Living Divinity

Don’t you love a good challenge? There are days when one can absolutely get my juices flowing.

A dare can be as exciting as watching a football game, European style for me, or it can be the creations of some kitchen wizard who is also a holiday baker. Think about it for a moment. We know that the festival of Hanukkah is just over, but how many of us have the guts to learn how to make latkes from scratch and fry up a few dozen? Once I tried making a dozen. All I can say in my defense is that it’s a heck of a lot of work. But making donuts? Seriously? Those beautiful donuts that are a part of the festival that some people still fry up at home? No way. I know what a klutz I can be. Half the oil would be all over the stove and countertops.

The men and women who continue to do all that work are absolute miracle workers.

As are the nimble-fingered wonder workers who cook and bake all the other assorted cookies and cakes of many cultures for Christmas, New Years and other holidays.

There is honest, easily observable living divinity in their creations. All the time spent shopping for not just any brand of ingredients, but the right ingredients, followed by the preparation and oven time. Saffron cake, whether Persian or Cornish, has its name because there is saffron in it, not some look alike spice like turmeric which utterly lacks the flavor and taste sensation. It skips many of our minds, but there are a good number of holiday foods which have to sit for the flavors to settle and permeate. Cookies and cakes can…