The Great British Baking Show is usually playing in the background while I am cooking or preparing a sweet treat. On the show contestants have to create three baked treats according to the theme of the week. For example, during cake week the bakers have to make a signature dish of their own creative genius, a technical dish following a specific challenge, and a showstopper dish to wow the judges. By the end of the week, a contestant is eliminated.
One Christmas I decided that my family would be the contestants for a similar baking competition, parameters set by me.
For this activity I divided us all up into unlikely groupings and gave each group a challenge; each baking or cooking appliance would be unique and limited in some way. Some had to create a dessert with only a microwave, others had only a toaster, and my group had only the waffle maker. In addition to our challenging set up we each had to include lemon into our dessert of choice.
To start, we had ten minutes to do research and prep ingredients. After that the work began. This game pushed us to create some very unique dishes: there was a lemon trifle dish, lemon cookies, and even lemon crepes. Votes were cast as a group and I don’t remember who won, but I do remember being close to the champion title. We have not had a Christmas all together since this time so I do hope to recreate it again in the future with a new key ingredient.
It was such a special time together as a family. We got to know each other more, test our baking skills, and have fun with one another. I remember my Grandma being very concerned for our health as we tested each dessert.
As I reflect on fond memories of the Christmas season I think about times together with my family, creating and tasting great food together, but also being in communion with one another.
This Christmas, my Grandma is in a very different situation, not able to participate in such a baking competition. She rarely remembers who I am. As my Grandma’s memory has changed, I think back on the dishes that she has brought our family together with over the years.
One famous dish is her “cheese balls.” It’s basically a dough ball, soaked in cream for a few hours. This has been a regular dish at Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations for our family. This year my cousin and I made it together, since Grandma was not able to.
Thinking about the times we have had together while my Grandma was still very much involved helps me understand Psalm 34:8 on a personal level. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.”
I taste and see that the Lord is good with my family, and at the same time we also take refuge in the Lord while my Grandma lives life with dementia, or when we cannot be all together.
All these things can be true at once, and in the holiday season this passage reminds me to appreciate every wonderful part, and be present for every not-so-wonderful part as well.
Cheese Balls
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
Instructions:
Step 1: Mix ingredients into a bowl, form into balls, and bake until golden. Approximately 20 minutes on a greased pan at 350 F.
Step 2: Once baked, place into a crockpot on low heat and cover with heavy cream submerging the cheeseballs. Cook on low in the crockpot for 5-7 hours.
Kalmani Huether-Amoah is a new mom and is excited to enjoy new things with her daughter in the new year.