Almost nothing contributes more to the hygge factor in a home than the smell of freshly baked bread and cake. And besides loving drawing and hygge, I find baking very enjoyable. Unfortunately, with two small children, I don't get to do it as often as I'd like, although my New Year's resolution of baking every Saturday morning did last for a while ;)
Hygge is all about indulgence, about treating yourself and others. Baking something sweet brings a lot of satisfaction. And besides, the process is more important than the end result. Your cake doesn't need to have a Michelin-star look to taste fantastic; the more rustic, the better, I'd almost say.
Being in the moment
As I wrote, I'm a fan of baking. Sweet or savory, it doesn't matter to me. Give me butter, sugar, and flour, and I'm happy. Prefer something savory? With some eggplants, tomato sauce, and cheese, I'll whip up a delicious vegetable lasagna for you. Wonderful!
What's so great about it, I find hard to explain. Maybe it's following a recipe: carefully weighing, kneading or mixing the dough or batter, and the anticipation while something is in the oven.
And during all these steps, you really have to be - very mindfully - present with your thoughts. Because before you know it, you'll forget to add baking powder, turning your cake into a flat brick instead of a light delicacy.
Hygge and fika
Baking has a special appeal for me, probably because it's so intertwined with hygge and fika. (The Danes, by the way, have their own version of fika, Kaffehygge. You can probably guess what that means :)
And Scandinavian baking is a celebration for me; kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns with a hint of cardamom), kladdkaka (a Swedish chocolate cake that always stays wonderfully gooey and delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort), and delicious Danish puff pastry with pastry cream. Although I also get very happy from a simple cake or banana bread.
It's actually a kind of magic; you combine ordinary things like sugar, butter (always use butter), eggs, and flour in different proportions, put it in a cake tin, springform pan, or simply loose on a baking sheet, wait until the kitchen timer goes off, and... ding! Something delicious is ready for you.
In a sense, there are also similarities between baking and drawing. Because in both cases, it's about attention, taking your time, and the joy of the process. A drawing and a cake are created in the same way; layer by layer, with love for detail and patience.
Time to get started! It's hard to choose; will I bake cookies today or draw cookies?
