30 Reasons Why I Cook
Cooking is my therapy
Random Observation/Comment #857: It’s my pleasure to make provide sustenance to my friends.
//Generated with Dall-E 3 via ChatGPT
Why this List?
Whenever I feel sad or depressed, I lean into cooking where I feel productive and disconnected from the digital world. While I wouldn’t cook to earn any money, I would love to host more parties and be with neighborhood friends. See? All those shorts and reels are paying off.
Creative Expression - Cooking is my canvas, where I can express creativity through flavors, textures, and plating. It’s a form of art, only the masterpiece gets eaten at the end.
Healthier Choices - By cooking at home, I control the ingredients (types of oil, shelf life of vegetables, sourcing of meats, etc) so that meals are fresh and free from unnecessary additives or preservatives.
Cost-Effective - Eating out can get expensive. Cooking allows me to enjoy gourmet experiences without the restaurant bill.
Learning and Experimenting - I love the process of discovering new techniques, ingredients, and dishes from all over the world. It's like a never-ending learning experience.
Bonding with Family and Friends - Sharing a meal brings people together. Cooking for loved ones is my way of creating moments and memories.
Cultural Exploration - Food is a gateway to understanding different cultures. Cooking lets me travel the world through my own kitchen.
Mindfulness - The act of chopping, stirring, and focusing on the task at hand is meditative. Cooking brings me into the present moment because I don’t have my phone around.
Family Traditions - By cooking recipes passed down through generations from my Mom and Grandma, I stay connected to my heritage and share that legacy with my family. I also think the tradition of eating together at the dinner table on a daily basis is a strong foundation.
Sense of Accomplishment - There’s a unique satisfaction in seeing raw ingredients transform into something delicious. The reward is immediate and tangible.
Stress Relief - After a long day, cooking is my therapy. It’s the best way to unwind and disconnect from daily pressures.
Precision and Attention to Detail - Certain dishes require exact measurements (which I never follow) and timing (which is the hardest part), challenging me to be precise and focused.
Problem-Solving - When a dish doesn’t go as planned, improvisation becomes key. Sometimes I’ll need to add some acid or play around with the accompanying dishes. Figuring out how to fix it is like solving a tasty puzzle.
Tactile and Sensory Experience - Cooking is a full sensory activity — the smell of garlic sautéing, the feel of dough, the sound of a pan sizzling — it's immersive and satisfying.
Nutrition - By cooking, I can make sure that I'm meeting specific dietary goals (or helping my picky eater girls), whether it's balancing macros or sneaking in more veggies.
Time Travel Through Food - There’s something magical about cooking a dish that transports you to a memory — a family gathering, a travel adventure, or a specific time in your life. I am still chasing that steamed fish and rice dish from when I was 6.
Physical Activity - Chopping, stirring, kneading — it's a form of movement that gets me on my feet. It’s a kitchen workout.
Confidence Boost - When a dish turns out well, the compliments boost my confidence, not just as a cook but generally in life. Success in the kitchen translates into my positive mindset.
Flavors as Music - Creating flavor combinations is like mixing a track. You balance the highs and lows, hitting the right notes for a meal that sings. (This was clearly an AI-assisted one haha, but I’ll leave it in).
Improving Attention Span - Cooking requires focus, from following a recipe to timing multiple tasks. It’s a daily practice in honing my attention span. I want to stay focused on one thing for longer than 5 minutes.
Culinary Alchemy - There’s something magical about how simple ingredients, like flour and eggs, can transform into something totally new, like bread or pasta. The most delicious things don’t take that many ingredients.
Adventure - I enjoy experimenting with fusion cooking. I’ll combine some weird cuisines like making a new favorite Mexican Lasagna (M-asagna). I may want to create some create some sushi tacos next.
Mastering Sauces - Mastering the art of sauces elevates any dish. Once you get the basics down, you can create gourmet flavors that make any meal feel special. Just put some sauce on some rice and I’ll be pretty happy.
Garlic Overload - Because there is no such thing as too much garlic. Seriously.
Control Over My Diet - By cooking, I avoid unhealthy oils, hidden sugars, and processed junk that often comes with eating at restaurants that take shortcuts.
A Connection to Nature - Cooking with fresh herbs and ingredients from my garden creates a deep connection to the seasons and the earth. I love just cooking what’s in season and fresh.
Midnight Snack Creator - Who doesn’t love the magic of whipping up the perfect midnight snack? It’s a creative outlet that hits different after hours. Yes, I’ll make some elevated ramen noodles or buldak sauce.
Minimalist Challenges - I love the challenge of making an amazing dish with minimal ingredients — sometimes less is more in the kitchen.
Playing with Leftovers - It’s basically Chopped. Turning last night’s dinner into today’s reinvented set of dishes is a fun game I love playing. Who says leftovers are boring?
Experimenting with Techniques and new kitchen gadgets - I’ll put anything in a pressure cooker or sous vide. I just got an awesome vacuum sealer and just sealed everything in my freezer with marinade.
Mastering Timing - In cooking, timing is everything. From knowing when to flip a steak to ensuring all dishes finish at the same time, it’s a skill that transfers to managing life’s many moving parts. Plus, nailing it feels like a small victory every time.
~See Lemons Need Cooking for Stress Relief
