Or maybe—do I just want something to eat?

What foods would you like to make?

When I was a kid, I thought the most impressive dish was anything deep-fried.

Because it required so much oil, my family rarely made it. And even if we did, the oil would be reused to its absolute limit.

Back then, I genuinely believed that tempura shrimp was the epitome of gourmet cuisine—crispy on the outside, tender inside, beautifully plated. Just thinking about it felt fancy.

But looking back now, my taste has definitely changed.

I’m not as into fried food anymore. I’ve reached the age where health starts to matter (you know what I mean 😅).

When it comes to cooking, the questions “What do I want to eat?”, “What do I want to make?”, and “What am I actually capable of making?” are often three completely different things.

For example, my family used to bake brown sugar cookies all the time when I was little.

Crispy, sweet, and fragrant—they’re still one of my strongest food memories.

But would I ever make them again? Hmm… honestly, just thinking about the prep and cleanup makes me hesitate (lol).

That said, there was a time when I really enjoyed baking cakes.

Partly because desserts are just so comforting—and partly because I could never get bread to rise properly.

I tried over and over, eventually accepting that me and yeast don’t get along, and decided to commit to cakes instead. We had a stable relationship for a while.

One of the most memorable attempts was a coffee cake.

I went all in—used nearly an entire box of Starbucks coffee powder. The aroma during baking was amazing, and I had high hopes.

But when it came out of the oven… nothing. The flavor was so faint, it was almost nonexistent.

At that moment, I seriously questioned how store-bought coffee cakes manage to smell so strong.

Do they use artificial flavoring? I’m not saying they do—but I’m definitely not saying they don’t.

In the past few years, I’ve leaned more toward lighter, simpler dishes with layered flavors—like cold salads, steamed eggs, or a hot, comforting soup that isn’t greasy.

That said… lately, the thing I cook most often is a quick, air-fried recipe.

My favorite? Costco’s tail-on shrimp. Just defrost, pat dry, toss in a little olive oil, air-fry for 10 minutes (in two rounds), and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Super easy, super satisfying.

Wait—am I back to fried food again? 🤣

(Well… at least it’s not that greasy.)