You get lots of free time, you start to want to just do things. At least there's plenty of people around willing to impart whatever wisdom they have in thing-doing - Shinji included, for what few real skills he has. Having that attention called to it does prompt a small blush to rise to his cheeks.

"I... like getting to help you out." Fancy that! "It feels like the least I can do after all you've done for me."

Even if it's just something simple and mundane as this, there's no real practicality to it like you get with cooking.