I occasionally go through baking phases.   There is nothing more thrilling than slipping into one of my numerous aprons and concocting a sweet treat to tempt my friends, family, and co-workers.  Feeding someone, especially something sweet, is just another expression of care and love.  I know food is just supposed to be fuel but  We eat with all our senses: the taste of the flavors, the smell of the final product, the sight of a beautifully plated meal, the touch of the food crossing your lips, and hearing the sound of people oooohing and ahhhhing.  I plan on hearing plenty of oohs and ahs tomorrow.

Plus one of the best things about baking is the chance to lose yourself in your thoughts.  For example, I started thinking about chocolate chips.  Who invented the chocolate chip?  And how did he or she discover it?

And all those silly jokes about dumb blondes…blondies are the smarter dessert.  You can make brownies from a box but blondies often involve more labor.  You have to be smarter to make a blondie from scratch as opposed to making a boxed brownie (don’t get me wrong, I love box mix but making a dessert from scratch is much more satisfying).

You actually have to melt the butter and sugar.

Trust me, the extra effort is worth the final product.  Frankly, I think  any dessert involving peanut butter, brown sugar, and chocolate chips ( recipe ) is a winner in my book.  And there are only a thousand other recipes I want to make from “ two peas & their pod “.

With an overwhelming urge to be creative, I also channeled another one of my favorite blondes: Martha Stewart .  Instead of cramming the blondies into a plastic bag, I wrapped each blondie individually with a ribbon bow.  A craft a day keeps the doctor away.

I needed the quiet moments while baking to get lost in my head. Beyond thinking about the invention of chocolate chips, I managed to shut down the negative thoughts that always seem to threaten my tranquility.  I probably should be working on eliminating my emotional connection to food but I think part of reducing my need to binge is to recognize and to understand the importance of food.  Food isn’t just fuel; it’s nourishment and comfort and laughter and happiness.  Trust me, if you make these blondies, you’ll really understand.