Cookies- selfcare to share

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Pick Me Up
Time Commitment: 1 hour (preparation and cook time)


I was thinking the other day, I have been living in my current apartment since February, and I hadn't baked anything from scratch the entire time.  Why not?  I like baking, actually I really like baking (every once in awhile).  But, I guess "I didn't have the time."  Well, yesterday morning, between onslaughts of homework, I made time!  I had grocery shopped the day before according to the perfect recipe I found online.  I was going to experiment with vegan baking by making Vegan Lemon Sugar Cookies. (click link for recipe!).


**If you want to experiment with vegan cooking yourself, check out this link: Vegan Substitutions and Converting Any Recipe to Vegan  I found it really helpful because not all people may have access to things like "vegan margarine" that was required for my recipe.  Luckily there are a million Whole Foods stores in Boulder, so I was able to find the darn vegan margarine.  :)


Procedure: Turn on your favorite album of the moment (optional, but fun); I had Foster The People's album "Torches" playing.  Gather your ingredients, measuring cups and spoons, and mixing bowls.  Start preparing according to your recipe of choice, but use awareness.  Note the colors, textures, and scents of the ingredients.  How do they change as you add something else?  What happens to the texture when you mix it with the mixer?  Use curiosity.  When rolling the dough into balls in preparation for the cookie sheet, notice the stickiness of the dough.  Sample a bit of the dough (remember, there are no eggs, so this is OK!), what does it taste like?  Do you like it?  Does it remind you of anything?  Anyone?  Bake the cookies according to the recipe.  Be careful not to burn them!  When all the cookies are done, share them with your friends, family, and/or co-workers.  This is an opportunity for you to be the Selfcare Fairy for the day, sharing little bits of hope and happiness with the world!


Why this is wonderful: It attends to 4 main senses: sight, smell, touch, taste.  Paying attention to the little things and the details as you move through the recipe helps you to enjoy the process more and brings you into the current moment.  The stress in your life seems smaller and more manageable.  Also, I like taking breaks from homework to cook because I still feel productive- You gotta eat, right? :)