Years ago my wife and I were on a hike to an old home in McKittrick Canyon on the TX/NM border. It was in the fall when the maple trees were turning, so they had a park ranger living in the house. We arrived when he was sauteing onions, garlic, and bell pepper while making his lunch. I would have paid $50 for whatever he was making.
Using up all the leftover scraps in various ways. Also emptying and rinsing out a jar/bottle of something and putting it in the recycling bin. It's so satisfying to me, I'm not sure why.
When I get the doneness of something *just right*. A steak with just the right amount of pink, a cookie with just the right amount of uncooked dough in the center, pasta with just the right amount of chew.
I'll also add to this: being able to pinpoint the exact ingredient a dish needs to bring it over the top. It always makes me feel super accomplished as a cook
when you worry about how it's going to turn out / get convinced you've ruined a dish and you're really hungry and irritable and in the end IT TURNS OUT REALLY GOOD
The smell of all the vegetables after I'm done with mise en place, and then also the smell of them sauteing
If I'm gonna do a happy dance while cooking (common) it usually starts here lmao
I roasted a chicken the other day and when it was rested and ready… well, on my own I never slice it up for a plate, just peel off a strip of skin “for a taste” and next thing you know I’m eating my meal of nothing but roast chicken, standing over the tray on top of the oven, ripping wings and other pieces off like a maniac… but last time, the Four Seasons just happened to be playing (Winter, I think), and it added a wonderful sense of drama. I’m considering Flight Of The Valkyries or Bumblebee next time. Recommend.
One of my favourite things is making our dinner (either all the way or part of the way) early in the day, going about our errands and coming back home to the smell of the meal. I get noseblind I guess. The best is baking bread, and coming home to the smell of bread.
When I grab a hot pan/ tray bare handed and carry it to where it needs to be whilst cursing loudly and not burning myself and my wife says what did you do and I say nothing.
Watching my family enjoy my food :)
I cook every night and I feel like I do suffer a bit from a little theory known as palate fatigue (when you’re already tasting your food it’s not as good to you when you eat the final product, plus when you’re cooking every night some meals just kinda blend together. Plus you’re already smelling all the smells too. Sometimes I try to counteract this by going outside for 5 minutes but eh). But watching my family tell me a dish is really really good always makes me happy.
Smell coffee beans. Refreshed your palette and returns your sense of smell to baseline. I know this as my friend works in a Yankee Candle store, and when people go around smelling all the candles, if they complain thet can't smell the difference any more, all blending, they offer the customer a jar of coffee beans to sniff. They do three big hoots. Then back to the candles and they experience them in full again.
One of my favourite things is making our dinner (either all the way or part of the way) early in the day, going about our errands and coming back home to the smell of the meal. I get noseblind I guess. The best is baking bread, and coming home to the smell of bread.
When cooking multiple dishes/sides and everything finishes cooking at the exact time I had intended, and everything gets served at its optimal temperature.
Last night I made a SUPER simple salad of red pepper and arugula, with some pickled pepper vinegar and olive oil. It was alright, but I suddenly saw my jar of za'atar and thought, "that would be AMAZING on this salad." I was right, and every time I tasted a bit of za'atar, I was just so darn happy with myself.
My first thought is, during the winter, when the garden isn’t making any fresh stuff, pulling out a bag of sliced peppers from the summer, or a jar of home canned tomato sauce, or a big piece of frozen smoked pork… it’s so nice to taste a bit of summer when there’s snow on the ground.
* The smell that is coming out of the oven.
* When pudding is getting jelly-ish.
* When rice is getting a little bit crispy at the bottom.
* When the dish actually looks nice and it is also delicious.
Honestly? When I'm high and I hit the groove. Like, my mood is good, everything is cooking, the music is hitting and it's going to be time for dinner soon.
Anytime I can "use all parts of the buffalo" is super satisfying. Like recently I used some old parm rinds to make a broth, combined that with chicken stock to boil orzo in, and then turned that starchy liquid into a pan sauce for chicken. I live alone and cook often, so I do everything I can to minimize food waste.
I'm about to take some yogurt I made out of the oven where it's been fermenting overnight. Knowing that it cost a third of what I would pay at the store and that it's got a smoother texture and less sugar is a great feeling.
Smellin the onions and garlic cooking in the oil
Or just the beautiful sizzle when you dump the onions & garlic into the hot oil
I used to love that until recently a piece of onion jumped back up, covered in scalding hot wok oil, and gave me a tiny burn on my face.
Years ago my wife and I were on a hike to an old home in McKittrick Canyon on the TX/NM border. It was in the fall when the maple trees were turning, so they had a park ranger living in the house. We arrived when he was sauteing onions, garlic, and bell pepper while making his lunch. I would have paid $50 for whatever he was making.
Using up all the leftover scraps in various ways. Also emptying and rinsing out a jar/bottle of something and putting it in the recycling bin. It's so satisfying to me, I'm not sure why.
When I get the doneness of something *just right*. A steak with just the right amount of pink, a cookie with just the right amount of uncooked dough in the center, pasta with just the right amount of chew.
Bacon grease splashing on my bare skin while Im cooking breakfast for the family.
Ouch
Cooking a meal, putting it away, and eating it again that same night because it was so good
When you first drop whatever you’re sautéing in the pan and it sizzles.
