventually, I started helping them with baking by kneading donut doughs, peeling potatoes, making cake batters, cutting cookies into shapes etc. The first few times I embarrassingly failed, but I did not give up. The harmony of step by step activities fascinated me. In time, I fortunately succeeded in baking foods, especially desserts. As I got older, I realized baking is an expensive hobby. The ingredients for baking are not as cheap as normal ingredients for food which we consume in our daily lives. On top of that, baked goods are enjoyed right after making them. So, many items get spoiled after a few days and wastage occurs. Moreover, due to the pressure of my studies and long hours at school, I have little time at home to do baking as my heart desires. I promptly discovered the enjoyment of reading books. Watching television did not captivate me as much as reading fictional books did. In this modern era, we can have any documents at any time in our grasp with little to no cost. Therefore, I can read any book at any place and time. Audiobooks and eBooks made the task easier for me. But just because I enjoy reading at leisure, does not mean I stopped baking. In fact whenever I get the time I do baking with more creativity and attentiveness.

Less Than Half Of Books I Own


Creating something from scratch brings me an indescribable type of joy. Whether it’s a batch of chocolate chip cookies, some dozens of cupcakes, frosting and decorating cakes, the rising of loaves in ovens, the sense of achievement is unparalleled. Much like flipping or swiping pages of books, each step of the baking process brings expectancy, coming to an end with a delicious reward. 

As I wait for the oven to work its magic on the unbaked items, I turn to the world of fictional books as my escape. Novels are like secret doorways, they transport me to locations I have never seen before and introduce me to characters from whom I learned many things. Even though the characters and scenarios are fictional, many real life situations, problems and solutions are all interwoven. From small town mysteries to sprawling landscapes of epic fantasies, all pages of a book are a refuge for me. 

Many of my culinary and baking endeavors are inspired by fictional worlds. For example- butterbeer themed cupcakes from Harry Potter, tarts from Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland, the giant chocolate cake from Matilda, and many other items inspired by the decadent feast described in historical novels. I feel a tangible connection to the fictional realms that have thralled my imagination through these culinary creations. 

Butterbeer Cupcakes


I think baking is a great hobby for me. Firstly, it enhances my creativity and works as a stress reliever. Secondly, it is a great form of meditation. When I am baking, I know what I am going to do next and I concentrate on what I am doing which ends up acting in the guise of meditation. Finally, the act of feeding others is a fulfilling activity, which makes me feel amazing. The pleasure and confidence I receive from seeing others getting excited to enjoy my baking items makes my efforts worth it.

Reading books gave me treasures in my life that I could have never imagined. It improved my literacy skills, made me creative, enhanced my empathy and helped me grow my vocabulary.

Individually, baking and reading, are both therapeutic. But together, they form a very strong coaction that has been a source of serenity and healing in my life. Loneliness can be a formidable foe, but within the confines of my kitchen and pages of books, it transforms into a sanctuary for consolation. Over time, these hobbies have been more than just some distractions and pastimes for me, they became a refuge and anchors in moments of solitude.

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Butterbeer Cupcakes- https://www.aberdeenskitchen.com/2017/10/harry-potter-chocolate-pumpkin-cupcakes-butterbeer-frosting/






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