There is no denying that everyone needs to eat food to remain on this earth. However, simply eating to continue your existence is not a very exciting way to look at food. Cooking a fabulous meal can be just as exciting, if not more, than the pleasure of eating the meal. Here are a couple tips to help take your cooking expertise to a whole new level.
Get your ingredients squared away ahead of time. It is important to have all the prep work done before you start cooking. Cooking can get stressful when you’re working to deadline. Prepare your food in advance if you want to minimize the stress that you feel.
If you have decided that you might like to cook more food at home, look for a great book that can help you. These books can be found in many places: the library, online or even a family member. Try different recipes until you come up with something that works for you.
Your spices should be stored in a cool place that is free of light. Shelf life can be significantly decreased for those spices which have been exposed to too much light, dampness and heat. You can preserve the flavor and freshness of your spices by storing them in a dark, cool spot. If you use fresh spices, your food will taste better.
Are you using fresh basil to cook with? Put a bunch of fresh basil in a glass. Then cover the stems of the basil with water. Keep it on a kitchen counter so you remember to use it. If you keep the water as fresh as you can, roots will start growing. You can cut the basil every once in a while in order to spur further growth, thereby making basil available for even longer.
These spices are able to be used on many things in the kitchen, not just meats. Put in on pumpkin seeds or in scrambled eggs to add a new flavor. No one will know how you made that tasty food!
After you have prepared some sauce, freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays. All you need to do next time you want to use it, is reheat in a saucepan. Have no fear, for the sauce will taste great even after being frozen in the trays!
When cooking pumpkins, stand the pumpkin so that it is upright. Next, cut it down the middle. On a baking sheet, put one of the halves face down. Use a different baking sheet for the other half. Add a bit of water to the pans. Cooking time is roughly an hour, and the oven temp should stay 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Always get the freshest garlic available when you have a recipe that calls for it. Older garlic tends to smell and taste woody, while fresh garlic ensures a sweet, yet savory flavor. Fresh garlic is very firm to the touch and has an intact, taut skin. The individual cloves are also plump and firm, not shriveled and shrunken.
When serving a salad at a social gathering, keep the dressing in a dish to the side. Let people put on their own dressing. Offer a variety of dressings, so there will be something to everyone’s taste.
Cooking tasty food is often just as enjoyable as eating it. Use these tips to make them a part of your experience, add some new things as you go. Your friends and family will enjoy your new hobby as much as you do.