‽istis ponders baking, again (weekending January 20th
2024)
This weekending ‽istis is baking for a ‘now it’s Christmas Day’
family celebration postponed by ‘Covid’ which proved (pun intended) - with gratitude
at being spared and memories of the fear and the strangeness of those times less
than four years ago – temporarily incapacitating, not fatal…
‽ Recipe: This one, from the internet - source
of information limitless?, available at the tapping of keys and amazing
processes triggered; work of human hand, work of hidden hand[i] and
seemingly supernatural algorithms driving search engines; no reason not to
trust – seems right, looks do-able, endorsed and liked. Others: in print with
or without pictures for comparison; on the shelf; bought, given or inherited.
Others still: handed down; tried and tested, tweaked and amended; bespoked for
occasion, for particular needs or wants - perhaps across generations.
‽ Ingredients: have I got what I need and in sufficient
quantity?; check what’s in the cupboard, new and unopened or left over from
previous use. Others, on a shopping list, a wish list; means and wherewithal
(shop, supply chain, manufacture, work of human hand, work of hidden hand) dependent. Alternatives acceptable?
‽ Equipment: yet again, have I got what I need? including
space and time, tools and utensils, power and the heat it generates.
‽ Process: what, when and how?; steps and method; preparation;
measuring and checking; mixing and combining; waiting perhaps for proving; trusting
that the chemistry will happen in the heat of the oven, for as long as it takes.
Et voilĂ , as they say‽ Cake!
They also say: ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’; we
shall see…
Perhaps later, as the product is tested and the outcome
evaluated (possibly measured in smiles or frowns, in the immediate taste or what
is left as a lingering legacy - bitter, sour or sweet) ‽istis may wonder
whether any of this could serve as a metaphor? For what else might we need a
recipe, ingredients, equipment, a process and proof this weekending…‽
Bake![ii]
NB:
further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and past blog
entries to be found on X/Twitter with replies, retweets (which don’t
necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’:
@Pistis_wonders.
X/Twitter ‘follows’ and
respectful comment and dialogue welcome...
[i]
After Adam Smith ‘The Wealth of Nations’ and an earlier reference in ‘The Theory
of Moral Sentiments’
[ii] As
uttered at least three times to start the challenges in probably all the ‘Great
British Bake Off’ shows on British TV in recent years.