A gourmet is a person
who is knowledgeable in fine food and drink.
Save Time Cooking
Does the idea that good food has to take a long time
to make keep you from spending time cooking? There
are many ways to help speed and efficiency in the
kitchen. The arrangement of your kitchen, as well
as the tools you use, make all the difference. Don't
give up on trying to expand your skills and abilities.
Try these suggestions to make gourmet cooking well
within your time constraints.
You might have heard the old adage, "a place for
everything and everything in its place." This is a
great time saving practice. Put the same things in
the same place in your kitchen and work area. You
will not waste time trying to find things and get
frustrated. Tools and items that are frequently used
should be placed accessible and easy to get. The bowl
or platter you only use at Thanksgiving can be placed
in the basement or in the back of the cupboard. It
is also worth noting that you won't know if something
works until you try it and you might make changes
as time goes by. Don't be afraid to reorganize or
adjust.
The smell of bread baking alone is enough to make
the senses ripple with pleasure. Don't deny your home
of the enticing aromas of fresh baked goods that relax
and invigorate the soul because you think they take
too long. If you are among the population that think
making homemade bread is a horribly long process that
you do not have time for, invest in a mixer, it does
all the work! While the ingredients combine you can
spend your time checking a recipe, loading the dishwasher,
or making a call. When choosing a mixer consider the
quart size capacity of the bowl and wattage of the
mixer. This is important because a smaller, less powerful
machine will not be able to handle some quantity of
ingredients. More time will be spent mixing by hand
and cleaning up than if you would have done it without
the machine to start with. Another important thing
to note about a free standing mixer is their ability
to do so many different tasks. Whipping, whisking,
blending, and kneading, can all be done without you
participating at all. Not only does this save time,
but it also saves effort, freeing up up energy for
other aspects of preparation.
Another time saving product that will help you cook
like a pro is a food processor. Different jobs need
different sizes and so it is recommended to have a
smaller and larger capacity processor. Chopping onions,
garlic, tomatoes, peppers, nuts, etc. is quick and
easy. Those items you frequently use do not need to
take so much time to prepare. Use the tools that speed
your work and you will be more apt to do more of it.
One of the most frustrating and time taking occurrences
is running out of measuring cups or spoons because
they are dirty. More than one set is needed to cook
efficiently. If a cup is only used for dry ingredients
it is not a problem, or if you can do all the dry
ingredients first and then the wet, you solve the
problem, but usually they are interchanged as you
cook. Two to three sets will allow you to be quick
in measuring without having to stop and wash (and
then thoroughly dry) measuring tools while you cook.
Having a set of odd sized cups and spoons makes cooking
and baking faster and easier also. A two cup, one
and a half cup, 2 tablespoon, half teaspoon measures
are a great time and ease saver.
These products are worth the space they take up.
The time saved making delicious dinners, breads and
treats will allow you to spend time that you want
to working or playing without sacrificing making good
food yourself. Cooking gives so much more to a person
that food on the table. It allows for relaxation,
contemplation, creativity and enjoyment. Free up unnecessary
time spent in your kitchen and become the gourmet
cook you have always wanted to be, but thought it
just took too much time.
About the Author:
Emma Snow is a gourmet and freelance writer. Writing
for Gourmet Living http://www.gourmet-living.com
and BBQ Shop http://www.bbq-shop.net
.
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