Establishing the baseline

I don't think it needs much explanation on why #cookingwonder - though I do think it is worth stating and sharing a few facts to mark the beginning of this particular journey.

I have always been comfortable doing my own cooking, and even for the others. This is especially important during uni days at Oxford. Food was expensive in the UK, so getting together to make meals was good for both social and economical reasons.

So, I can cook. I cannot do fancy stuff, but edible box-standard stuff that some kind souls would even call delicious.

I have many great people around me, including my wonderful mum (#wonderswithmama) who can cook all sorts of things. I thought, I would like to be able to cook like them. So Cooking Wonder made it to my #MidlifeWonders list.

During the pandemic lock down, the whole world started baking. So I decided to join the club. However, I have quickly realised, I cannot bake!

My good friend, Grace, told me while cooking is art, baking is science. I agree. But I am a bloody Scientist (Master in Engineering Science), I can follow recipes, yet my baked stuff look like this...

Just like many other girls, I have sweet tooth but I don't like my cakes too sweet. I realised I was overly ambitious in tweaking the recipes already.

Learning to celebrate failures, I have been proudly sharing the pictures of these odd looking "cakes" with family and friends. Many offered to help me perfect the product. Though I find the enjoyment lies in figuring out what goes wrong, and put your new learning to test next time. The answer will be there after a few rounds of trial and error, once the key is found, it will stay with you forever. There is something addictive about this process, and I figured it is very similar to the process we have to go through as climbers #climbingwonder when we work on our projects. No wonder!

Don't get me wrong, I find my cakes delicious, and people around me have been kind to also say, if it is for self-pleasure, then as long as it tastes good, don't worry about the form and shape!

Though, who doesn't want to impress their guests during tea times with their perfectly raised pandan chiffon cake? I do!

So the first challenge under #cookingwonder will start with getting some baking fundamentals right. Exciting about being a humble student again!