The Therapeutic Importance of "The British Baking Show"

If these very challenging times are leaving you in disarray, forlorn, or even hopeless....I have something that might be able to give you a lift until the smoke clears (or more likely) until you develop the most effective way to exist "in" the world but not "of" it. By that I mean that we have the opportunity to create our own "world" where we aren't engaged with the turbulence and destruction that too often flies under our noses. That doesn't mean that we insulate ourselves from caring for others or doing our part (earnestly) to help those who need it most, or taking a stand for what is right, etc., but it means that we can protect our perspective by refusing to be frustrated, angry, hopeless, etc..

Enter the "British Baking Show" which is in it's 11th year, a PBS product now on Netflix. I discovered it about 3 months ago...I don't bake....at all. I don't cook. I don't aspire to do either. What I absorb from the show is not the inspiration to bake, but the inspiration to be kind, friendly, caring, lighthearted, and always modest. Additionally and just slightly less important is the joy that comes from seeing people invested in something that takes focus, passion and patience.... but something that is not of life or death proportions. I have often found that when you focus on something: baking, pottery, painting, skateboarding, golf, gardening, needlepoint, whatever, it can have a very calming and almost meditative effect. It's almost a crucial component of life. If we focus on details where the stakes are not too high it can be pure joy. It matters a lot at the time you are doing it but it's not overly consequential. The exercise is a way to retreat to a deserted island. It removes you from the issues in your life that may have much more gravity. We can't live on the front lines all the time. Sometimes you need to change lanes for awhile. Watch someone make a tart, a Ciabatta, an almond and orange zest biscotti (my favorite), a 3 layered cake that looks like your favorite celebrity, a savory meat pie.

This show, filmed beautifully in the English countryside under a large white tent, replete with a dozen stations with ovens, sinks, etc., is loaded with Brits. All the contestants and the hosts are British. It is an incredible advertisement for England because in watching almost all the episodes I have yet to see one of the contestants (there are 12 that start every show) who is not cheery, modest, kind, smiling constantly, engaged in the challenge, and always magnanimous. In spite of all those horribly disfigured smiles and teeth these Brits are unabashed. They love to smile. By contrast I used to watch Project Runway which is a competition show from NYC to design and fabricate couture. The tone was much more divisive, hostile, competitive and even combative at times. It celebrated personality clashes and outbursts. The "British Baking Show" can almost leave me teary eyed...not because of the beautiful baked goods, many which make my mouth water (only the sweet ones, not the savory) but because the people are so affable. They are delightful. You would give them all the shirt off your back. Seeing how seriously they take the details of baking, and there ARE many details as co-host Paul Hollywood is always ready to point out, is inspiring.

I love seeing people giving their best effort...at anything. They aren't doing this for the money....there is no prize money. This is for the love of baking and the palpable comradery that you see between all of the contestants. They are all throwing their hats in the ring. It takes courage to say "Yes" to an endeavor like this. It leaves you vulnerable and it takes some courage. I celebrate every last one of them. Some of the contestants are over 75 and one was 17.

There is an opportunity to learn and appreciate the many subtleties of baking....it's amazing how decorative and imaginative it can be....it's remarkably creative with the ultimate goal being to make something that is enjoyable to eat. No matter how nice it looks it must be delicious.

There is something that happens when you see happy and delightful people. In season 1 one of the finalists is named Richard. I feel like putting a photo of his smile on my mantle at home. His wife said of him, "Richard is so modest...everything he does makes me proud". She said that with tears in her eyes. I need this, sometimes. I need the chance to see Richard giving 100% to bake something splendid, or to see Lou’, or Sara.

Sometimes the recipe for a happier life is just to add another layer of buttercream or, if you like, a sheet of marzipan. By the way, marzipan is: a sweet, yellowish paste of ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites, often colored and used to make small cakes or confections or as an icing for larger cakes—more likely, a happier life can be bolstered by being surrounded by people who find any reason at all to render a smile or a nice word of support.

You'll never overbake a sponge again. But, if you do it's no big deal.

Baked goods for thought...