Keep the Fire Burning.
Michelle Phetlhe | Tuesday August 17, 2021 06:00
The pre heating oven warmed up the kitchen and as I mixed my wet ingredients into my dry ingredients the sweet smell of vanilla wafted through the air, I placed my baking dish in the oven and set my timer for 18min, cleaned up and went to sit down in front of the telly with my personal person.
As I sat down, he smiled and asked mma? Fishing for an answer to his previous question. To which I finally responded to, “no there isn’t... akere you know I am baking an order”. And I really was, I hadn’t included my boys in the equation that evening. His tune then changed to .....Ok, ill fix the ingredients. Basically he will make the job easier for me, but I should please bake for him and the boys.
In my mind I came up with a better idea which I would only make privy to him once it was go time. My alarm went off and I went back in to the kitchen to remove the tray from the oven. It was at this time that I put out all the ingredients, measuring cups, measuring spoons, whisks, baking tray and everything else he might need to whip up a batch of vanilla cupcakes before calling him into the kitchen to bake. I must say he took the news quite well upon discovering that in actual fact he would be doing all the baking, he was more than ready to. I stood back, gave him space and started to read out the recipe and instructions to him.
I made sure to strike a fair balance between giving a ChellzKitchen class and enjoying some Quality Time and bonding in the kitchen. I have heard and read in several instances that cooking with your partner can strengthen your relationship. Some of the key common principles I came across included;
Communication When you’re cooking a meal together, the actual preparation of the meal and its success lies in how well the recipe if followed, understood and communicated by both parties. Developing strong communication skills in the kitchen under the heat would only strengthen your ability to communicate well in other areas of your life. If you are good communicators, being in the kitchen together can only make you better. Hanging Out Perhaps you share different interests when it comes to different activities together. The kitchen is an easy space to both be in because at the end of the day you both eat food. It can also easily become an intimate date night with some light music and wine.
These date nights can be set monthly or weekly where this is a time both parties can look forward to; ‘keep the fire burning’. This is brilliant, I will definitely be looking at the calendar this evening and scheduling monthly cooking date nights. Teamwork Making meals together teaches you how to tag-team a situation and work together toward a common goal. You can divide and concur or work hand in hand to be effective in executing your dish. Communication plays a huge roll and teaches you to be fair. In my kitchen we have a deal that I cook and he can do the dishes and vice versa. Only problem is I really don’t like doing dishes but love to cash in day offs in the kitchen.
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Cupcakes
INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups Bokomo Cake Flour
1 1/4 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Butter softened
3/4 cup White Pure sugar
2 large Eggs
2 tsp pure Vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk (I made mine with Delta Fresh Milk and White Vinegar)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 170°C and line a cupcake/muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a bowl, whisk together dry ingredients and set aside. Beat butter and sugar until thick and fluffy, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition then scrape down the bowl. Add 2 tsp vanilla and beat to combine.
Add the flour mixture in thirds alternating with the buttermilk, mixing to incorporate with each addition. Scrape down the bowl as needed and beat until just combined and smooth. Divide the batter evenly into a 12-count lined muffin or cupcake pan, filling 2/3 full.
Bake for 20-23 minutes at 170°C, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool to room temperature before frosting.