Daily writing prompt

What’s your favorite thing to cook?

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Hello dear friends,

I hope this blog finds you in a cheerful mood. Today’s writing prompt—“What’s your favorite thing to cook?”—may sound simple at first glance, but the more I sat with it, the more revealing it became.

Our favorite dish is rarely just about taste. It is about memory, mood, identity, and the quiet joy of creating something nourishing with our own hands.

If I had to choose one thing without hesitation, it would be a slow-cooked, soulful pot of food—the kind that simmers patiently, fills the house with warmth, and tastes even better the next day.

A rich stew, a fragrant curry, or a humble pot of dal bubbling gently on the stove. Not rushed. Not flashy. Just honest food with depth.

What makes this my favorite isn’t only the final dish—it’s the process. Slow cooking invites presence.

You chop vegetables with intention, listen to the soft sizzle as onions meet hot ghee, and breathe in aromas that feel almost therapeutic.

In a world obsessed with speed, cooking slowly feels like a quiet, rebellious act of self-care.

There’s something deeply comforting about dishes like these. They remind us that food has always been more than fuel.

Across cultures and generations, slow-cooked meals have been a language of love. They’re made for families, for shared tables, for conversations that stretch long after the plates are empty.

Even when I cook only for myself, that sense of connection lingers. One pot can hold nostalgia, tradition, and belonging all at once.

For me, that pot is often dal.

Today, as I prepared it, I realized I wasn’t just using ingredients—I was stirring memories.

The aroma carried echoes of childhood afternoons, my mother moving effortlessly around the kitchen, laughter floating through the house.

Dal may be modest, but it is powerful. It has nourished generations, crossed borders, and adapted endlessly, all while remaining comfort in its purest form.

Another reason slow cooking is my favorite is its flexibility. These dishes are forgiving. You can adjust spices, swap ingredients, and trust your instincts.

No tomatoes? Add lemon. No fresh herbs? Dried ones will do. Cooking this way builds confidence. It reminds us that perfection isn’t the goal—feeling is.

Creativity plays a role too.

Every time I cook dal, it turns out a little different. Some days it gets extra garlic because life demands boldness.

Other days, more chili for energy, or a squeeze of lemon when the mood feels heavy.

I measure not in spoons, but in emotions—a little extra ghee if someone’s had a hard day, gentler spices when comfort is needed.

I once read a quote that stayed with me: “Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”

My dal follows that philosophy. Though simple, it is cooked with the same intention as a chef plating a fine meal. This is why certain recipes become favorites—they grow with us and carry our personal signature.

Over the years, I’ve shared this recipe many times. I’ve emailed it to friends living abroad, scribbled it on paper for a stranger on a train, and demonstrated it during community cooking sessions.

Passing it on feels like handing someone a small piece of my heart.

And I love how people adapt it—adding ginger, swapping ghee for olive oil, tossing in spinach. Recipes, like stories, evolve when shared.

There’s also practical joy in slow-cooked food. It stretches further, feeds more people, and reduces waste.

Leftovers transform into new meals. It’s economical, sustainable, and deeply satisfying—proof that good food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.

Cooking this way grounds me.

Most importantly, cooking this way grounds me. The rhythm of stirring, tasting, waiting—it’s almost meditative.

When life feels overwhelming, the kitchen becomes a sanctuary. Problems soften when your hands are busy and your heart is present.

So when I reflect on the question, “What’s your favorite thing to cook?” my answer goes beyond a single recipe. My favorite thing to cook is comfort itself—food that nourishes both body and soul, that invites patience, creativity, and connection.

And now, dear friends, I ask you: what is your favorite dish? Not just the recipe, but the memory it carries. The smell that pulls you home. The taste that tells your story.

Cook it today—not for an occasion, but for life itself. Because sometimes, the greatest treasures are found in the simplest bowls.

Happy cooking, and may your kitchens always be filled with warmth. 🍲✨

BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE

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Tags: cooking, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1836, dinner, featured, food, recipe, recipes