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I come from a family of great cooks, and have always wanted to find my niche in the kitchen. Back in March, when everyone I know started making banana bread, I thought I'd give it a shot. My mom has the best recipe, and there was something seriously satisfying about the whole experience. When my dad asked for pecans in the next loaf, I was so excited to get to bake again, and I haven't stopped since. Since the shelter-in-place order was issued, I have made banana bread, carrot cake, oatmeal raisin cookies, flourless chocolate cake, pineapple upside down cake, and too many more to name.
The methodical approach to baking has been an incredible stress reliever. I don't quite understand it, but measuring out the ingredients, following the directions, and having the end product be something delicious is almost unbelievably satisfying. Also, when I'm making my dough, I'm so focussed on my dessert that I don't think about anything else, and the mental break has been really amazing during the day. If you need an hour or so of peace and quiet, I highly recommend baking. Plus, the end result is always worth it.