Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but i ran into this exact same wall when i first started out with that specific camera. The Canon T7 is a solid entry-level body for photos, but it actually doesnt have a 3.5mm mic jack at all. It is super frustrating. I spent way too much time looking for a port that simply wasnt there. Since you cant plug a mic directly into the camera, you have to record your audio separately and sync it up later in your editing software. For your 45 dollar budget, id definitely grab a Boya BY-M1 Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone. It is usually under 20 bucks and is a total lifesaver for cooking videos. You just plug it into your smartphone, hit record on a voice memo app, and tuck the phone in your pocket while you cook. The cord is like 20 feet long so you can move around the kitchen without any issues. Another option if you want to avoid wearing a wire is the Zoom H1n Portable Handy Recorder. You might have to find one used to stay under 50 bucks, but it is a beast. You can just set it on the counter near your workspace. To make syncing easy, just do a loud clap on camera before you start cooking. It gives you a clear visual spike in the audio waves so you can line up the good sound with the crappy camera sound in seconds. It sounds like a hassle, but honestly, it becomes second nature after like two videos and the quality jump is massive.

Found this thread and thought id chime in. Since the T7 has no mic port, youre forced to record audio separately and sync it in post. Its actually more reliable than trying to hack a solution onto the camera body.

• Boya BY-M1 Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone: This is basically the standard for starting on a budget. The 20-foot cable is great for cooking because you can move around. You just plug it into your smartphone. Pros: Very cheap and clear audio. Cons: You have to keep your phone in your pocket while filming.
• Sony ICD-PX470 Digital Voice Recorder with USB: A solid dedicated device if you dont want to use your phone. It has built-in USB and uses AAA batteries. Pros: Reliable and simple. Cons: Youll need to keep it close to you, maybe hidden on a counter. Just clap loudly once before you start. It makes syncing the files much easier later.

Oh man, your kitchen setup reminds me so much of when I tried to start my Extreme Grilling series last summer!! I was so pumped to show off my secret burger recipe. Had everything ready. The lighting was perfect and the camera was on a sturdy tripod right by the stove... but then my neighbor decided that exact moment was the perfect time to start using a jackhammer on his driveway! Tbh I spent like three hours prepping the perfect brisket only to realize later that the audio was basically 100% construction noise. I tried to fix it by narrating over it later but I ended up accidentally deleting the original video files while trying to figure out the editing software. It was a total disaster but honestly so funny looking back. My dog ended up eating the brisket anyway so at least someone enjoyed it! Cooking videos are such a wild ride!!