Disclaimer: In no way am I suggesting that baking heart shaped scones is a cure for grief. Please bake and grieve at your own risk.
One of the best parts about cancer, yes there is a bright side, is all the wonderful people you meet. Feeling instantly, and deeply connected to someone who shares your experiences is something I cannot describe. It is also something I never experienced prior to my own cancer diagnosis.
On the other hand, one of the worst parts about cancer is watching some of those wonderful people suffer or die as a result of their disease. No, they did not loose a battle. Cancer is an unfair, unyeilding, nondiscriminating disease that can take hold and kill you no matter your warrior status, income status, or proximity to the best health care in the world.
If you have never watched someone you care about slowly whither away in front of you, count yourself lucky. It is terrible. It is a helpless feeling. You wish there was something you could do to comfort them, but often there is not. When my mom used to talk about baking as a way to cope with bad things happening in the world, I thought, "yeah right." But, you know what? She was right. Baking can often help me feel purposeful when there is little else I can do.
Why heart shaped scones? Well, this recipe is one my mom has perfected over the years and has become infamous with our close family and friends. It is a simple, yet finicky recipe that requires the use of your bare hands for smooshing, kneading, and rolling out the dough. Really getting in there, feeling the textures, and literally baking in the love flowing from your capable fingers is what gets me every time. The sweet, maple and nutty aroma coming from the oven while they bake is another crowd pleaser. Using a heart shaped cutter is just the cherry on top.
When a cancer friend contacts you to let you know they are now stage IV, and the aggressive cancer is no longer responding to any treatments, what do you do?! Ask if she still has an appetite for sweets and start BAKING! I am not telling you what to do, but baking these little beauties sure helps me work through some of the awful emotions.
That's all for now my friends. Please go out and cherish life in whatever way is meaningful to you.
Take great Care,
Kate