I often play music when I cook. I play jazz when I am upbeat. I sing along with the Beatles even though I can’t carry a tune, and I am calmed by the sound of a Native American flute. I often listen to it when I am down and out.
Cooking is so much more than a means to a meal for me. I’ve come to realize that it is my anchor during turbulent times. I have suffered twice from major depression. During those times I stayed in bed for most of the day, only getting up for bathroom breaks. Putting the blanket over my head was one way I tried to lock out the world. I couldn’t think straight and found it almost impossible to make decisions.
Despite this we always ate well. It was as if planning and cooking dinner was another type of medication that worked to reorder the chemistry in my brain.
Cooking requires focus. You can’t be thinking about how miserable you are while measuring out a scant half cup of flour. You will most likely make a mistake. If you manage to get the measurement right you are likely to forget to add the flour or didn’t make sure you took the right size pan out of the drawer. I’ve actually done that and only realized my mistake when an overflowing brown something emerged from the oven instead of a beautiful chocolate cake. Fortunately, even though it looked horrible most of it tasted very good.
If you’ve ever taken a cooking-class you know that all the ingredients you need are right at hand so you can focus on cooking. The French word for this is mise en place, (pronounced meeze ahn plas). It literally means “set in place,” and it refers to having all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you start cooking. Onions are diced, spices are measured, and exactly the right amount of oil has been put in the skillet.
I am sure I am not the only person who halfway through making dinner has cursed out loud when realizing you barely have a teaspoon of curry powder and the recipe calls for two tablespoons. These days I do make sure I have everything I need before deciding what to cook, but creating mise en plas before I start has not yet become a habit. I am working on it.
Whether you are depressed or not, focusing while cooking is critical if you want to hear cheers instead of groans from your starving family.