Sometimes it is the little things that can be the most pleasurable. While cooking, there are various joys that people particularly love. Everyone has their opinions. And cooking can often be tedious and time-consuming. Any simple little delight that can break up the monotony, help pass the time, or make meal prep more fun should be shared.
1. The Scent of Garlic and Onion
It is no secret that scent and taste go hand in hand. And the smell of onion and garlic when you caramelize or sautƩ them is divine. Many people enjoy the scent themselves but love that it can entice others.
One parent shares that a surefire way to get their reclusive teenage son to leave his room is to sautƩ some onion and garlic in butter. Another humorously says they can imagine a classic cartoon where someone "smells a pie on a window sill and floats through the air nose-first." The image of that is not only funny but also feels so apropos when it comes to the fantastic aroma of garlic and onion.
2. A Glass of Wine and Your Choice Entertainment
An everyday pleasure that many enjoy while cooking is enjoying a nice glass of wine while listening to a podcast or watching something on their iPad. With busy lives, indulging in these simple and sometimes guilty pleasures can be relaxing and improve your meal prep.
One individual says they love listening to murder podcasts with their wine, while another jokingly asks if it is a Chianti. Those who know The Silence of the Lambs will appreciate that quip. Another person says they enjoy "Watching a reality show." I can't count the number of YouTube channels that do this very thing.
3. Chopping, Slicing, and Dicing
Simple pleasures while cooking can be various things. Sometimes the prep work can be highly satisfying. One person says the sound while cutting and slicing is fantastic and can feel "therapeutic."
And a few mention that using a freshly sharpened knife can be smile-inducing and that the first cut can create "such a buzz of confirmation." Whether you are a master at chopping vegetables or are slower, the act alone can feel very Zen.
4. Listening to Music
The most common pleasure while cooking is listening to music. The genres vary, but the joy the music can create is universal. Multiple people enjoy jazz, especially the New York Jazz Club type of music heavy on saxophone.
One jazz fan especially loves listening to the Natalie Cole album "Unforgettable," which gives them "the ultimate serotonin booster." I can relate to this pleasure and find Natalie Cole, or as others suggest, 60s music or the Backstreet Boys, an incredible companion when I prepare a meal.
5. Searing In a Hot Pan
The act of cooking indeed incorporates all the senses. The sizzling sound that a hot pan makes whenever we add something is, as someone says, "so satisfying." For example, a steak enthusiast loves to sear a thick steak because you can hear the flavors. A good sizzle can create a spine-tingling shiver.
6. Being Left Alone
Not everyone can relate to the joy of having some alone time. But to those who can, these moments of solitude one can have while cooking is most welcome. The mother of a 19-month-old toddler does not know this pleasure. But many others know and love no interruptions or disturbances, even briefly. Such time can help recharge one's batteries.
7. Snacking
Is there anyone who does not snack while they cook or bake? If so, they have excellent self-control. But they are also missing out on one of the greatest joys of meal prep. One person shares they love "Vegetables, burnt bits of meat, dough, and batter," and another loves to indulge in "cheese cubes." No one can deny the sheer pleasure of licking a bowl of cake batter or eating a few veggies.
8. An Offer to Do the Dishes
Is there anything better than after painstakingly preparing a meal to hear someone else offer to clean up? One person says they love hearing their husband offering to do this chore.
But it does not matter who offers. It's fantastic if a loved one, partner, spouse, parent, child, or friend can assist you or, better yet, wash every dish, bowl, and pan. If someone hears the words, "let me do the dishes," that can elicit an instant serotonin boost.
9. Vibrant Colors
Because cooking employs all the senses, we should mention sight. Fresh vegetables give us a rainbow of colors. Many suggest the vibrant colors we see during cooking are lovely and pleasurable.
Moreover, something is satisfying in the colors we see in swirling sauces and various spices. Another says colors are essential, especially when "improvising a meal." They can lead you in the best direction for optimum flavor.
10. Kneading Dough
If you love, I Love Lucy; you are familiar with the fun of kneading dough. A specific scene from the show can make us laugh just by picturing it. Indeed, the process of kneading dough can also be therapeutic and rewarding.
One baker says they especially enjoy it when "the gluten starts to develop." Creating anything from scratch is fulfilling. And when you do so with your bare hands, it's a simple and beyond gratifying pleasure.
This thread inspired this post.
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