Does your food ever speak to you? Mine usually doesn’t but to it was talking LOUD! Not literally, but as I was baking this batch of cookies today, a big life lesson came flowing out of the oven, through my nose and into my heart.
My brain is a little all over the place and I have 3 different metaphors I’m going to try to explain so bear with me!
1) You are what you put in
When you make cookies, you have to put the right ingredients in the bowl. Think about it: If you use 1/2 cup salt instead of 1/2 cup sugar, your cookies are going to be gross. The same goes for life. If you have a certain goal in mind or a specific way you want to be, you have to put in the right ingredients! It’s up to you to set yourself up for success whether that means taking a certain class or making a change. Sometimes it might even mean saying no to certain things that won’t lead you to your goal. What you put in directly effects what you get out. Pay attention to what you’re consuming…I’m talking music, TV, movies, people, everything! You may not think it makes a difference, but if you’re putting filth in, you’re going to get filth out.
2) The right time
This one goes out to all my single ladies. Where you at?! Okay actually guys too. I’m so impatient when it comes to finding my soul mate and get so frustrated every time I hear people justify my singleness with “They’re just intimidated by you Nicole”. In my impatient pursuits to find Prince Charming, I end up making things more of a mess than they already were and am left feeling let down and discouraged.
Just like cookies, boys (and girls) have to stay in the oven until just the right time or else they will be a glob of dough and make you sick or a burnt brick that could break your tooth (& your heart). You don’t want to be in a relationship with a person if the timing isn’t right, whether it’s them not ready for you or you not ready for them.
The right situation with the wrong timing, is a wrong situation.
Do you see what I mean? When you are baked to your fullest potential, you will be taken out of the oven at just the right time (and so will your soul mate) and it will just work because its the right time. Same goes for opportunities in your life. When the time is right, the right doors (or ovens) will open. If you’re patient enough to let yourself develop and be baked fully, you will be the best cookie in the world!
3) Your job as a cookie
Do you know what it’s like to pull out the most perfectly golden cookies from the oven and then take that first bite when they are still warm and it falls apart into your hand while the rest makes its way happily into your stomach? It’s a good feeling right? (If you don’t know what I’m talking about WHY ARE YOU READING THIS BLOG?! GO TRY IT!!)
Just like cookies, when you put in the time to become the best person you can be, your life is like a good cookie to other people. When they are in your presence, your light, peace and joy radiate from within you and out and into their hearts. To be this way you have to be patient in the waiting and with the small things when it feels like nothing’s happening. It also means you have to take care of yourself so you are fully rested, charged and ready to serve at your 100%.
I’m the first person to be guilty of being too busy and often times it comes at the cost of not being 100% when I’m around people. I’m not saying you’re always going to have good days and be perfect, but I do think we could all benefit from saying no to some things and taking rest for our mental health and sanity. Thats okay. You deserve that. #DontDoStuff
Bonus Lesson (I said I was only going to do 3 but I just remembered another thing that I personally took away from this that I thought would be cool to share):
In my life, personally, I’m learning to let God be the chef. I’m learning how to surrender and let Him be in charge of the ingredients because if He wants to put walnuts in the mix then so be it!! (I’m thinking that’s why I’m a little nutty;) I’m fully confident that He knows how to make cookies (and live life) better than me and I trust in His perfect timing to pull me out of the oven when His plan can be best fulfilled in my life.
Whether or not you believe this, know that He loves you so much and thought about each ingredient He put into you! God never makes the same cookie so be satisfied in knowing that someone cares about you enough to make you your own special flavor.
Bet ya want some cookies now huh?
Here’s the recipe. 🙂
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies (Adapted from thetabletogether.com)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 sticks (8-ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup light-brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 bag of Nestle Tollhouse Holiday Chocolate Chips
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375ºF, if baking right away.
2. In a medium size bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set to the side.
3. In a stand-mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add room temperature butter and both sugars. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, approximately 3 – 5 minutes.
4. Add vanilla, mixing until just combined. Add eggs, one at a time, stopping the machine to wipe down the sides before adding the second egg. Note: Be careful to not overmix.
5. In one addition, carefully add flour mixture and mix until just combined. Add chocolate chips and mix again until just combined, approximately 5 seconds.
6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a 1 1/2-ounce cookie scoop, portion dough and evenly space on the parchment paper. Gently press each cookie dough to flatten.
7. Place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or ideally overnight. You can bake right away but keep in mind they may spread as the dough will melt before it starts baking. Just make sure your oven is preheated to 375ºF before you put the cookies inside.
8. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375ºF. Evenly divide cookie dough balls with a few inches from one to the next. Place in preheated 375ºF oven and bake 4 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake an additional 4 – 6 minutes or until the edges are golden and top is set. Note: If the top starts to puff up, wait until a “crust” has formed on top of each cookie and gently press down with a nonstick spatula.
9. Remove from oven and allow to rest before transferring to a wire rack – or plate – and enjoying with an ice cold glass of milk!
xx Nicole #DoStuff #FeelGoodFriday
