Earlier this year, I started to learn how to make bread. It was something I’d wanted to do for a long time. This year I have more free time, so I decided it was time. Although I’m still a newbie at this point, I thought it would be fun to bake something on my birthday. A birthday cake would be ideal, but then again I’m just a novice.
I decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies. I got all the ingredients yesterday, premium dark chocolate bars and all. While checking out the ingredients at the supermarket, I thought it would be such a waste if I failed.
Today is my birthday. I woke up early and set out to work, having everything I need laid out on my kitchen counter. I don’t have any fancy equipment. Just a bowl and a whisk. I thought I would learn to bake by hand before investing in machines. I was pretty tired by the time I put the dough into the fridge to chill, and I still needed to buy an ice cream scoop at a store near by.
Thinking about cleaning up before I go out to the store, I glanced at the counter and noticed that the sugar jar was untouched. I forgot to put the white sugar into the batter… Luckily, I put brown sugar in it properly, so the cookies would hold their shapes.
After I came back from the store, I preheated the oven and used the ice cream scoop to get each cookie somewhat the same size on the lined baking tray. Then I got them into the oven.
While I was waiting for the cookies, I looked out the kitchen window and saw all my three dogs in the back yard, half their bodies hidden in the grass.
My cookies turned out better than I could ask for. They’re perfectly edible which is great considering that it was my first time baking cookies and I forgot to add one of the main ingredients. They’re rich and chewy, just not very sweet.
My birthday this year was very quiet. I slept in the afternoon after the cookie feast. The weather was nice. It’s getting cooler here in Thailand. The dogs were playing in the yard. It was a simple peaceful day.
Years ago I thought about throwing a huge birthday party where I’d invite everyone I know and buy them food and such, but I just never got to do it. I don’t think I’ll ever get to do it. Maybe, I’m getting old. Yesterday, my husband and I had lunch with our best friend who shared the same birthday with me together with his wife and our other best friend. It’s what we’ve been doing for years.
I think that’s all that matters, getting to see your people and doing your own stuff.
And at the end of the day, I still have my cookies.
—Petra
Petrawrites.com 