In this past week I made the basic cookie: 3 parts flour, 2 parts butter, 1 part sugar. It is the cookie from which all others have sprung. Got me to thinking – is there a “the basic human” recipe in a simple ratio form? And if so, is the basic human, (like the basic cookie), good but basically basic? Even in the “the basic cookie” recipe they recommend adding a pinch of salt and a ½ teaspoon of vanilla for character, but I stoically refrained and stuck to the 3-2-1 ratio which is all that is required. And I made cookies.
From observation, if I were to guess at the basic human ingredients, I might say 3 parts functionality, 2 parts ego, 1 part compassion. But from there, so many variables. For example in the cookie world, equal parts flour, butter and sugar creates a richer, chewier, oilier cookie that requires additional ingredients (such as egg or chocolate chips) to balance the butter. Or one could reduce the amount of butter in this recipe for a crisper cookie. Just thinking of possible variations makes me realize that we humans as a whole work very hard to try them all. From egg to spice to fruits to zest to seeds to nuts to chocolate to oats to honey to molasses to garnish and on and on and on, in varying amounts and combinations and sizes and chilling times and textures and serving temperatures and simplicities and complexities, according to circumstance and occasion and mood and setting and time and place and those around us; I have barely touched the surface. All a bit overwhelming which is why this past week it felt good to go back to the basics. It was a reminder that I cannot be just one thing nor can I add too many things or too much or too little of any thing, and still hold it all together. Where a crumbly cookie is a viable option, nothing but crumbs is not.
Back to the basics…
A representative selection of ratios:
- Basic Human: 9 parts flour, 6 parts butter, 3 parts sugar.
- Basic Politician: 9 parts butter, 3 parts flour, 0 parts sugar.
- Basic Celebrity: 9 parts butter, 4 parts flour, 1 part sugar.
- Basic Millionaire: 9 parts flour, 8 parts butter, 2 parts sugar.
- Basic Privileged Person: 9 parts flour, 7 parts butter, 2 parts sugar.
- Basic Homeless Person: 9 parts flour, 1 part butter, 3 parts sugar.
If I were to declare my basic recipe with minimal additives, I believe I would be 9 parts flour, 6 parts butter, 4 parts brown sugar, a pinch of salt, a ½ teaspoon of vanilla, 1 large egg, a generous glug of molasses, and a sprinkling of chopped walnuts for garnish.
I will make these tomorrow and see how I’m holding together.
