Good for the Soul

Last night I baked blondies, which were perhaps a little too generously blessed with a mix of butterscotch and white chocolate chips. 

And then I made some no-bakes - which, by the way, do not set up any faster when watched intently.

I'm not supposed to be eating either one right now, although I did lick the no-bake bowl. (And I made sure I only licked the actual amount. Not the "Hey, I think I'll leave four cookies unscooped in the bottom of the bowl and then lick the bowl..." version. Not that I've done that before.)

I made them because I needed to bake. I needed to watch the blade spin in Miss Mixy. I needed to make zig-zag patterns with batter in the baking dish. I needed to push the lever on the cookie scoop and watch the chocolate and oatmeal emerge in matching sizes. 

I needed it. 

I needed Ryan to walk sideways up to the counter and nonchalantly look away while he pushed an empty ramekin my way as I doled out the cookies. I needed to fill that little dish and push it back to him, so mock surprise could cover his face while he said, "Well look at this! How kind!"

I needed to cut the still-warm blondies and divide them up on plates and platters to share with people who can eat them. 

I needed to sneak a taste, but mostly I just needed to bake.

For me, baking is good for the soul. It's a little spot of creativity after a day of meetings. 

(And some days scrapbooking is good for the soul. And later this week, Christmas decorating will be good for the soul. I love having a rotating list of things to do that bring me so much joy.)

And how about you? What things boost your heart?