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Wayfaring Wednesday
Plum Sauce, Cake, and the Secret Therapy in My Kitchen
Sandra Burkholder
September 10, 2025
Cooking as Therapy: From Plum Sauce to Cake
The value of cooking from scratch hit me hard this week after I read about a therapist who asked a client to make a lasagna as part of a therapy lesson. At first it seemed unusual, but the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Cooking isn’t just about feeding people—it can be healing, grounding, and even therapeutic.
I’ve often asked myself if the hours in the kitchen are really worth it. Do my kids notice or appreciate the effort? Wouldn’t it just be easier to buy something premade? But then I had two experiences recently that reminded me why cooking matters.
This weekend I came home from the market with way too many plums. More than my kids could possibly eat fresh. Instead of letting them go bad, I decided to make asian plum sauce—the kind I like to use on chicken breasts to keep them juicy and flavorful, even as leftovers. I cleaned the fruit, simmered it for hours in the crockpot, pressed it through a strainer to remove the pits, and stirred in sugar and spices. The whole process was grounding. The tactile feel of the plums, the aroma that filled my kitchen, the transformation from fruit to sauce—it was satisfying in a way that reminded me of the sensory therapies my adopted daughters once used with putty or slime. This was a grown-up version of sensory play.
Cake-making has the same effect. Baking a layered cake is something I am known for. I got into this when my adopted daughter had food allergies that made a normal cake impossible for her to eat. I learned to enjoy the process. Measuring, mixing, waiting as the oven works its quiet magic—it forces you to slow down and stay present. Decorating a cake can feel almost meditative: smoothing frosting, adding layers, or piping small details. It feels creative. At the end, you have something beautiful and sweet to share, but the process itself is as valuable as the result.
I think cooking and baking are therapeutic in part because they mirror other parts of life. If we were to paint our house, get a college degree, take a class, or run a race - it’s a process. My husband, who builds hotels for his company, sees the same in construction: the long process, the setbacks, the slow progress. As a real estate agent, I see how buying or selling a home is never instant—it’s a process. There are problems to solve, calculations to make, steps to measure, and plenty of waiting. Cooking reminds me that the steps, though small, add up to something worthwhile.
My husband also laughs and says cooking is therapeutic for a simpler reason: because it fills his stomach. As he puts it, “It sounds hollow and needs to be filled.” Maybe he’s right—sometimes therapy is as simple as a good meal shared at the table.
Cooking teaches patience. It engages our senses. And it reminds us that good things—whether a plum sauce, a cake, a home, or even a hotel—take time.
But….When you don’t want to cook……
Here are some of my favorite no-chain restaurants in Lancaster County worth exploring:
Luca – Farm-driven Italian in Lancaster, featuring wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas.
John J. Jeffries – A fine-dining, farm-to-table gem at the Lancaster Arts Hotel.
Citronnelle – French-inspired BYOB bistro with global flair, tucked on West Orange Street.
The Belvedere Inn – A Victorian mansion in Lancaster offering contemporary American cuisine and live jazz.
Osteria Avanti – Rustic Italian dining in Leola, part of the Inn at Leola Village.
El Serrano – Peruvian and Mexican flavors served in a warm, vibrant atmosphere on Columbia Avenue.
Piccolo Eatery – A Lititz treasure with bold flavors and a creative chef-driven menu.
Ma(i)son – An intimate, seasonal BYOB on Prince Street with Italian-French fusion dishes.
On Orange – A cozy breakfast and lunch café known for Swedish pancakes and chilaquiles.
Callaloo Trinidadian Kitchen – Bright, flavorful Caribbean cuisine on North Mulberry Street.
These are the places that give Lancaster County its flavor—literally and figuratively. When you support them, you’re not just choosing dinner; you’re choosing story, community, and authenticity.
Read full blog Here!
What’s an Appraisal Contingency?
If you’re buying or selling a home, you’ll likely see this term in the contract. It simply means the sale depends on the home’s appraised value.
For buyers: It protects you from paying more than what the appraiser says the home is worth, and gives you room to renegotiate if the appraisal comes in low.
For sellers: It can feel like a hurdle, but it also means your buyer is financing responsibly. In hot markets, buyers sometimes waive this clause to strengthen their offer.
Bottom line: An appraisal contingency is about balancing risk. Buyers get protection, and sellers get clarity. Read full blog post here!
✨ Want to know when it makes sense to keep it—or waive it? Let’s talk strategy.
Weekly Market Snapshot (Week Ending Sept 7, 2025)
Showings are up 14.8% compared to last week, and new listings climbed 8.4%. The regional median list price across the Bright MLS footprint (PA, MD, DE, DC, VA, WV, and parts of NJ) is holding steady at $449,900. Contracts dipped slightly (-8.2% from last week), and homes are spending a median of 29 days on the market, just a day longer than last week. Buyer activity remains strong, with more showings taking place.
Buyers are out looking more, and inventory is on the rise. Keep in mind this median price reflects the entire Bright MLS region, not just Lancaster County. Lancaster median price tends to be a lot lower.
Sandra Burkholder, EXP Realty
Licensed Real Estate Agent since 2000
Serving Lancaster, Chester, Berks, and York County, PA
Connecting you to your dream home and the heart of the community with a professional yet approachable touch.
Not intended to solicit any properties already listed for sale with another real estate agent. If your home is already for sale, then please disregard this message.
