Cooking As Therapy

I love to cook. I love to eat. I love everything involved with cooking before cooking even begins. I love all aspects of cooking except for doing the dishes afterwards, but sometimes I can get into that too. If you are looking for a hobby that is rewarding for you, and for others you share it with, cooking is truly wonderful and I would recommend it as a fantastic form of stress relief.

For me, cooking starts with a craving. In 2025 if there is any food or dish you can think of you can type it into Google and it will give you multiple recipes. From my experience over the years I have learned to try and find the recipe with the simplest utilization of ingredients. Not only does this make life easier and cheaper, but if you subscribe to the Italian method of cooking where the ingredients are the star, you may get a better outcome too. So once you pick the recipe and the ingredients are determined, then you should do your best to get the highest quality of ingredients possible. I have made all types of soups, pasta dishes, and even a Beef Wellington. Thank you internet!

So then you go to the grocery store, farmers market, butcher, fish monger, etc. Depending on what you are making and what ingredients you are selecting this is a lot of fun too. One of my favorite joys in life is going to the butcher counter to pick out a steak or two, then having the butcher lay out my options and having a conversation on which steaks available are best. I love to ask the butcher their thoughts and why, because you can learn so much and they are happy to tell you about it. This is their profession.

After getting the ingredients, it is now time to go do what this blog is about in the first place, cook. Cooking is therapeutic because it can require you to focus on what you are doing, meaning that there may not be room mentally for your other worries in life. You can also put on some music, and when I am really doing it right I have a glass of wine too. Just focusing on the steps involved, jamming out, and enjoying the smells and the different techniques involved in making a recipe.

Then when it is done you get to share it with others, while enjoying it yourself. My recommendation there is to not be too hard on yourself, even if you don’t agree with the compliments you are being given, just accept them and be grateful. Food is a part of life, not just from the nutritional benefit, but also from the bonding that occurs around the dining room table. Sharing those experiences with those you care about is the best, and the journey of cooking to get it on the table is every bit as awesome. Bon Appetit!