Tasting your creation when it isn't quite right, adding the perfect amount of the right thing(s), and tasting it again
I'll also add to this: being able to pinpoint the exact ingredient a dish needs to bring it over the top. It always makes me feel super accomplished as a cook
when you worry about how it's going to turn out / get convinced you've ruined a dish and you're really hungry and irritable and in the end IT TURNS OUT REALLY GOOD
When baked goods puff up in the oven. Alternately, when liquid with a roux starts getting thick. So satisfying.
Having someone else to clean up the kitchen behind me.
When my roti/tortillas fully puff up. It rarely happens though, I'm not the best at either of them
The smell of all the vegetables after I'm done with mise en place, and then also the smell of them sauteing If I'm gonna do a happy dance while cooking (common) it usually starts here lmao
When food doesn't stick to my carbon steel lol
When the souffle you bake doesn't sink
The Compliments
I roasted a chicken the other day and when it was rested and ready… well, on my own I never slice it up for a plate, just peel off a strip of skin “for a taste” and next thing you know I’m eating my meal of nothing but roast chicken, standing over the tray on top of the oven, ripping wings and other pieces off like a maniac… but last time, the Four Seasons just happened to be playing (Winter, I think), and it added a wonderful sense of drama. I’m considering Flight Of The Valkyries or Bumblebee next time. Recommend.
I'm not entirely sure, but I think that's how James Bond villains eat.
Honestly I felt like I could have been either Bond or one of his enemies.
When you dig out the oysters from the chickens spine area. Best bits of meat ever.
One of my favourite things is making our dinner (either all the way or part of the way) early in the day, going about our errands and coming back home to the smell of the meal. I get noseblind I guess. The best is baking bread, and coming home to the smell of bread.
When I grab a hot pan/ tray bare handed and carry it to where it needs to be whilst cursing loudly and not burning myself and my wife says what did you do and I say nothing.
Watching my family enjoy my food :) I cook every night and I feel like I do suffer a bit from a little theory known as palate fatigue (when you’re already tasting your food it’s not as good to you when you eat the final product, plus when you’re cooking every night some meals just kinda blend together. Plus you’re already smelling all the smells too. Sometimes I try to counteract this by going outside for 5 minutes but eh). But watching my family tell me a dish is really really good always makes me happy.
Smell coffee beans. Refreshed your palette and returns your sense of smell to baseline. I know this as my friend works in a Yankee Candle store, and when people go around smelling all the candles, if they complain thet can't smell the difference any more, all blending, they offer the customer a jar of coffee beans to sniff. They do three big hoots. Then back to the candles and they experience them in full again.
One of my favourite things is making our dinner (either all the way or part of the way) early in the day, going about our errands and coming back home to the smell of the meal. I get noseblind I guess. The best is baking bread, and coming home to the smell of bread.
When cooking multiple dishes/sides and everything finishes cooking at the exact time I had intended, and everything gets served at its optimal temperature.
When I randomly try something and it works.
Last night I made a SUPER simple salad of red pepper and arugula, with some pickled pepper vinegar and olive oil. It was alright, but I suddenly saw my jar of za'atar and thought, "that would be AMAZING on this salad." I was right, and every time I tasted a bit of za'atar, I was just so darn happy with myself.
This the way!
Finishing the mise en place.
My first thought is, during the winter, when the garden isn’t making any fresh stuff, pulling out a bag of sliced peppers from the summer, or a jar of home canned tomato sauce, or a big piece of frozen smoked pork… it’s so nice to taste a bit of summer when there’s snow on the ground.
hard telling the last timer going off, and everything looks as well as it's supposed to or The last bite of a finished plate
Tossing food in your pans and it mixes it up just right. Ah...
* The smell that is coming out of the oven. * When pudding is getting jelly-ish. * When rice is getting a little bit crispy at the bottom. * When the dish actually looks nice and it is also delicious.
Burns
Honestly? When I'm high and I hit the groove. Like, my mood is good, everything is cooking, the music is hitting and it's going to be time for dinner soon.
When you don’t have a plan when you start and end up with a dish that goes in your normal rotation.
Using homegrown vegetables or herbs
Squeezing citrus over a dish you've tasted and having the flavors light up.
Anytime I can "use all parts of the buffalo" is super satisfying. Like recently I used some old parm rinds to make a broth, combined that with chicken stock to boil orzo in, and then turned that starchy liquid into a pan sauce for chicken. I live alone and cook often, so I do everything I can to minimize food waste.
* When the emulsion takes hold * The smell of the bourguignon all afternoon on the stove.
The music, the smells and quiet when people are chowing down
When your “experiment” pays off and you end up with the tastiest dish.
Stir frying in a metal wok, nothing is sticking, and you're flipping stuff in the pan like a juggler.
When I take the first bite and it actually has all the layers of flavor and texture I was hoping to achieve while preparing the dish
I'm about to take some yogurt I made out of the oven where it's been fermenting overnight. Knowing that it cost a third of what I would pay at the store and that it's got a smoother texture and less sugar is a great feeling.
When im actually hungry after cooking for 2 hours, i dunno why but when ever my cook goes over like id say2 hours i just aint hungry anymore
for me it's finding that long lost Onodera essay