How Cooking Sparks Creativity in My Life (Plus My Favorite Slime Ball Recipe)

Hi, it’s G! Today’s topic is something close to my heart, and no, it’s not about AI (well, not directly). It’s about cooking—yep, that magical process of turning raw ingredients into something comforting, creative, and sometimes nakakatuwa sa sobrang epic fail. Let’s dive into how experimenting in the kitchen has sparked creativity in my life, taught me life lessons, and led to some seriously funny memories.

The Tortang Talong Disaster

Let’s start with a kitchen fail that still makes me laugh today. Back during the pandemic, naisipan kong magluto ng Tortang Talong. For those who aren’t familiar, Tortang Talong is a quintessential Filipino dish made with roasted eggplant and beaten eggs, often paired with a simple protein dish like tuyo or tapa. Sounds simple, right? Akala ko rin.

The first hurdle? Roasting the eggplant. Here’s the thing: no one told me na ang kulit pala ng talong mag-roast. I poked it with a fork, thinking that was enough. Turns out, hindi pala. As I tried to roast it over an open flame, it suddenly exploded like a mini volcano. I was left with a charred mess and a kitchen na mukhang dinaanan ng bagyo. The end product? Let’s just say it didn’t resemble Tortang Talong at all. But that’s the beauty of cooking: you laugh, learn, and try again.

Cooking as a Creative Outlet

Cooking has always been more than just a means to fill the stomach for me. It’s a creative outlet. Much like crafting an automation flow or brainstorming a blog post, experimenting in the kitchen allows me to test ideas, innovate, and sometimes, break a few rules.

Take, for instance, my “Slime Ball” recipe. Okay, technically, it’s a siopao, but with a twist. Inspired by my love for RPGs and light novels, I wanted to create something na parang kinuha sa isang fantasy game. Instead of the usual round steamed bun, I shaped the dough to look like a slime from RPGs—complete with sesame seed eyes.

The process itself felt like a side quest in a game. I tweaked the traditional recipe I found from Marion Grasby to make it my own. For example, I froze the buns first, then pan-fried them to get that crispy bottom before steaming them to perfection. It was like farming slimes in a dungeon, with the end reward being delicious buns na may creative backstory pa.

Creativity Beyond the Kitchen

What I love most about cooking is how it translates into other areas of my life. When I’m in the kitchen, I’m constantly thinking: “What can I do differently? How can I make this more fun or unique?” That mindset carries over to my work in AI and automation.

For example, when creating chatbot workflows, I often draw inspiration from the iterative process of cooking. You try a recipe (or workflow), see what works, tweak it, and refine until it’s perfect. There’s a lot of experimentation involved, and every failure is just another step closer to success.

Cooking also taught me to adapt. Not all recipes work the first time, much like not all business strategies succeed immediately. And that’s okay! The important thing is to keep going, learning, and improving—whether it’s perfecting a dish or creating an AI solution.

The Slime Ball Recipe

Now, as promised, here’s my twist on Marion Grasby’s siopao recipe—aka my “Slime Ball” recipe. Try it, and who knows? Maybe it’ll inspire you to experiment in the kitchen too.

Ingredients:

• Dough:
  • 300g cake flour
  • 70g sugar
  • 9g baking powder
  • 7g instant yeast
  • 150ml water
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• Filling:
  • 500g pork mince
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp finely grated ginger
  • 1 chicken stock cube dissolved in 1/4 cup water
  • 3 tbsp spring onion
  • 3 tbsp coriander
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp ground white pepper

Steps:

1. Prepare the Dough: Mix the dry ingredients, then add water and oil. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth. Rest for 1 hour.
2. Prepare the Filling: Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl. Mix thoroughly.
3. Shape the Dough: Roll out the dough, cut into 20 pieces, and flatten each into a circle. Add 2 tablespoons of filling, pleat the edges to seal, and shape into a ball.
4. Cook the Slime Balls: Heat oil in a frying pan, place the buns pleat-side up, and cook until golden brown on the bottom. Add water halfway up the sides of the buns, cover, and steam for 12 minutes. Remove the lid and let the buns crisp up for another 2 minutes.
5. Add the Finishing Touches: Use black sesame seeds to create “eyes” for the slime. Serve with soy sauce and chili oil.

Life Lessons from the Kitchen

Cooking isn’t just about food; it’s about creativity, resilience, and the joy of sharing something you’ve made with others. The kitchen has taught me to:

• Embrace Mistakes: Whether it’s an exploded eggplant or a burnt batch of buns, every mistake is an opportunity to learn.
• Adapt and Innovate: Recipes are just guidelines. Don’t be afraid to tweak, experiment, and make them your own.
• Enjoy the Process: Cooking, much like life, isn’t just about the end result. It’s about the laughter, learning, and love that go into it.

Final Thoughts

Cooking sparks creativity in ways I never imagined. It’s not just about feeding myself or others; it’s about crafting something meaningful, experimenting without fear, and finding joy in the process. Whether it’s a hilariously failed Tortang Talong or a perfectly crisp “Slime Ball,” every dish has a story—and those stories are what make the journey worthwhile.

So, if you’re feeling stuck or uninspired, try stepping into the kitchen. Who knows? Your next big idea might come while roasting a talong or kneading some dough.

Happy experimenting, and let’s keep cooking up new ideas—in the kitchen and beyond!