Out Of The Comfort Zone And Into Chocolate + Matcha Cupcakes

There is a great line from one of my favorite bands. It goes, “I wake up, I rise to the sun, I go to work, and I come back home.” When I first heard it, I thought damn this sounds a little too familiar. Is my life really this mundane?

Creatures of comfort. Comfort creatures.

Is that really what we are? Or is this society’s way of molding humanity into a tidy phrase, like a perfectly rounded capsule of Excedrin.

I don’t think many of us like the idea that our daily existence can be summarized in a mere 3 words. But even the most adventurous of spirits, may feel the gravity of these lyrics from time to time. For me at least, they have taken on a whole new meaning.

As some of you may know, I made a big move recently. From Columbus, Ohio to Berlin, Germany. I looked at the creatures of comfort notion and spat in its face. I wanted to live life and step out of my “comfort zone.” I wanted to feel on edge. Despite these desires ( that some may go ahead and label as naive), I can feel myself slipping into old habits.

I crave a routine. I’ve been avoiding the strange.

I am afraid to enter a new area without an exact destination in mind because then I will be forced to test my lousy map skills. I rarely talk in stores and restaurants because I don’t want to speak English and am afraid of sounding stupid in this new language. I try to remain open and warm to strangers but I can feel myself closing up when there is no beer in my hand to grease the wheels.

And so it goes..back into the ways of the familiar. It irks me. It gives me the feeling that I am missing the point. But now, at least, I am aware of the limits I place on myself. So it is time to slowly loosen their grip and marinate in the unknown that surrounds me. As a friend said to me, ” I hope you’re enjoying the nervous energy… It’s unsettling and beautiful.”

He couldn’t be more right.

That’s why I’m going to leave the comfort to the baked goods, where I always turn to feel at home. Maybe not so good for the waist line but always delicious. Especially the recipe I will share with you today: Vegan chocolate cupcakes with matcha green tea frosting. Come to think of it, they are the perfect mix of the familiar with the new. The classic chocolate base pairs wonderfully with the slightly exotic green matcha flavor. Damn, did I plan this well.