How is it that a food, with the exact same ingredients in it, but cooked two different ways, can taste so different?

This is kind of a boring question, but I decided to toast an English Muffin for breakfast. I could have popped it in the toaster, then put butter and honey on it and be done. However, I always put butter on it first, then toast it in the oven, and then put the honey on. It takes 15 minutes longer, but it just tastes so much better to me that way! I don’t think it’s all in my mind….how can cooking methods make that much difference?