As the break turned from a few weeks of school to a month to two months to the rest of the school year, many people have been turning to new hobbies to pass the time and create a little bit of fun.
The most popular one by far would be baking. Many people are trying out different recipes and it is bringing families together. On an average day most people wouldn’t have the time, energy, or ambition to make a loaf of bread but with life on hold for the time being there is no reason not to shape up your kitchen skills.
Sales of flour are up 155% and yeast sales are up 457%, flour and wheat mills are in frantic overproduction trying to keep products on shelves in grocery stores. Bob’s Red Mill in Oregon is hiring people for almost every aspect of the production line to try and keep up with the unprecedented demand. Sales of baking supplies also soared after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
This time is filled with anxiety and stress over missing out on important milestones, financial woes, having the whole family under one roof with nowhere to go, and the lack of definite answers. Baking is therapeutic because it involves step by step instructions and exact measurements which is very grounding according to Lisa Kring a Los Angeles native who teaches meditation.
Baking bread is by far the most popular recipe according to the #quarantinebaking which is trending on Instagram and Twitter. Experts say this not only due to the lack of loaves of bread at the grocery store but also because baking bread feels like a return to basics for many Americans.