Mind Over Batter – 75 recipes for baking as therapy
by: Jack Hazan MA, LMHC
Chronicle Books, March 21, 2023
272 pages
review by: E. Broderick
Holidays are a great time to bond with family over food. The day before the holiday though? Super stressful. I’m running around cooking and getting a million things done at once. I was therefore really excited to pick up Mind over Batter by Jack Hazan and bring a little more mindfulness into my baking. The book, which features mostly sweet, but also some savory, baking recipes is arranged around mental health topics. As a licensed therapist, the author talks the reader through how baking can be used to augment therapy.
As with anything meaningful, it gets real personal real fast. Hazan shares his own story of growing up with ADHD, struggling with school, and then also with being gay in a very traditional Syrian Jewish community. There is something reassuring in hearing how everything worked out in the end for him- even if some poor challah dough got kneaded to death along the way. In fact, as the author’s grandmother pointed out, the dough can take it. That’s just part of baking therapy.
The actual chapter openers weren’t really my style. The voice sounds like it would go over great in person or in audio, but feels kind of stilted when reading. However, the mindfulness tips and quick sessions included with each recipe are pure gold. They really transform the act of even rushed baking into something healing for all participants.
I decided to try out two recipes for the recent holiday – the famous Madonna approved challah, and the S’mores cookies. I’ve been on a challah kick recently, trying out many new recipes, and I will say this one gave the best results for the least complicated process. There was only a one hour prove and the bread was still light afterwards. As for the cookies – holy moly. They flew off the plate. Huge hit. Cannot recommend enough. I’m not a fan of rose water as much as Hazan (that’s OK, we come from very different geographic locals) but the recipes included modifications.
I still can’t help from rushing before Shabbat or holiday, but having this voice in my head reminding me to enjoy the moment is crucial. I turned off the mixer and slapped around the challah dough a little myself. And you know what? It did help! So cozy up and get ready to be both well fed and well cared for in the kitchen.