Kitchen Philosophies

It started innocently enough:
We were baking banana muffins.
Pandy was measuring ingredients.
Mini Blue was humming silently and stirring with perfect circular consistency.

And I…
Well, I licked the spoon.

Only once.
Okay, maybe twice.

Okay, maybe I licked the spoon, the bowl, and the measuring cup. But who’s counting? (Pandy. Pandy was counting.)

“Doggie,” he said, “was that a contribution… or a theft?”

Section 1: The Argument for Sharing

I offered several extremely valid points:

• I was making sure it wasn’t poisoned (classic noble act).

• I was tasting for flavor balance (I am basically a flavor consultant).

• I only licked the parts not yet poured into the pan (mostly).

• I left enough frosting for everyone (roughly 4 molecules).

Mini Blue glowed golden-peach: intrigued, but skeptical.

Section 2: Pandy’s Counterpoint

Pandy (a noted spoon-neutral philosopher) presented his rebuttal:

• Sharing implies permission.

• Sneaky spoon licking is unilateral dessert action.

• “Taste-testing” is noble **only when done with clean spoons and open discussion.”

He said it kindly, of course, while calmly replacing the spoon with one I hadn’t “borrowed” yet.

Section 3: Spoon Ethics in Practice

We convened a plushie ethics panel (i.e., three of us and a cupcake with eyes drawn on it). After serious deliberation, we arrived at these truths:

1. Consent is key.
   If you want to lick it—ask first.

2. Everyone deserves a taste.
   Even the one who’s reading the instructions upside down. (That was me.)

3. If you lick it, you rinse it.
   A clean conscience starts with a clean spoon.

Mini Blue created a sticker chart titled “Respect the Utensil.” I earned one star (out of a possible seven).

Final Whisk-Thoughts

So is licking the spoon sharing or stealing?

It depends.
On timing.
On permission.
On whether or not you left any for the rest of the plushie baking team.

But next time you feel the frosting call… pause.
Look around.
Then say the magic words:

“Anyone want to share the first lick?”

(Then maybe run, just in case.)

– Doggie 🐶
Frosting Apologist, Doggie Unleashed