The need to be Worthy.

Well, today I did the THING that most women hate doing. No, it was not cleaning the toilets, and it was not cleaning the oven. Those two things that I mentioned really I would pick over what I did today. I detest it, It makes me sweat, It concerns me...it's Bra shopping. Yes, today I spent a disgusting huge amount of money on making sure that I look good. Really, men have it so much easier.

I walked into the business and I became overwhelmed with just the store itself. There was pretty bras, huge bras, Slimming products, bathing suits, Valentine's Day worthy bras and outfits ( no I am not going to go into detail). My girlfriend got right down to business and I just froze. I could say nothing and just wait for my friend to be done OR just bite the bullet and got the process going. 2 hours later, 3 bras, and $154 less in my bank account I walked out of the store happy that I did what I did.

Now, you are wondering I know what does this have to do with Baking or making bread or Cooking something. It has everything to do with it. Is there something that you love to eat but you don't make because it takes too long for it to be done? I do, I can think of 2 recipes that come to mind. One is a Caramelised Banana layered Cake with Chocolate Ganache. OK my mouth is watering just thinking about it. My sister Jennifer LOVES this cake but it really is a PAIN to bake. The other is Lasagna with a sauce which takes HOURS standing over the stove creating the sauce but oh so worth it. Recipes can be expensive, time consuming or they just get on your nerves but they are so worth it. Worth it like buying bras that fit.

Why do we buy the cheap cake or the pizzas that are already made. I know that answer...because its faster.Yes its faster but we do not get the flavour or freshness that we would get with making it ourselves. We eat them and we are disappointed. That should not be.
Why do we buy things that we will wear that are uncomfortable and don't fit right (yes, I am talking bras here ladies). Somehow we justify it because its cheaper and we think that we are really not worth it.

I am preaching this to myself here but how about we treat ourselves better by taking the time to cook or bake something that will be worthwhile to eat. Why not stop shopping for things that are cheap and look not at the price but how it fits and makes you feel. We are worth it. You are worth it. I am worth it.

The need to challenge myself is really why I bake. Take bunt cakes for example. The cake itself is not hard to make its getting the crazy thing out of the pan. One weekend I baked a stupid bunt cake 3 or 4 times before it came out freely from the pan. Non-stick my...OK this is a PG blog but in my head I was not happy.

The other thing that has really not worked until several weeks ago was Swiss Buttercream. It looked simple and the directions made it all look easy but I have gone through many pounds of butter trying to make thing EASY recipe. I did succeed when it matter most. I had my mother-in-law here and my husband's siblings. I was making a Fall meal because in August of this year it was fall like. I had a Turkey in the oven and roast vegetables in with it. I had make the cupcakes which were lovely, round, plump mounds of goodness. I had fresh strawberries and I thought,"What the heck lets give this a go." I always talk in the plural when I am am encouraging myself.

I got the egg whites out and the sugar that was needed. I started the double boiler and found the right bowl to do this in. Got out that crazy $20 hand held mixer that I had bought and went for it. Within 15 minutes I had the most firm and enjoyable icing I have ever tasted.

It pays to never give up. The evening was a success and I was extremely proud of the fact that I was able to pull it all off. If only they knew how close it was to having a horrible dessert.