Having the skills to cook is one of life’s most valuable lessons learned. Making food at home is healthier and tastes better, it also save a lot of money.
To enhance the flavor in a simple dish use fresh herbs. For dishes with complex flavors, dried herbs will work. If at all possible, however, go for the ones that are garden-fresh in order to enhance the flavor and impact of these things in your meals. Ensure that you have an adequate supply of fresh herbs by keeping an herb garden.
Brightening your cooking with color is always a lot of fun. More colorful foods tend to be healthier and are also more interesting visually. Use colorful garnishes like parsley, carrot curls, or raw cherry tomatoes. Put some creativity into your color combinations, and your dishes are sure to get eaten every time.
Green vegetables that are dark and leafy are so good for you, but prepping them for cooking can be a nuisance. The stems can be hard to remove. To make it easy, fold the leaf lengthwise and remove the stem through the middle. Another way is to cut out the stem from the folded leaf with a knife. You will have a green without a stem after you unfold the leaf.
When you prepare a turkey for Thanksgiving or any other time, don’t ever toss the leftovers. Try cutting them up, storing them in a container that is airtight, and then place them in the freezer. The turkey will remain fresh for several weeks so you can make delicious sandwiches or a turkey salad.
If you use less oil when you are cooking you will cut some fat and lose weight. For the most part, both butters and oils contain unneeded fats. A great alternative to oils is a nonstick cooking spray. Not only does it provide the same results as cooking with oils, it also contains less unhealthy ingredients.
Care for your wood cutting board properly. A wood cutting board can warp or split by too much exposure to moisture, heat or dryness. You should never put the board fully underwater, instead just use a sponge with some soap for spot cleaning. Restore damaged boards by applying oil to it regularly, and be sure to use products specially designed for wood chopping boards. After oiling, allow the oil to soak in and the board to dry before using it again.
Cater to your guests by serving salads with dressing on the side. Certain people prefer a larger amount of dressing on the salad than others. Because of this fact, you should allow people to pour dressing on their own. Offer a variety of dressings, so there will be something to everyone’s taste.
Fish is a very healthy food to eat, not to mention that it’s tasty and easy to cook. If someone has the time, they might want to think about catching their own to save money and to take advantage of the freshness. Catching and preparing your own fish gives you the satisfaction of providing for yourself and allows you to experience food at the height of its flavor.
You can make a fat-free stew or soup by using fat-free soup stock or broth. Use plenty of vegetables as well as lean meat to keep the fat content low in the soup. Let the soup rest in the refrigerator for a spell once it is fully cooked; you want it quite chilled. The remainder of the fat will rise to the surface and congeal. Then just take a spoon and scoop off any hardened fat to throw away. This can save you about 100 calories per teaspoon that is removed.
Follow these tips and you will quickly develop better cooking skills and an affinity for good home cooking. As you become more successful at cooking, you’ll no doubt also become more excited about trying new things. Quality family time spent in the kitchen fixing good food can lead to healthier lifestyles for the whole family. For great meals, follow these tips!