The Basics: Part 2

Five easy ways to make cooking (more) enjoyable:

1.  Read the entire recipe at least once before you begin cooking.

This does not mean that the first time to read through your recipe is moments before you prepare the meal. You should read your recipe well in advance of actually beginning to cook. 

Imagine that you have company coming for dinner in two hours and you're preparing a big dinner - that is not the time to learn that you forgot an ingredient or that you were supposed to let the meat marinate overnight!

2. Take out all of the ingredients you will need and place them near or in front of you.

The French call this (and, in part, #3 below) mise en place and it basically means things in place.

If you've ever been guilty of getting out one ingredient at a time, measuring it, adding it to the dish, and then searching high and low for the next ingredient on the list - all while something is burning on the stove - then you understand how helpful it will be to you to learn to take everything out before you start. If you've never been in that unfortunate situation then you are quite lucky but I suggest you take my word for this one and not test the food gods.

3. Do the prep work before you actually begin cooking.

Have you ever noticed how chefs on cooking shows can effortlessly toss in a quarter teaspoon of salt, followed by a cup and a half of flour without missing a beat? If you have then I bet you've also noticed all of those little bowls and jars that have every ingredient perfectly measured out for them. 

Of course, we don't all have a staff at home to help get us ready like that but think of this step as an extension of step #2 - you already have everything out on the counter, why not measure and prep it first?

This step can include washing and chopping vegetables, measuring flour and spices, chopping and/or shelling nuts, making coconut milk, etc.

4. Before you begin, take out all of the pots, pans, and dishes you will need.

As a further extension of steps 2 and 3 above, taking out, washing, and preparing all of your pots and pans will make your cooking experience much easier. This is especially true when you bake and your recipe calls for you to grease - or grease and flour - your pan. The same goes for pans lined with parchment or other paper liners. Get all of this ready first and you will have an easier and more enjoyable experience.

5. Pour yourself a glass of wine.

Somewhere I heard a friend of the family tell how his mother always had "cooking wine" whenever she made dinner. Initially he thought this referred to the wine she used in the meal. As he grew older, however, he learned that the wine was for his mother to drink while cooking.

I know I'm always happier with a glass of wine, aren't you?

Happy eating!