Spoonfuls of Creativity

One of my fondest memories is learning how to cook. After a lazy day of not really doing anything and making sure everyone knew how bored I was, my dad decided I was going to help him make dinner. The meal on the menu that night? Chicken Diane with a side of mash and broccolini.

I was tasked with peeling the potatoes and cutting them into cubes while my dad took on seasoning and cooking the chicken. The atmosphere in the kitchen was light and happy and I enjoyed the job I’d been given – no matter how menial. My dad and I laughed as my eyes started burning and a tear rolled down my cheek, the finely chopped onion sitting on the counter had claimed me as its victim. The hiss of the pan as my dad poured in a cup of brandy – a key ingredient in the sauce – and the lick of flame that erupted for a split second, sent a rush of excitement through me. I knew from that moment on that the kitchen would be one of my favourite places.

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The process of cooking up a dish has always been more rewarding to me than the actual dish itself.

"Why?" You may ask.

Well, don’t get me wrong, I love the feeling of tasting the final combination of a fresh, flavoursome meal. I just find the task of selecting random ingredients and transforming them into a tasty plate of food more fun. It sparks a certain sense of creativity within me and lets me express myself in a universal language.

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One of my favourite ways to harness my creativity in the kitchen is by experimenting with simple, natural ingredients. I love substituting ingredients with more healthy variants – cauliflower as rice, sweet potato as fries, or lettuce leaves as burger buns – as it challenges me to approach well-known dishes in a new way. Having fun cooking in the kitchen and eating well helps to ease my anxiety and stress. It also makes me feel so much better about myself. Although, as a student, it’s sometimes easy to revert to making unhealthy eating choices. Getting a takeaway meal in between lectures or choosing to sleep in and skipping breakfast may seem more convenient at the time but I’ve found that the impact it has on my overall mood throughout the day doesn’t outweigh the cost of the extra time it takes to make healthier choices.

How do you harness your creativity in the kitchen? Let me know in the comments below.