Final answer:
The phrase 'silly ritual' connotatively implied that baking cookies was a trivial or frivolous activity to the author before they met Maurice, suggesting a dismissive attitude towards this domestic task.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'silly ritual' as used by the author to describe baking cookies likely had a connotative meaning that included a sense of triviality or dismissiveness towards the activity. Before meeting Maurice, the author may have viewed the act of baking cookies as a non-essential or frivolous activity, not holding much significance or value.
This perspective might have been rooted in the author's preconceptions about domestic tasks or traditional roles, which the author might have considered outdated or irrelevant to their personal values. In literature, authors often use connotative language to express emotional associations or attitudes towards certain activities, showing how subjective experience can inform perception.