Is this a corny article title? Yes. Is it true? Absolutely. If there’s one thing I know for sure, I wouldn’t be alive if I didn’t have cooking. The only thing that made sense through good and bad times was being in a kitchen. At least 75% of my day is spent in that room. If I didn’t have it, I would be lost. Even when I feel useless and things aren’t working, I know that’s where I belong. I’m not going to make a case for why you should cook. But I will say you miss out if you don’t cook. As far back as I can remember, food has been the love of my life. I’ve admired chefs and home cooks alike above all other figures. When I started cooking, I learned to live in the moment (at least sometimes), handle frustration, and, most of all, express myself in a way to didn’t know how. You should cook. Seriously. It’s great.
Cooking deserves a love letter. Through good times and bad, I can always count on my kitchen. It’s incredible what I’ve discovered by baking or putting together a simple meal. I consider myself a mediocre cook. But I am capable. As a person with confidence issues, there is nothing more meaningful than being able to make something that I can be proud of. The kitchen is where I can do that. I grew up not ever feeling like I belonged anywhere. But that all changes when I get behind a stove.
My first baby steps toward eating disorder recovery began in the kitchen. I would challenge myself to make intricate dishes I never thought I could. I made scotch eggs, croissants, and braised short ribs. All of these fantastic plates pushed me to my limits. At the end of each cook, I would gaze at the fruits of my labor. But I would also reward myself by enjoying a portion or two of the creation. Nothing tastes better than something you labored over. Even if it isn’t pretty. But because of that experience, everything I make is done with 100% love and effort.
If I cook for you, I like you. I bake cookies and pastries for a local restaurant and cafe. People ask me what I do to make the items good. I tell them the main ingredients are love and fear, and I mean that because I love what I do, and every ounce of affection goes into the things I bake. The fear is my need and wants for the cookies and cakes to make your day! I don’t want them to be “just a cookie.” I like the cookie to be a memory that you can cherish. I spend hours researching flavor combinations, ratios, and best ingredients. Honestly, it may sound silly because, at the end of the day… it’s just a cookie. But I LOVE what I do! I’ve been able to turn my favorite hobby into a job. Isn’t that crazy? So why would I not do it the best way possible! I’m terrified whenever I drop the products off. That’s why they’re so good.
I am trying to understand why I wrote this post. You could connect. I don’t know how to adequately express myself or feel at home anywhere else but in the kitchen. If you don’t cook, then you should start. I say that as a lover of cooking but also as someone who gets mildly annoyed when people tell me they can’t make anything. Cooking is not THAT hard. Once you do it, you’ll learn that! It brings you and your loved ones together! It makes your appreciation for food that much more profound! Even if you make something shitty, you still make something! Best part? You can just make it again. Cooking heals everything. That’s why I do it. I’m a better person for having the experience I do in the kitchen. I’ll die by that statement. Anyway. I have gotta go. I have cookies in the oven. Have a great day!
