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Alchemy
Those of you who attended my presentation at NYU Experimental Cuisine Collaborative may remember that I began with a discussion of science vs. alchemy and the following definitions:
1) an early, unscientific form of chemistry that sought to change base metals into gold and discover a life-prolonging elixir, a universal cure for disease, and a universal solvent alkahest
2) a power supposedly like alchemy, especially of enchantment or transformation (don’t you adore this definition!)
I also mentioned that ‘some people’ think that baking is alchemy. The ‘some people’ I had in mind included my husband Elliott. But I couldn’t say this because he was in the audience!
Afterwards I told him that I was referring to him and he said “yes—I knew that—but you always misunderstood. I didn’t mean it as a bad thing but as a good thing. I have little respect for scientific theories alone—it is the people who actually perform the experiments, i.e. the alchemists who understand…”
Thirty two years of marriage and it took this presentation to understand an important issue between the two of us. All these years I had been assuming that he was putting me down on some level and it was quite the contrary. I’m telling you, dear bloggers, communication is surely the source of most of the world’s problems. Anyway, let us all continue to be alchemists and “enchant and transform” our world.
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Rose, I have a background in medical technology. After a long day in the chemistry lab I returned home to work in my own lab--the kitchen! The more complicated,detailed and precise the recipe the more I enjoyed the process. Julia Child taught me how to cook and you taught me how to bake. Now I teach, too. Thanks Rose
Reply to this Posted by: Anonymous | April 2, 2008 6:48 PM #
Thanks, Rose. You've been a huge inspiration to me! If you like my e-mail, you should see my license plate... ;)
Reply to this Posted by: Rose (not THE Rose, just a Rose) | March 13, 2008 11:00 PM #
Thanks for responding--you have helped to alleviate, after all of these years, my guilty feelings over my Betty Crocker award! I think, in your spare time (ha) you should organize a reunion. I look forward to visiting your site often.
Reply to this Posted by: amy budish | March 8, 2008 10:15 PM #
rose, i loved knowing more about alchemy and i love your appropriate e-mail address!
Reply to this Posted by: Rose Levy Beranbaum | March 8, 2008 4:26 PM #
my story's similar to yours. my best friend really needed that scholarship but neither of us turned out to get any of the money. it was a very intellectual and arty school--music and art--and home ec wasn't even offered. it wasn't until years later that i framed the award and started to wear the pin with pride!
Reply to this Posted by: Rose Levy Beranbaum | March 8, 2008 10:26 AM #
I had never been on your site prior to tonight and was first attracted to your "Babka Bliss" postings. But lo, and behold, I came across the postings about the "Betty Crocker Homemaker Award" I was the winner of this at my high school in 1970! Unlike most of your responders, I was mortified when I won. In 1970, home economics was about the most "uncool" class that any liberated female could take. I took the test hoping to win the scholarship money for college. Unfortunately, I wasn't that lucky and instead had to receive my pin during a school assembly. Not only was I embarassed by the whole thing, I felt really badly because there was this other girl who had also taken the test whose whole goal in life was to be like Betty Crocker and I knew the award would have meant so much to her. If I still had the pin, I would send it to her!
Reply to this Posted by: amy budish | March 7, 2008 10:34 PM #
I did a report on alchemy in college. My understanding is that there were two parts: the exoteric and the esoteric. The exoteric was the idea that one could actually turn lead into gold. The esoteric was the concept of turning one's soul "from lead into gold." The alchemists promoted the first part (the idea that they could create great wealth for the Powers That Be) to hide the fact that they were on a spiritual quest that, if discovered, would land them on the rack or stake. It was a cover story to keep them alive in very dangerous times. I've always thought of baking as alchemy AND magic--nothing to be ashamed of there! Every time I bake, my soul turns a bit more golden, and people can taste the magic in whatever I create.
Reply to this Posted by: Rose (not THE Rose, just a Rose) | March 7, 2008 11:43 AM #
The best part of the magic was when someone, sometime once looked at a stalk of wheat and thought, "Aha, I could turn that into cakes, bread and beer!"
Reply to this Posted by: Kate | February 27, 2008 8:18 AM #
I've always called baking alchemy; if not alchemy, then it's certainly magic! To mix some dry substances with a little liquid and come out with bread and cake is truly amazing. I certainly enjoy cooking, but it's baking that can always give me that extra burst of energy when I'm tired. Somehow cooking dinner, however good, doesn't do the same thing.
Beth
Reply to this Posted by: Beth | February 25, 2008 2:46 PM #
Awww, you guys are so sweet. Makes me tear up! :)
Reply to this Posted by: June | February 25, 2008 12:50 PM #
:)
I'm married to a man who sounds very similar to your Elliot. Needless to say, I have a huge grin on my face.
Reply to this Posted by: Patrincia | February 24, 2008 7:16 PM #
Loved reading this! Eating a delicious cake or dessert sometimes feels like a life-prolonging elixir or a universal cure for disease. :) And it's even more fun to create something as good.
Here's to 32 more years of even better understanding!
Reply to this Posted by: Zach Townsend | February 24, 2008 4:53 PM #
Rose, thank you for sharing this. My family has always put me "down" on some level for everything I bake, they always voice "something is missing, needs this, no on that."
But after all these years it is my family's "down" critique what pushes me for perfection. I have a lot of family around me, so this pattern won't be slowing down anytime soon!
In fact, I don't recall any "up" critique, but I know in my heart that when family eats a second slice of cake it means "up."
Lets be both, alchemists and scientists!
Reply to this Posted by: Hector | February 24, 2008 2:16 PM #
Rose,
Truer words never said.
It's all about communication.
A little magic now and then is nice as well.
Reply to this Posted by: Teresa Macpherson | February 24, 2008 12:53 PM #