The Chemical Reaction:

Reaction: the transformation of elements from one state to another when they combine usually under various catalysts like pressure, temperature, various concentrations or even being in the same area as one another.

This force is what gives us nuclear weapons, medicines, and that silly tingling feeling when we meet someone we like. Oh right and cakes.

In baking we use various leaveners to assist in giving our cakes lift and an airy delicious crumb. Baking soda reacts with acids to create such a feat while baking powder not only works in your batter but again when you bake it. Yeast is a natural leavening agent that is used in breads and can be found in fresh, active, or active dry. When these are used effectively, these baked goods taste delicious and the texture is even better. But when too much leavener is used your cake or bread or cookie is just one hot mess. The alkalinity of the baking soda leaves a soapy taste that even a Nun wouldn’t wash your mouth out with, and the yeast has produced this over alcohol flavor that sends you to Betty Ford. When not enough is used your pastry is dense, concentrated, and a mimics the appetizing thought of a brick in your mouth.

Chemical reactions are important but need to be kept in check. Careful measuring is necessary and using the proper ingredients that assist in its reaction is key, lemon juice, buttermilk, hot water, and vinegar.

Then there is the chemical reaction between people. It’s that light headed feeling when you are in the presence of someone that usually turns you into a rambling idiot. You find yourself agreeing to the most ridiculous things, becoming this alternate version of yourself that just wont stop giggling. It’s these chemical reactions that at times when not regulated is what gets you in trouble. Days, weeks, months have passed by and you will not notice how much you have changed due to this “chemistry”. Now don’t get me wrong, a certain amount of spark is necessary for every relationship to succeed. But when it is the sole basis of it, my god, you are in so much trouble.

Similar to baking, if too much is present a bad taste in left in your mouth along with the likelihood to combust and just make a huge mess of yourself is definite. If not enough is present you are left sitting there bored out of your mind spending time with someone while thinking of an escape plan. (Will my ass fit thru that window in the bathroom, which goes to the back porch?)

What creates this chemical reaction among people? In the old days, my “elements” always reacted with the super cool hipster guy. (I will pause so you wont throw up in your mouth…..done? ok let’s move on) I don’t know if it was their skinny jeans or extra hair gel that made my electrons swoon but in the end, because yes there was always an end, the chemical reaction would diffuse. I would find myself pondering where had the last three weeks gone? Why am I wearing a vest and high top vans? What the hell was I thinking when I got that tattoo? Were my friends not there to tell me I was acting like a drug induced catch phrase genius Charlie Sheen?

At the end of it all, you get up, pick up your self-respect, reconnect with you brain and get your ass back at home to detox from the chemical overdoes.

But- when you find that beautiful balance of fat, flour, sugar, liquefiers, and your reactive ingredient- pure bliss is what coming out of your oven. As for personal balance- I realized that individuals with sense of self, a sense of humor, and a sense of fashion is what really gets my molecular mojo swooning and alas, a harmony is achieved.

So a lesson to us all; be careful when weighing out your ingredients. But more importantly, be choosy who you allow in your personal recipe- a cake can easily be scraped off the floor- yourself, not so much..

Red Velvet Cupcake:

This cake is well known for its reddish hue color that was created by the reaction of cocoa powder, vinegar and buttermilk. Now and days people use red food coloring to create the ultra red in your face effect but for tradition sake, here’s a recipe the ol’ fashion way:

2.5 cups cake flour

2T cocoa powder

1t salt

1.5 cup sugar

1.5c vegetable oil

2 eggs

1t vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

1.5t baking soda

2t white vinegar

zest of 1 orange

Method:

Whisk eggs and sugar in a kitchen aid with a whisk attachment till light and fluffy. Slowly drizzle in your oil. Add vanilla extract and orange zest. Combine the salt, cocoa powder, and cake flour. Alternate adding dry mix with the buttermilk to the egg mixture in three additions. Stir the baking soda into the white vinegar and add at the end. Divide the batter into 24 cupcakes, filling each ¾ full. Bake at 350F, until cake tester comes out clean- about 20 minutes. Allow to cool before icing.

Icing:

8oz butter

12oz cream cheese

1# powdered sugar

.75t vanilla extract

zest of half an orange

Method:

Beat the butter till smooth. Add softened cream cheese and beat till smooth. Add sugar and incorporate. Add flavorings. Pipe a dome on cooled cupcake spread on top and make a “spiky” effect. Or hell, just smoother the whole darn thing with frosting.