Everyday Magic

Why the simplest recipes can also be the most sacred

- Samin Nosrat,MORGAN HUNT WARD

THIS MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE, considering my profession, but much of the time, feeding myself—and anyone else I’m responsible for—can feel like a chore. I know I’m not alone in this. Cooking often is a chore—there’s the labor of deciding what to make, of shopping for groceries, and, of course, the inevitable mess to clean. Yet, the act of feeding ourselves lies at the heart of daily life. I’ve begun to wonder: If this is how so many of us spend such a large portion of our time, then couldn’t we try to make it time well spent? As Annie Dillard once wrote, “Who would call a day spent reading a good day? But a life spent reading—that is a good life.”

I’d argue that a life spent cooking is also a good life. Most of us spend the bulk of our time in the kitchen cooking for the everyday—feeding the kids after a long day of work or shoveling down a quick breakfast before heading out the door. While this kind of cooking is rarely glamorous, I believe it can be an important source of meaning in our lives if we shift how we approach it.

It helps that we get a chance to be creative each time we cook. In a world so focused on efficiency and productivity, every opportunity for creativity is precious. Let me be clear: In the kitchen, creativity doesn’t necessarily mean innovation. Rather, it’s about being present, in your body, connected to your senses and imagination. It’s a sense of freedom to be curious and playful that we don’t always feel when we’re busy working through our to-do lists. I’m not being woo-woo here—researchers have found that everyday creative activity, including cooking, can lead to a sense of “meaning, engagement, and purpose in life.” This is certainly true for me.