When you cook you’re more aware of every stage the food goes through between purchase and eating: You buy better food than, for example, a fast-food place does; you probably buy more appropriate amounts; you don’t cook with ersatz ingredients; you certainly don’t ultra-process what you’re cooking. Here’s part one of my argument that the more people cook, the better off we are, which is: why I cook.

With the magic of macaroons, all of your baking dreams—last-minute, easy, decorated, vegan, or gluten-free—can come true.