First of all, this post is about an activity of a particular group. Although it was also about food, its focus was not on the details of the ingredients and procedures but more on how it went. Such will be mentioned in a separate post in the future.
Last Friday, September 8, 2023, was a day filled with anticipation for the patients and their companions to be able to participate in a baking activity. They were a group of beneficiaries of a foundation that caters to free life-changing surgeries like cataract,00 cleft lip and palate, and club foot surgeries. Those who live far from the city can stay in the foundation's recuperation facility with free food and accommodation. While waiting for, or undergoing treatment, an activity was held. Its purpose was to help them learn and prepare something to be served to their visitors the following day. Since I am into baking, I was requested to teach them how to bake. So, I taught them 2 recipes: an easy one, which was the coconut macaroons, and a quite difficult one, the cinnamon roll.
It was like a baking workshop. I did one set of the recipe and gave the other set to the patients and told them to follow what I did. The ingredients were measured beforehand so we were able to immediately start the process.
Coconut Macaroons
We made 4 recipes: I mixed one batch good for 2 recipes and the other batch for the patients also for 2 recipes. It was their first time, but the mixing was very quick and easy and in no time they were able to fill the molders.
We had ample pastry bags that gave each one a chance to try to pipe the batter and fill the molders. Most of them were ladies and there were only 3 men and they said they would only do the taste test.馃檪
Unlike commercial ovens, the gas range oven could not contain all of the molders, so its baking time took more or less 3 hrs. While waiting, we proceeded to the next recipe.
Cinnamon Roll
We made 2 kilos. Again, we divided it- I did the process for 1 kilo and the other kilo for the patients. They were able to follow the procedure quite well but it was in the forming of the rolls that was quite different.
How It Went
Everyone was eager to learn, actively participated, and excited to eat and enjoy; of course, who wouldn't?馃槄. Some asked questions and took down notes, photos, and videos of the activity. When the macaroons were baked and still hot, they wanted to try them right away but we told them sweets taste better when they are cooled down and taste best a day after, which is true. But with bread, no doubt they are eaten best when warm, except for a few kinds like ensaymadas or filled bread. So we ate only when everything was finished. We were done at around 5:30 pm.
Finally, it was time to eat.馃構
Since most of them were already full, they didn't want to eat dinner anymore. The following day, the macaroons were served to the group that hosted another activity.
Most groupmates/batchmates stayed in this facility for about 2 months already and a few were returning patients for follow-up check-ups. They had established closeness with one another, and some of them were discharged or went home a day after or the next couple of days. So, it was like a "despidida party" for those who would be going home. Some asked the House Manager and commented, "Why only now Ma'am?馃榾 We could have tried many recipes already.馃榾 My niece explained that because we had lots of stuff to organize and declutter due to our transfer, we didn't have enough time to prepare for an activity.
A patient who was discharged and went home last Sunday sent me this message:
I felt happy that through sharing my knowledge, I had the opportunity to help them learn something that could possibly enable them to make a small business out of it. On the patients' part, it was also a privilege to do hands-on learning without spending on the ingredients and equipment.
Thank you so much for reading. Until next time.
Take care!
lytha
