Cooking is often framed as a chore or a biological necessity, but at its heart, it is one of the few remaining forms of everyday alchemy. It is the transformative process of turning the raw, the bitter, and the disconnected into a singular, nourishing harmony. When we step into a kitchen, we are not just following a sequence of instructions; we are engaging in a sensory dialogue with the earth. The sharp scent of a bruised basil leaf, the hiss of garlic hitting hot oil, and the vibrant resistance of a fresh carrot under a knife all serve to pull us out of our heads and back into our bodies.…