Baking is a Poor-Man's Alchemy | Camryn Cayne (11)

Stuffed in a cupboard, above the hot oven,

Lie the unique chemicals to an endless set of solutions

Stuffed in a fridge, sitting close by,

Lie the frigid components of an unmade invention

Stuffed in a pantry, just off to the side,

Lie the final additions to the savory delicacies

Each Sunday comes the time

When I delve into these storages

With my cook book in hand, happy to be used

As a reference for the madness sure to ensue

But before I can create and craft a new surprise

I must rely on these books to act as a guide

Filled with recipes I will never fully discover

I must choose only the best to become uncovered

Sifting through page after page

Reading ingredients, steps, and prep times galore

I finally find the perfect one

To mark down as I prep for the store

The list of my desires

Goes to my mom’s hand

And when she returns

It is off to my sacred land

Grabbing the chemicals

Swift on my feet

I then grab out my tools and mixers

A worthy fleet

As the first steps are read

And the oven goes on

I begin to sift through measuring cups

Using them as my perfectly-sized pawns

In one scoop a leavener, white as can be

In another a spice, but not one that is spicy

In two more are some similarly named yet different in properties

Both helpful for rising, for lightness, for volume

With dry steps done, the wet step has arrived

As neither young chickens

Nor churned goods into the mixture

Have been added inside

First the white and brown crystals

Then the pale yellow lube

Next the products from animals

Those of hens and cows, too

I must stir in the flavors

No longer “beans” but a liquid

And finally bring back the dry part

Before I fold in my mix-ins

All mixed up and ready it is nearly time to rise

I grab out a dish from back in a cupboard

They must be prepped as well to prevent any sticking

I need to look at the recipe to set the clock ticking

Into the pans

Into the ovens

Spoons to my dad and my brother

Who have been waiting, hovering

The countdown begins

The fun part, it’s time to pursue

I can see the batter rising

Watching my treats like in a zoo

Oh how wondrous it is

To see the transformation

One moment they’re round

The next the ingredients are awakening

Time has come and time has gone

The kitchen is all clean

And the finished beauties

Are ready to be seen

Out they come

To cool off some steam

I beam at the results

And take pictures for others to see

So amazing the changes

So unique the process

With only a few simple ingredients

I feel like an alchemist