It’s no secret. The ingredient is love.
To cook, to bake, to make something for someone is the one of the sincerest ways to say, I Love You. It asks you to be brave, to put yourself out there, to be vulnerable, to be open to rejection and criticism. It is no easy task, but we do it, because love is more than words, it is demonstrated.
“I made this for you.” Think of when your parent, spouse, partner, loved one, friend, child, sibling, grandparent, relative, or even a stranger has said that to you. The face lights up, the smile is shy, the laugh joyful, there may be a hug, or a kiss involved and sometimes there may be silence, with eyes suddenly glossy and bright.