Use these recipes as suggestions, not instructions. Swap things. Skip steps. Taste constantly. Cooking should feel loose and intuitive, not rigid or perfect. The goal is food that feels good to make and even better to eat, whether you are cooking for people you love or just yourself, standing in the kitchen with a spoon in hand.

If you’re stuck, put some music on. I usually cook to “girlie pop” stuff like Chappell Roan or Dua Lipa, or a bit of pop punk. Not really sure if that helps the cooking, but shit. Maybe keep the “dua card” up your sleeve just in case.