Family Matters: Baking for Fun and Fellowship

By Lucia Ferrara

Have you ever had your family join you in recreating holidays memories from your childhood? As the holidays approaching, I wanted to share some ideas and my experiences with my family and friends. It is so especially important to teach our youth about their culture, family history, tradition and even recipes.

This is so important because knowing your roots makes you appreciate who you are and where you came from. It is also a part of growing spiritually and intellectually.

One part of this experience is through baking. Baking with family and friends is a wonderful way to teach, fellowship and share. I was inspired by Acts of the Apostles 2:42: “All believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to fellowship and to sharing in meals … and to prayer.”

In September, I hosted a bread-making retreat here at the Renewal Center. It was truly a fun hands-on and heart-in experience. As I prepared for this retreat I reflected on my past, growing up in a family where cooking and baking was the heart of the family and an everyday occurrence. In one way, shape or form, I watched my mother prepare meals and bake all kinds of great desserts.

When she died, I was a teenager and recalled trying to recreate all the different stuff she had made. After many years of trial and error, I finally got some recipes right but not exactly. It was so infuriating! I realized why I could not get them to taste exactly like the way she made it, even with using the exact same ingredients and following the recipe to a tee. The reason is that my mother was not doing it. You see, when you cook or bake it is the authenticity, the love, the spirit that goes into it. That is what makes it different.

The same thing happened at the baking retreat. I taught them how to make bread using only four ingredients, and needless to say, everyone’s loaf turned out differently. The art of making bread, whether you are a beginner or a seasoned baker, all bread is not the same. It is unique to each of us.

The most important ingredients in baking or even cooking is the desire, love, and energy you put into it. It is an exercise if you will, a spiritual practice. You find ways to connect, reflect and pray together. Just like flour, water, salt, and yeast transform into a loaf of bread, so will you. We are all called to share the Bread of Life with our families, communities, and the world. This is how we spread God’s goodness and love to others.

In “How Baking with Friends and Family Can Improve Your Well-Being,” on the website Baker’s Secret, Elisa Pecorari writes:

“By baking with friends and family, you can reduce stress, boost your mood, improve social connections, increase mindfulness, build confidence, provide a sense of purpose, and spark creativity. So, gather your loved ones, put on your aprons, and get ready to create some delicious treats that will not only taste good but also improve your well-being. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just for fun, the act of coming together and sharing in the experience can create lasting memories and strengthen your relationships.”

During the holidays, I like to share my culinary traditions and memories with my children so they can pass them down to their families. Creating opportunities like this becomes a treasure that lasts a lifetime. I challenge you to do the same this season.

All the articles in the Family Matters series are available here.

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[Lucia Ferrara is the Director of Hospitality at Precious Blood Renewal Center and the lead organizer here of Parent Cafes. Share your thoughts with Lucia or ask her questions by using the form below or sending an email to info@pbrenewalcenter.org. Read more about the Parent Café here.]