How to Spice Things Up in the Kitchen
Is cooking just not as exciting as it used to be? Has your gas burner lost its spark? Around halfway through the semester, every upperclassman staying in their own apartment starts to get tired of making their own meals. You might think that there’s nothing new to explore, and that it’s time to resign yourself to a life of meal prep so vanilla it feels like monthly missionary. But it doesn’t have to be this way!
If you want to spice up things in the kitchen, you need to act as soon as the urge strikes. It doesn’t matter if it’s eleven a.m. on a Wednesday, that recipe for 3 hour baked lasagna is calling your name! Stop inhibiting your desires and be loud and clear about what you want. You want that burrito so gooey that you moan with delight? Then quit being stingy with the cheese! You want some cloyingly sweet aftercare that will make you melt? Then don’t skip out on ice cream after dinner! And if your roommate complains about you hogging the kitchen for three hours, tell them you have needs, too.
To feel better about your prowess in the kitchen, it’s important to start with good ingredients. Is that brand of butter a smooth enough lubricant for your pan? Does that type of rice really feel soft and warm against your tongue? Even garnish matters—if your scallions aren’t scrumptious and your cilantro downright salacious, then you’re missing out on a world of culinary pleasure!
A surprising amount of satisfaction comes from the leadup to a meal, rather than the meal itself. The next time you cook, take your time with the preparation. Slide your fingers against the cutting board and get lost in its texture, or hold your hand over the pan and feel the heat radiating off of it. You’re leaving your mark on the kitchen every time, you know!
You can also take pleasure in making others feel good. Feed your cooking to a friend and watch their expression as they are overcome with the taste. Their eyes will go half lidded, their mouth hanging open as they let out a low groan. Ask them to describe exactly what gets them going the most. It can feel good to be at someone’s service! If they’re interested, try to overstimulate them with a five course meal of various flavors, getting them to a point where they can’t stop eating but are begging you to stop serving them.
All food can go a little stale, but there are endless ways to spice up your culinary experience. If you’re looking for more ways to wet your palate, you can always eat out at a restaurant. Maybe even invite a third person into the kitchen, if you've got enough burners to go around. However, I find there’s something comforting (and a little sexy) about a sleepy, cuddly breakfast in bed.