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Nothing slows you down more
in the kitchen than dull knives. Invest in a good chef’s knife for chopping, a
smaller paring knife for vegetables and a decent sharpener. Sharp knives might
seem a little scary but they are actually much safer. That’s because when you
have a dull knife, it makes it harder to slice through ingredients, which means
you apply more pressure and the blade is more likely to slip off the food and
hurt you. A sharp knife, on the other hand, can cut swiftly through most
ingredients without a lot of strain or pressure from you. Once you have
invested in a couple of good quality knives and they are nice and sharp,
remember: Never put them in the dishwasher!
Let’s face it we all do
it…my resolutions are usually to eat less sugar, less fat, less salt and go
vegetarian. We make these
resolutions annually in an attempt to start afresh and turn over a healthy new
leaf. I believe that the secret to
a healthier lifestyle normally lies in the kitchen and if you are really
serious about it, one of the answers is to become a better cook. So if you hoping
to become a culinary wizard in your kitchen in 2017 here are my 7 essential
food resolutions for the new year.
1.Get a knife that’s sharp and learn how to keep it
that way.
2. Mise en place- AKA..Getting organised.
Mise en place is everything
to professional cooks. It’s a really cheffy term (meaning ‘putting in place’ in
French). Basically, if a recipe states ‘add chopped onions’, you’ll have
the chopped onion ready in a bowl since you do all the chopping
beforehand. It means you can then concentrate on the cooking and not the
preparation. It’s a much cleaner way of working
3.Make your own chicken stock
Every good cook makes stock.
If you don’t make your own stock, you should start immediately. There’s no
better way to extract the full flavour of the foods you’re using, save money,
and reduce waste all at the same time. Here’s an easy method. Buy a whole
chicken instead of breasts or legs (it works out much cheaper). Place the whole
chicken in cold water with a couple of garlic cloves, chopped onion, carrot,
celery and a sprig of fresh thyme. Slowly bring it up to the boil, then turn
down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to
cool. Remove the cooked chicken that is now perfect for curries, stir-fries etc
then strain the stock and remove any excess fat. Stock isn’t just for soups and stews. Use it for sauces,
wok-fried dishes, pasta sauce, anything at all really. It’s not called the
foundation of food for nothing.
4. Taste, Taste, Taste!
You’ll never experience a
bland dish if you learn to trust your taste. If something tastes bland, add
some salt or spices. If it’s too tart, add some sweetener, like sugar or honey.
If it needs some zing, add some acid or something spicy, like hot sauce or a
pinch of cayenne pepper. Remember, recipes are just meant to be guides; you’re
the chef, and you get to determine how the final product tastes.
5. Stock your pantry with the right essentials.
Good quality olive oil, sea
salt, peppercorns, anchovies, a couple of good quality pastas; Linguini,
Garganelli, penne, etc and a few different types of rice; Basmati, jasmine and
risotto rice are all good staples. Other grains such as couscous, bulgur, pearl
barley and Quinoa are also great to have kicking around, as are lentils,
chickpeas and polenta. A couple of cans of peeled tomatoes, thick tomato puree
and sun-dried tomatoes are a must, along with soy sauce, chilli sauce and a
good selection of spices and spice blends. … And don't forget the fridge, where
there should always be good-quality Parmesan cheese, yoghurt, olives,
free-range eggs and butter. It's much easier - and much less daunting - to cook
if you don't have to go out to the supermarket for every ingredient in a
recipe.
6. Fight the food Boredom.
Set yourself a challenge.
Try a new recipe once a week or every fortnight. And get out of your comfort
zone and experiment with different types of cuisines from different countries.
7. And finally, be inspired!
Take inspiration from
newspaper recipes, magazines, cookbooks and food blogs, and remember…there is
nothing difficult and complicated when it comes to cooking. Pour yourself a
glass of wine, relax and enjoy cooking for family and friends.
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