Cooking As A Creative Outlet
Photo by Madison Binkowski
Cooking is a necessity for everyday life, and we often fall into our routine of just making whatever we have on hand and not enjoying the process of it. But what if I told you that cooking is a form of art, a way to escape the everyday life? As cookbook author Gesine Lemcke once wrote, “Eating is a necessity, but cooking is an art.”
Picture this, you’re in your kitchen making chicken noodle soup. The aroma of onions, celery, and carrots permeates the air as you listen to the sizzling of them cooking down in your pot. You sear your chicken, add it to the mix, and then pour in your broth. You season it with a pinch of salt and pepper, feeling the coarseness of it between your fingers. You add in your noodles and watch as they soften. You taste it to see if there’s anything else you need to add. This is the only form of art that I know in which you use all five of your senses.
So how do you use cooking as a creative outlet? For me, it’s a way to escape the everyday, relax, and unwind. I take time when I cook to just be in the moment. I get to use all of my senses. Touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound. When you cook and really focus on what you are doing, no distractions, it can be almost meditative. Especially in such a time of uncertainty, this could become a new favorite hobby for some. Choosing a combination of spices and ingredients that work together is extremely relaxing for me. Knowing that I’m fueling myself with something I made is incredibly rewarding.
In this article from NY Daily News, Rosemary Black dives into how cooking encourages creativity. She interviews Debbie Mandel, author of Addicted to Stress, and she says, “Cooking is a great de-stresser because it serves as a creative outlet, and while stress can numb your senses, cooking activates them. It's a sensory experience with aroma, taste, touch, visual delight, and even sizzling sound."
I encourage you to take time when you’re cooking. This is a great way to get creative while you’re at home! Enjoy the process, bring your family together in the kitchen, and have fun.
Here are some of my favorite recipes:
Try out some fun, new recipes that are easy to make at home. Happy cooking!