One of the quiet lessons cooking teaches you is to slow down and pay attention. Tasting as you go sounds obvious, but it’s something we often forget when we’re distracted, hungry, or just trying to get dinner on the table.
A quick spoonful here, a little adjustment there — it changes everything. Cooking stops being about following steps and starts becoming a conversation. Too flat? Add salt. Needs lifting? A squeeze of lemon. Too sharp? Time or a pinch of something sweet will usually help.
I like how tasting pulls you into the moment. You’re not thinking about what’s next or what you should have done earlier. You’re just responding to what’s in front of you. It makes cooking feel calmer, even when the day hasn’t been.
And it’s reassuring too. You realise you don’t need fancy skills to cook well — just attention. Most dishes don’t fail suddenly; they drift. Tasting is how you gently steer them back.
It’s a small habit, but a comforting one. One that turns cooking into something thoughtful rather than rushed, and reminds you that good food is often built one tiny decision at a time.
I hope you get chance to cook something that makes you smile this week.
