Dear Reader Column 02-22-08

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Dear Reader,

When I give someone cookies I've made from scratch, I'm giving them the best of me. Most people wouldn't believe it, but if I'm not in the mood to bake, but for some reason I have to anyway, then baking feels like a chore and my cookies don't turn out. They fall in the middle, or taste strange, like I forgot one of the ingredients--and I did. I wasn't able to add the joy I usually feel when I'm baking. Because at some point, when I'm mixing up cookie batter, I'm picturing the person I'm baking the cookies for, I can see the smile on their face after they open the bag of cookies and I hope they feel special.

Cooking is a powerful thing, especially baking. Because when most people think of homemade chocolate chip cookies, they're remembering their mom or grandma--somebody who loved them--in the kitchen with an apron on, the bag of flour was out, the counter was a mess, and something that smelled good was baking in the oven.

Baking cookies is like writing for me. When there's joy, I'm into the task at hand, not thinking about anything else, giving it everything I have to give. Giving my best to someone else.

Lately I've been getting emails from readers who've been inspired, other bakers who feel the joy, too.

"Dear Suzanne, Thanks for sharing the photos and entries from the winners of your now famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. They were fun to read and also to see the great photos they sent in with their entries. I still bake dozens of your mom's recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and everyone always raves over them. I'm sure that your Chocolate Chip Cookies are equally as great!

"It is so very nice to read and share recipes with friends like you!"--Cheryl Downing

"Suzanne, Last night, you inspired me to do something I haven't done in a long while. You see, I've always loved baking, especially cakes. But with college looming in the distance and my final year of high school pressing on me, I haven't had all that much time to do what I love. In fact, the meals I always used to cook for my family have become few and far between. But when I heard that the local Relay for Life team was earning money through a bake sale and they needed people to donate goods, I immediately thought of you. I thought of how you always bake cookies for your readers and how happy all those winners must be. And while I've never entered in the drawings, the idea of spreading the joy of a talent made me smile.

So this morning, the sponsor of the Relay for Life Chapter found a huge ice box filled with 6 different types of cakes for today's bake sale. From Black Forest Cake to Cherry Vanilla Swirl. I gave a whole night and seven hours of baking and refrigerating to help out the Relay for Life team.

Thank you for the inspiration, Suzanne. You never cease to make me smile and get me through the day."--Jessica Friday

If you've been inspired to start baking, I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Happy Baking,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Congratulations to the February Chocolate Chip Cookie Winners who emailed photos demonstrating why they need cookies! I will be showcasing their entries soon--so be sure to stay tuned. The creative photographers are: Ellen Graebe, Oralia Orozco, Autumn L. Fraser, Tamara Moody, Wanda Maloy, David Faucheux and Robyn Foss.

Comments

[Kelly Pauley]

PLEASE send Jessica Friday some cookies! What a great cause (Relay for Life) and what a wonderful gift of her time and effort. Thank you Jessica!