A cooking journey is one journey that’s both fun and satisfying. But if you’re just starting on yours, it could also be frustrating, rife with trials and equal amounts of errors. Thankfully, technology and the internet have made it so much easier for anyone from busy parents to passionate foodies to take up cooking.
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Indeed, with so many food blogs and apps easily accessible today, even the uninitiated can whip up delicious meals—or at least, edible ones. Whether you’re starting a culinary adventure with self-care in mind or just want to explore some new creations, SsouthernLifestyle is pleased to share a few things to help you find your footing in your kitchen.
Have a plan.
These days, finding recipes to cook can be as easy as doing a quick search online. Ditto with cooking techniques from preparation to the many different ways to boil an egg. Before long, you’ll find your head filled with thoughts of julienned vegetables and why proteins are best cooked sous vide, to name just a few. You can even add a few fun apps to your phone to spice things up!
However, if you decide to use videos and apps for recipes, make sure your phone has enough memory and power to run these! If you need a new phone, you don’t have to spend a fortune. Many providers offer savings on new phones when you trade in your old model, and you may be able to purchase a pre-owned device as well.
It can be too easy to get lost in a maze of recipes that purport to be easy to follow—many of which leave much to be desired. Subsequently, you may find yourself doing unscheduled grocery runs and spending too much in the process just to satisfy the cooking bug, which, truthfully, is not inexpensive and often downright wasteful. The Kitchn points out it’s a good idea to always have a plan, starting with setting a grocery budget and making it work for your culinary projects.
Choose the good.
More often than not, you might find yourself drawn to recipes that look delicious or satisfy a craving or seem easy to do. While that’s all well and good, it might be better practice to make your cooking efforts more purposeful and worthwhile by making use of healthy cooking methods and choosing recipes that promote good health.
Indeed, gut health should be made a priority when you’re whipping up culinary delights. This is because a healthy gut reduces the risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes, to name a few, as well as help to keep weight down and the brain sharp and dynamic.
Shake it up.
Finally, having mastered a few healthy dishes could make you complacent, and before long, you might find yourself whipping up the same thing over and over again. Despite the temptation, make it a point not to fall into this trap. Rather, keep things interesting by shaking up your recipe sources and your menu, because as Thrillist explains, you’ll be happier and healthier as a result. You can even add new gadgetry to make things fun. For instance, an air fryer allows you to cook flavorful foods like chicken wings, salmon, and french fries without all the oil and calories of a typical fryer. Look for models that are safe and easy to use.
If you somehow find yourself stuck in a rut, consider looking at your favorite restaurants, bakeries, and even farms for inspiration. Know that some of the best food and drink items are often developed in-house by local chefs and bartenders, so there’s no harm in reaching out to them via social media or email in the hopes that they might share their recipes. Otherwise, you can always challenge yourself to recreate your favorite menu items. You may not even have to shop for groceries to prepare delicious meals. Dishes like potato pancakes, black bean soup, and red lentil sloppy joes can be prepared using items you have in your pantry.
Needless to say, your culinary journey will be no different from any new venture in that you are bound to meet a challenge or two along the way. With the goal of getting better at cooking and becoming more consistent in producing delicious and healthy meals, the right amount of tech and education could make an accomplished chef out of anyone yet—including you.
Story contributed by Emma Grace Brown. For information about Emma visit: https://emmagracebrown.com/. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the box below and as always have a blessed day!
