Baking happiness one cup at a time
By SHANA SLOMA
news@readthereporter.com
Editor’s note: To help Carlson reach more of the community with her Innovations project, The Reporter is printing one of her recipes in today’s edition: a single-serving brownie in a cup. Keep reading The Reporter for more drop-dead simple recipes from Carlson in the weeks to come.
One Noblesville High School student is cooking up a community-based project filled with short, simple recipes for bakers of all skill levels.
Senior Danica Carlson is inviting people to whip up quick and easy recipes that do not strain the wallet or the wall clock. During her final year at NHS, Carlson has found room in her schedule for an elective class that allows her to fan her creative flames by spreading warmth within the community.
Innovations, an immersive, elective course which gives students a chance to implement their ideas collaboratively and autonomously, has provided Carlson with the opportunity for personal and educational growth through self-expression. The class can be taken for credit multiple times with different experiences each time. It utilizes a strategy for self-direction and self-pacing.
Carlson credits the structure of the course with giving her greater artistic liberty.
“Being a senior, I have a lot of super-strict classes where they tell me exactly what to do and how to do things,” Carlson said. “This class gives me the freedom of creativity and to be able to process my own ideas.”
Her class project, which spans 16 weeks, includes a selection of weekly recipes hand-picked by Carlson for ease, convenience, and appeal for novice chefs and those cooking only for themselves.
According to Carlson, by sharing her creative endeavor with her neighbors, she hopes to positively impact her community while completing credits toward her diploma.
“The whole project is based on what students think are important and how students affect Noblesville as a whole,” Carlson said. “I’m really excited about it.”
Carlson admits that her grade is not based on the outcome of the project, but the process itself. She said there are not many requirements, but she needs “an audience.” She told The Reporter the decision to share recipes was inspired by a tradition of family cooking.
“My grandparents have good recipes that I like to make,” Carlson said. “They are easy and fun.”
While some people relish the thought of laboring for hours over dish, others prefer simplicity. For anyone seeking a straightforward approach to mixing up a speedy dish, Carlson has chosen to share easy recipes based on her own kitchen mishaps.
“Whenever I try to make anything on my own, it ends up a disaster,” Carlson said, laughing. “But I like baking, and I just wanted to share that with other people.”
