When I'm cooking/baking, there are two parts of the process

[no_hypocrisy]

I find satisfying:

1) When I'm done and my finished product is plated, and

2) When I have finished washing the last pot, utensil, etc. for this project. (Putting them away is part of #2.)

[Backseat Driver]

1. Which begs the questions about what you like least???

I really dislike pulling and setting up all my measured ingredients, per recipe, into separate dishes, and rarely proceed that way.

I dislike chopping ingredients (hate the food processor, but the knives fill me with anxiety for correct size and shape of ingredient for best presentation and possible injury (I do curl those fingertips, but still...).


I most enjoy tasting and the kitchen aromas so created in the process.

I can enjoy the finished product I cooked/baked best when no one at the table adds things (salt,spice,condiment) or subtracts an ingredient before tasting it...("I don't eat round things" - really?)

[no_hypocrisy]

2. By contrast, I don't mind the sou chef part of the process.

Being organized, and getting the ingredients organized cuts down on the cooking time. And I avoid that awkward moment when you realize you're missing an ingredient.

What I like the least: Shopping for a wayward ingredient that isn't universally sold in any supermarket. Example: I was making a Chinese recipe for chicken drumsticks and it needed Sriracha. It isn't on the shelf with catsup and/or mayo. I had to travel to one particular store for it.

[yellowdogintexas]

4. it is usually found in the Asian section, or sometimes Mexican

Of course in Texas most larger grocery stores have a rather large hot sauce section, which makes 3 places to look

[chia]

6. I went to several stores including a Hispanic market, looking for aji amarillo for a Peruvian recipe

in frustration I sat in the parking lot of the last market, got on my phone and ordered it from Amazon and it arrived in 2 days. I would've liked to support the local Hispanic market, but they didn't have anything like it.

[samplegirl]

3. I love cooking

And the plating process and the table setting.

I don’t like the dishes afterwards. But mainly cleaning the stove and table.
I do try to clean up as I go.

[chia]

5. I enjoy the "thinking about what to make" phase when I'm looking through my cookbooks and recipes

[Nanuke]

7. Planning

I love the planning process. Looking at recipes, finding ideas for accompanying sides and extra touches such as relishes or sauces, and making shopping lists that involve usually multiple types of stores/markets.

For large meals/entertaining, I like to get out the right serving plates/bowls/utensils for the table and even putting temporary paper labels in each one. Love seeing my table set before company arrives. Occasionally, for holidays, I even take a photo of the set table that only I will see/enjoy later.

I hate putting my china/crystal/silver away the next day and washing the linens.

[Mr.Bill]

8. My wife and I split that

since she does most of the cooking and I do the dishes.

Another thing we both enjoy is when we are missing an ingredient to a recipe and we have to figure out what to substitute. The results can often be better than the original recipe. Many times we have made changes and notes in our recipe binder.