My 20th blog

"When the Cookie Crumbles: A Journey in Baking and Life"

My baking journey began over a decade ago, and fittingly, cookies were my first experiment in the kitchen. It's amusing—and a little ironic—how simple cookies seem. Even an eight-year-old can bake them, yet only now, after attending TESDA baking classes, have I realized that I wasn't measuring my flour correctly or using the proper method. No wonder my cookies always crumbled!

Still, back then, they were a hit. People raved about their chewiness, and I basked in the compliments. But deep down, I wasn’t fully satisfied. I knew something was missing, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

And in a way, that crumbling wasn’t just about baking. Life took its own unexpected turns—especially when my marriage fell apart. Suddenly, I was rebuilding myself, navigating a new world of independence—traveling, baking, spending time with friends, and rediscovering pieces of who I was. I wonder now—if I've learned to fix my cookies, perhaps I can begin mending the parts of myself that once crumbled, too. Maybe, starting today, both my baking and my life can find their way toward something more whole, more refined, more resilient.

Tomorrow, I face an assessment, a test of skill and precision in baking. But in many ways, it's also a step toward refining something much deeper—my journey, my resilience, my ability to shape something beautiful out of what once felt broken.

So, for now, I’ll pause my reflections—but not for long. When I return, I’ll share the techniques I’ve learned to make my cookies chewier, richer, and sturdier—no longer crumbling at the slightest touch. And maybe, just maybe, with the right patience, care, and understanding, life’s relationships can follow the same path. Because like any great recipe, the right balance of effort, time, and heart can lead to something truly worth savoring.