I once had a friend (let’s call her Deb) who was making brownies. The recipe called for 1/4 cup of oil. She poured it. Then it said “plus 1/4 cup of melted butter.” She stood there, holding two little cups, and asked me, “Do I mix these together?” I said, “Yes, Deb. Put them in the same bowl.” She did. She ended up with half a cup of fat. The brownies were incredible. She felt like a genius.
That’s the moral of this whole story: 1/4 plus 1/4 equals 1/2. It’s simple, it’s beautiful, and it’s the only math you need to bake a cake. So go forth. Measure with confidence. And if anyone gives you a hard time, just tell them this: “I know fractions. I’m basically a mathematician who also loves frosting.”
Now, who wants a brownie? (Hint: the answer is everyone.)
