Although all people eat, there are those who cannot cook, or don’t think they can. The following article will give you the information you need to be able to prepare meals with ease. Don’t let your kitchen, ingredients or recipes intimidate you. Cooking is a pretty useful skill, and it can be fun, too. Use these tips and don’t be scared to experiment in your kitchen every now and then.
Try lowering the amount of oil you cook with if you are trying to lose weight and eat healthier. Oils and butters often contain unneeded fats. Instead, opt for nonstick cooking spray.
Color plays an important part in cooking. You need to prepare colorful meals to make them look interesting and be healthier. You can also use a diversity of garnishments to increase color; consider vegetable curls, cherry tomatoes, and small cuts of fresh herbs. If you use color, people will want to eat your foods.
If you have made sauce, put the leftovers into an ice cube tray and freeze. You can easily take them from the freezer when needed for a meal, and quickly reheat in a saute pan. Sauce cubes made this way are safe and will taste great!
Start with a fat-free or low-fat soup stock to create a low-fat soup. Add many different types of vegetables and choose a cut of lean meat to add to the soup to make sure that you are keeping the it low-fat. Before eating the soup, allow it to refrigerate for several hours. When the soup is cooled, you will find that the fat will have risen and congealed on top. Simply skim off the hard fat now and throw it away. The calorie savings is around 100 per tablespoon you remove.
Do not overcook or undercook your cake. Recommended baking times are just that, recommendations, and can sometimes be misleading because simple things like elevation can change the baking times of the cake. To be sure, test your cake by inserting a toothpick in the cake’s middle. The cake is finished if the toothpick comes out completely clean. If it does not, and has some batter on it, it needs to be cooked longer.
When you want to add a bit of protein to your diet, tofu and beans are a great source of it. These can be found at most grocery stores these days. For a meat alternative, try pan frying seasoned tofu. Boil kidney, navy or pinto beans with seasonings and you can enjoy a protein-rich side dish.
Make sure that you maintain your wooden cutting board. Heat, moisture and other elements can cause warping and splitting of the wood. You should not ever leave your board submerged in water, rather apply a wet sponge to clean it. If you need to restore a board that is damaged, regularly apply an oil that is formulated for wooden cutting boards. Allow it to dry completely before using.
When your family says “not again” to a side dish of sweet corn, it’s time to add some variety. Add coconut flakes to the corn for a very exotic flavor.
Garlic can easily stay on your hands. If you have a stainless steel sink, simply rub your hands vigorously on the inside of it, when you are finished handling the garlic. Rubbing your hands on the stainless steel, helps remove the odor from your hands, so that every other food you touch does not smell like garlic also.
Cooking need not feel difficult. Making your own home-cooked meals can be healthier, more nutritious and cost-effective, as well. It is also lots of fun! Utilize the knowledge shared in this article on your next grocery shopping trip, in the cooking you do in your kitchen, and in the balanced meals you set on the dinner table for your family. Three cheers for home cooking and bon appetit!