There has never been a better time to fall in love with cooking. In these anxious and socially distant times, there is something calming about spending time in the kitchen.  

From the safety of your home, your kitchen has the power to transport you anywhere in the world – from a far-off food market to your nan’s kitchen table – food can provide limitless escapism and the comfort of familiarity.  

We often shy away from tasks that we aren’t confident in completing and cooking is no different. It’s easier to order a takeaway or stick a ready meal in the microwave than it is to invest your time in learning new skills. But, as it has recently been made clear, access to our usual foods is not a god given right.  

Whilst you don’t have to go full ‘Ready Steady Cook’, knowing how to build enjoyable meals out of a wide range of ingredients can be reassuring and helps you to become more adaptable when your first-choice ingredients aren’t available.  

Spending your newly acquired free time on something tangible, with almost immediate results, can be reassuring. Whilst mundane, the act of preparing a meal, provides a great outlet to channel anxious energy, cooking gives you the opportunity to get creative and the chance to challenge yourself.  

In a time when we are all missing the ones we love, there is something very special about being able to carry out a simple act of service for those around you. Taking the time to marinate vegetables, slow cook meat and plate up carefully can provide a sense of achievement that has been lost in other areas of our lives.  

Spending a couple of hours in your kitchen, away from social media and the infinite number of heart-breaking stories dominating our news feeds is good for the soul. At the best of times it is cathartic to be able to start a task and see it through to completion and now, it is essential.  

So, grab a glass of wine, put on some music and fire up the oven…