Costello, I love cooking too! It's almost meditative. Somewhere or other (I think British Museum, possibly Asmolean though) there is a Chinese woodcut showing a butcher preparing the animals and the text printed next to it talks about how to make food preparation your meditation. I really liked that.

Word to the wise, though: When I first got into psychiatry, they told me that I'd never go to uni again. I got pretty enraged and outspoken about wanting a career, so they funded me through catering college to shut me up. That in itself was hell, and then being a cook is really not a nice job. Very long hours in a very, very hot environment for minimum wage and almost no chance of advancement unless you're either extremely lucky or wealthy enough to open your own restaurant. It'll kill your love of cooking, too.