3 steps to Start (better) Cooking for Yourself and Others

Photo: Pixabay

Do you think cooking isn't your fairy tale? Just the thought of reheating a frying pan makes you feel bad, and you're afraid that the whole apartment will go up in smoke? Don't know how to organize a successful dinner for several people? Let me give you some tips on how to make the seemingly difficult task of making a dinner party for your friends a treat. Come in!

#1 Are you okay?

It's hard to find a place that's a complete mess, isn't it? So as not to "burn out" at the very beginning, keep your kitchen tidy. 

One of the most famous chefs in the world, Julia Child, said that the point is that "a place for everything and everything in its place." According to the French model, the kitchen should be organized according to the principle mise en place - all ingredients and tools should be at hand so that you can easily and quickly get them at any time. This seemingly simple tip can change a lot right at the start of cooking, so be sure to remember it! 🙂

fot. https://www.delish.com/food-news/a35237185/julia-child-hbo-max-show/

It is also important to have a well-thought-out arrangement of specific cooking equipment in relation to the products for which it is used. 

For example: containers with measuring spoons are best placed next to bulk products, a garlic press is next to garlic, measuring spoons will pass the exam surrounded by spices. And so on, and so on…

I am also sure that there is no shortage of dishes or tools in your kitchen, which, standing on the counter, take up invaluable space during cooking. So save some space by hiding unused items in your closet. If these are, for example, items of sentimental value, and they are not used in the kitchen-find a separate room for them, where you collect various souvenirs, for example, birthday gifts.

Finally, what's inside, i.e. cabinets - they also need to be cleaned up. If you can't do it right away, take small steps by cleaning one cabinet a day. Knowing what's where will definitely make it easier for you to navigate your kitchen. 

Photo: Pixabay

# 2 Keep an eye on the quality of your ingredients

Absolutely necessary, as well as not the most important thing, in the preparation are the ingredients, but in fact their correct quality. For me, this means a clean label and natural ingredients – the shorter the better. You should also be interested in the origin of the product-is it a local culture that supports Polish farmers and entrepreneurs, or perhaps it has come a long way to get on our plates? Price does not always go hand-in-hand with quality, although it should be borne in mind that a good product will often have to pay more. However, if our health is at stake, it's definitely worth the investment. 😉

Remember also that when you buy a product that you don't use all at once, you must make sure that it is in the appropriate container with the product name and date of use. (so that in a few weeks, months, or even years you won't have an unpleasant surprise waiting for you). Also, regularly review bulk products stored in their original packaging or special containers. This may seem obvious, but in a day-to-day rush, it is easy to forget about it or constantly postpone this action in time.

Photo: Pixabay

# 3 and when you have an order…

.. Face to face arrange a celebration for others!

If you want your social meeting to run its course, follow a few simple rules::

1. When inviting guests, think about the "communication key". Do they know each other? Will they feel good in each other's company? Admittedly, this is not a culinary tip, but it is definitely one of the conditions for a successful dinner. 😉

2. Ask the invitees if they are allergic to any product, if they do not follow a certain diet or they don't particularly like a particular dish (think about what might happen if you served a juicy steak to vegetarians...).

P.S.-this rule should work in two directions. If you follow a particular diet or can't stand a particular group of foods, let the host know or offer to bring your own dish out of politeness, so as not to put him in a difficult position.

3. Set the exact time of the meeting. Some foods don't heat up as well as they do immediately after serving.

4. Choose recipes that will allow you to spend as much time as possible at the table, with guests, and not alone in the kitchen (well, unless your kitchen allows you to cook and feast together!).

If you don't know how to combine tastes, books by Nika Segnit can help you: Lexicon of tastes or The art of cooking. 😊

Photo: Pixabay

5. In addition to the main course, stock up on snacks that diversify the waiting time for main courses. I have a chekad best suited columns of vegetables with sauces/hummus, boards of cheese or cold cuts, sticks of grissini or croutons, a simple green salad and a must... a bowl of seasonal fruit!

Photo: Pixabay

Go ahead!

I hope that with this reading, I was able to convince you at least a little to start a culinary adventure. I also hope that the words of gratitude from your loved ones will encourage you to continue exploring the culinary world. Good luck!