Contributed by: Tony Au
As our workplace continues to evolve, so do the ways in which we as leaders can have an impact. A creative endeavor, such as baking your favorite cookies, can be a powerful way to connect with your team on a more personal level. It shows your dedication and commitment, and it helps to build relationships beyond just a working one.
Baking is a simple yet effective way to show you care about people beyond the “thank you!” emails and “great job!” comments. Not only does it illustrate that they are appreciated, but it also sends a message that you are willing to put in your personal time outside the office to show how much they mean to you.
Baking for others can be a very intimidating experience. Don’t worry about making the perfect cookie; it can be just as fun and endearing to share your failures as it is your successes. The story you share will probably be one experienced by many and creates another way to connect on a deeper level. I remember baking muffins with my son, Nicholas, where he used 3 tablespoons of baking soda instead of teaspoons. Suffice it to say, it tasted quite different than what you’d expect a muffin to taste like, but I ate it with a smile until he said “I think I got the recipe wrong. Can we scrap it?” to which I said, “yes, absolutely,” still with a smile on my face.
To help you with this experience, I’ll share an easy recipe for butter mochi. It can’t get much easier than throwing all the ingredients in a bowl, mixing it up, and baking it. It’s got a great combination of rich, sweet, buttery, and creamy taste all balanced in a bajillion calorie block of goodness, well worth eating one—or three. It’s the recipe that gave me the confidence to know that baking for others isn’t as scary as it seems. Enjoy!
Butter Mochi
(makes 24 servings)
Ingredients
- 1 lb mochiko, preferably Koda Farms brand
- 3 cups sugar
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup salted butter, melted
- 1 13 oz. can of coconut milk, preferably Hawaiian Sun brand
- 1 14.5 oz. can of evaporated milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
- Grease a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan
- In a large bowl, combine mochiko, sugar, and baking powder
- Add remaining ingredients and mix well with a wire whisk until consistent
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for 50–60 minutes
- Let cool
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