In troubled times, cook.

Sometimes it's all you can do

I had something different planned for today, but in light of what I woke up to, it didn’t feel right.

I am not American. I do not live in America. But that doesn’t mean I’m not affected by Donald Trump becoming US President again, or that my world isn’t affected. American politics affects everyone, wherever you live.

I don’t talk too much about my personal political views on Substack, although judging by some of my essays you may be able to guess. But my therapist thinks I should get better at saying and owning who I am. And Substack has always been somewhat of a safe space.

So here’s a snippet.

I am pro-choice. I believe in reproductive assistance. I think immigration can have a net positive effect on a country. I care about LGBTQIA+ rights. I care about women’s rights. And if you tell me your pronouns, I’ll use them no questions asked.

As someone who believes the above, we’ve just entered a world I hoped I would never see. It’s not going to be easy to do my job today and write about food or drink or anything else because the news is so distracting — even outside of America.

Besides, in troubled times, I’d rather cook.

Anyone with half an interest in cooking will know what it can do to soothe a turbulent mind. The total immersion in the task at hand. The concentration. The repetitive motions. The fact that at the end of it, you have something delicious on the table that nourishes your body.

Food is also a leveller. If you are human, you need to eat regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, political views, or country of origin. It’s life itself.

So in light of what’s just happened, today I cook.

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I’ll make a batch of homemade flour tortillas because if you always have these in your freezer, you are never far from a snack.

I’ll use those tortillas to make my version of huevos rancheros for lunch because: comfort food.

I’ll make a batch of kimchi because fermented things = some of the biggest joys in life (see also: bread, beer, and wine).

I’ll rehydrate and cook some beans I bought from a flamenco singer in southern Spain. I’ll spike them with chorizo, garlic and smoked paprika.

I’ll stain my hands red making homemade Harissa paste because it’s impossible to find here in Portugal and it makes everything it touches taste earthy, spicy and intense.

I’ll pickle the beetroot that I grew on my balcony this year to medium success (they exist but they are small).

And I’ll make copious cups of tea to fuel the work because you can take the Brit out of Britain but you can prise tea out of my cold, dead hands.

If you are struggling with today’s news and have some time, may I suggest you cook something too. Not just chicken nuggets in the air fryer but something that absorbs you. Apron on, music on and take control of your kitchen.

Even if you can’t control anything else right now.