Every time I bake a batch of brownies I pretty much change the recipe. It's still Brenda's Fudge Brownie recipe given to me by my good friend and fellow-foodie Rachel Adamson, but I always reflect on what I did last time and try something new. The other day I threw in some glace cherries that needed using up and some big chunks of 70% cocoa solids chocolate that melted gloriously in the cooking process. I also added milk again to create a bit of a batter consistency. I think they turned out to be the best brownies I've made so far. But there's always room for improvement...
Reflection is a necessary part of character development, just as it is for my brownie evolution. In our science-dominated age where anything that cannot be proved or reached by rational enquiry is treated with suspicion or ignored, it is easy to pass through life without ever taking stock and reflecting upon who we are, how we got where we are, and where we are heading. If we want any kind of integrity as human beings we need to just stop and reflect. We need to take a break from the norm and play around with things - the experiment might just work but we need to courage to change, and then to recognise and stick with development when it comes.
Talking of playing, I went to see the Hairy Bikers live last night. Now I've read some online reviews today and I cannot believe how depressed the British public have become. It was good old British humour - a little bit naughty and thoroughly liberating. I can only imagine this is what it must be like to go to a naturist party. It did me so much good to let go and laugh, laugh, laugh. Most of the time I confine my life to rational movements - like following a recipe without deviation. Last night I threw in a good dose of salted caramel and my surface crackled and popped with delight. Playing, laughing, dancing - these are all good ways of reflecting and changing.
Life is way too short to blindly take up residence on the conveyor belt of monotony. What treasures might we find if we step out of our comfort zone, out of the shadows, and into the sun? And once we find those treasures let's not hold on to them and settle back into our miserly life - let's go looking for even more, for there is always more to behold in this rich tapestry of existence bequeathed to us by our generous Creator; very few of us have eyes open enough to see it.
