The kitchen can serve as a microcosm for how we approach life. Whether you meticulously follow a recipe or prefer to let your instincts guide you, your cooking style may reflect deeper traits about your personality and worldview. Do you thrive on structure, or do you find joy in the unpredictable? Exploring your culinary approach may provide insights into your broader approach to challenges, creativity, and collaboration.

If you identify as a recipe follower, you likely appreciate structure and clarity in your life - valuing the step-by-step process that ensures a successful outcome. This methodical approach may show up in your work, where you meticulously plan your projects and adhere to established protocols. Your comfort with guidelines allows you to minimise risk and ensures that you meet your goals with confidence. However, it’s worthwhile recognising the value of embracing spontaneity occasionally as it can lead to unexpected joys and discoveries.

On the flip side, those who resonate more with the intuitive cooking style often embrace creative chaos. You might be known to throw caution to the wind, allowing your mood, flavours and available ingredients to guide you. This spontaneity can lead to innovative outcomes in the kitchen, reflecting your willingness to experiment in life. You may find yourself thriving in environments that value adaptability and creative thinking, often thinking outside the box to solve problems. This ability to pivot and explore uncharted territories can inspire others, shining a light on the beauty of embracing the mystery of emergence.

Collaboration by cooking with friends and family—like in life—can provide a different perspective to our approach and outcomes. Whether you prefer to fly solo or work with others in the kitchen or at work, your choice can shape your experience and outcomes. Solo cooks might find solace in alone time, relishing the quiet moments of chopping vegetables and stirring pots, reflecting a strong sense of independence. In contrast, those who enjoy cooking with others often thrive on connection and teamwork. Kitchen co-creation can lead to richer experiences, as cooking together fosters connection, communication, creativity and shared achievements.

Ultimately, how you cook teaches you about your life’s philosophy. Whether you’re a structured recipe follower or an intuitive culinary artist, both approaches have their strengths and can coexist beautifully. Recognising your cooking style may encourage you to reflect on how you navigate your personal and professional lives. Embracing both structure and spontaneity leads to a more balanced approach, reminding us that life—like cooking—is best enjoyed when we mix a little of both worlds.

I am an intuitive cook that feels hamstrung and inpatient with long complex recipes. Although I understand the need for a recipe, especially when baking, I find joy when working spontaneously in my own flow. I tend to tune into what I am creating, trusting my instincts with flavour and playing with ingredients. For me this means I get more from the ingredients I have available and prepare food that is super nourishing and satisfying because its prepared in response to what I’m feeling like.

Amongst our friend group, I’m famous for my salads. My veggie garden is a great source of joy, providing an abundant source of fresh greens to work with. Being creative with salads means you can whip up a meal that not only looks gorgeous but is packed with flavour and health benefits. To elevate these salads into complete meals, I add fats and proteins, but the real gold lies in the dressing, where my secret ingredients come into play. The magical compilation of ingredients in the dressing transforms a simple salad into a culinary delight.

Download out my salad building recipe to be re inspired about the magic of the humble salad!

So next time you are in the kitchen, consider how the way you approach cooking relates to how you approach life. You might want to try a new approach to unlock more of your culinary potential.