cakes

I went to the cookery class, which is now on Thursday mornings instead of Wednesday. I wasn’t sure what I’d be making this week, but I knew I was a week behind the others. So, whatever they made last week, I’d be making this week. The problem was, I couldn’t remember what they made last week.

Anyway, it turned out I was making a brownie, which I think is an American dessert that we never had when I was young. The only thing I knew about a brownie was that it had a soft center, and I thought it was made of chocolate. The first part of making the brownie was melting sugar and chocolate together. The teacher explained that I had to do this over a saucepan, not in the microwave, because using the microwave could cause the chocolate to split or get too hot. I wasn’t quite sure what that meant—maybe I’m not supposed to understand as a beginner—but apparently, it’s just about slowly heating the ingredients and nothing else. Sometimes I analyze things too much, or maybe I just want to understand.

The second baking method was the creaming method, which used a mixer to combine eggs and sugar into a thick cream. The mixture was poured into a foil container and baked. I forgot to bring a box, which annoyed me, but the one I would’ve bought wouldn’t have fit anyway—it would’ve been too small. I ended up carrying the brownie home in a bag on the bus, stressing about eating the whole thing myself and worrying about my weight. I couldn’t think of anyone to give it to, so I decided to throw it away, even though I hate wasting food. It felt better than gaining weight. After sleeping on it, I woke up and remembered the hedge cutter was coming today, so maybe he’d take a brownie, and I could give the rest to a friend—though he’s diabetic.

The hedgecutters arrived at 9:30, though they hadn’t given me a specific time. Thankfully, for the brownie situation, there were three of them. When they finished the job, I offered them brownies, and two out of the three accepted. Two out of three isn’t bad! They enjoyed the cake, which was very satisfying for me. 

Now I have a different attitude toward brownies and might even make another one. Yesterday, I hated them, but today I like them. They didn’t taste as sickly sweet either since I didn’t have any myself. I enjoyed giving out the brownies more than having my hedge cut—it’s such a chore looking after that thing. I wouldn’t bother if it weren’t for the annoying neighbor next door.

I have frozen two of the brownies and have two in the cupboard. I guess when I was telling the teacher in the class about my worries about having a whole brownie to eat she might have considered me ungratrful after the effort that was put into it, I think I am making scones next week so I will have more cakes to put in the freezer, I will be able to open a shop by xmas