The Real-Life Quest to Cook All 74 Stardew Valley Recipes

If the pandemic had never happened, Ali Z. might never have joined TikTok. But by the time the short, dark January days arrived, she was getting restless. Nearly a year into quarantine, her go-to hobbies--cooking, baking, and playing video games--felt lonely. In particular, she missed cooking for friends and family. "It's not quite as fun if you're just doing it on your own," Ali told me in a recent phone call. In the midst of this reflection, Ali realized her favorite video games involved aspects of cooking.