2023 WRAP (baked)

                     BEST 

                        OF 

                      BEST

                        IN 

                      2023

And with that....2023 season comes to an end.....

Sounds common? Just to awaken your memory, this is the trending audio right now on IG, and with this comes tonnes and tonnes of reels of people dumping their entire year. Pictures, videos and so many cheesy captions along with the cringiest songs...all to mark the end of another iconic year.

Iconic? Why so, you may ask? This wasn't the year of the pandemic, nor was it of our comeback after the pandemic...so much it wasn't, yet so much and so more it was.

For me, this year was about Homecoming. It was the homecoming of humanity to the lives we all had anticipated back on 31 December 2019. It was the year that solemnly celebrated the sublime existence of humanity...the joys of eating, the joys of being together, the joy of (trying) to get back in shape (hint: 75 hard), the year of jhumkas falling aplenty (hint: KJO) and being unabashedly delulu. It was the year where we did nothing big or great, but each small win and petty loss felt like it could pull us all down together. Whether it was the Indian team's loss in the ICC world cup or the fact that Taylor Swift was THE PERSON OF THE YEAR....it all felt so big, so worthwhile. As I write this, I'm reminded of the metamorphosis that a caterpillar goes through. And in many ways, don't you feel this year felt like revival? The revival of our existence and of us. Of humans, men & women together. 

Moving on from such a book-ish view of this past year, I decided to present to you MY version of the 2023 wrapped. Not as good as Spotify does, but neither as bad! This Wrap is not about songs (cause i have literally no idea) but about baking, desserts and all the sugar we consumed together.

Behold, and get ready! (drum roll pls)

BEST DESSERT 

I wont argue but this is not an easy award to give. It needed to be something that topped the year. Something that reigned supreme amidst all the trends and breakthroughs on Tik-Tok. However, after much deliberation and thought, I present to you: Frozen Yoghurt Bites

These are not much (mainly why it deserved the recognition), but simply fruit chopped up, mixed with Greek yoghurt and frozen in small clumps, later being dipped in melted chocolate. This dessert is the simplest to make. No extravagant equipment, no special ingredients and minimal time. Yet, what you get is worth everything. This year, there were a plethora of recipes that tried to health-ify indulgent desserts and make them more sustainable for daily consumption. This is not one of them, yet it feels as if something you would willingly indulge in and yet not feel the guilt about.

BEST HACK

The best hack or trick that I learnt in 2k23 was something I dream about every day. Hopefully something that my parents will let me make soon. Till then, all I can is drool over it. Hot Honey (hawwttt!!) This is nothing but caramelized honey with spices and garlic infused with it. It looks so delicious...so appetizing especially with some fried chicken or some chicken cutlets. 

BEST WORST DESSERT

I am not usually this cynical, but there are some trends that absolutely need to be called out. Few viral recipes that didn't deserve the fame and certainly don't deserve a place on your palate. Amongst the initial trends, is the Frosting board or the butter board. As disgusting as it sounds, it is butter/frosting spread on a charcuterie board along with chips/crackers/muffins/cakes to have. Imagine eating frosting as a dip!!! It did not meet the expectations, and won't you rather have proper cupcake or cake frosted with icing than this? Who wants this?

BEST FLAVOUR COMBO

I saw this reel long back before Diwali, wherein the creator showed a recipe of Triple Roasted Vanilla ice cream. They would roast the vanilla bean, then brown the vanilla infused mixture as well as use caramelized sugar. This sounded so un-imaginably perfect. Doesn't it? It sounds exactly like something gourmet..soemthing that would make your taste buds break into a symphony..a melody of flavors that is tied together. For now, I cant find the reel but the flavor lives forever in my heart!