Cooking can be fun, especially when friends and family are sharing in the event. Cooking can also be a little stressful when you have guests to serve. You want your meals to impress, be enticing, and look beautiful. From perfect ingredients to plating to high-quality cookware, this article will explore a few ways to elevate your next dinner party.
Food is more than just sustenance, it’s a great way to express your creativity and style. You should be able to express yourself through your cooking. Show your friends your favorite pasta dish or the elegant way you know how to plate a delicately sliced avocado.
Here are five ways to make elevate the meals you make at home:
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1. Buy real, fresh ingredients as much as you can
Packaged foods are convenient and easy, but they usually lack flavor compared with real ingredients that have been prepared from scratch. When you prepare meals at home from real ingredients like fresh herbs, spices or whole grains, you'll notice a difference in taste as well as the ways the colors pop on the plate. Mother nature has an incredible pallet of ingredients, show them off. Think fresh basil in a salad or a perfectly ripe pear, these foods will shine on any plate.
2. Get creative with the presentation
Learning a few tips and tricks on how to properly plate food can be a game-changer. Think of the plate as a canvas, what ways could you present your steak and peppercorn sauce with a side of mashed potatoes and asparagus? How could you highlight the beautiful cut of meat and drizzle the sauce to draw your eye in? Stay off the rims of the plates. You’ll notice few restaurant chefs ever place anything on the edge of a plate as this is where servers place their hands. Following this simple rule makes the plate look thoughtful and neat.
3. Use ceramic cookware
Your table shouldn’t be the only eye-catching piece in the kitchen. Having beautiful, matching cookware not only makes life easier but also showcases your style in and out of the kitchen. Don't be afraid to use colorful cookware in your kitchen. Let your kitchenware pop! There are a number of benefits of ceramic cookware but one of the key features is versatility. Ceramic cookware can be used on all types of stovetops, including induction stoves. This type of cookware is also non-stick and easy to clean up after your meal has been cooked. Another thing that makes your meal sing- not having to clean up for hours afterward.
4. Use a high-quality knife
Invest in quality knives and cutting boards. A sharp knife makes all the difference when prepping fruits and vegetables — plus it's safer than using dull knives. Many people think they aren’t good at chopping but really, they just haven’t used the right knife and learned basic techniques. By focusing on knife skills, you can reduce your prep time and show off some fancy decorative vegetable cuts for your dinner guests. By learning how to do different sized chopping techniques, your beautiful meal of Greek Salad with seared chicken will look much more uniform and refined.
5. Make homemade stocks and broths
When you make stock or broth from scratch, you know exactly what went into it and what it contains. You can use homemade chicken stock in soups or sauces, or even freeze it for later use in chili or stew recipes. Homemade stock adds depth and flavor to a dish, particularly when making sauces to accompany meat or fish. Just place vegetables, bones, and a bouquet garni into a large, good-quality pot, cover with cold water and simmer for a few hours. Skim the surface of any residue, strain, and use in your favorite recipes.
Last but not least, have fun with it! Food is a way to express yourself, and show the people around you what you can come up with. It doesn’t have to be a serious affair. With good ingredients you don’t have to worry, they’ll do the work without too much fuss.
It's amazing how much of a difference it can make to cook with the right tools, whether you're just making a basic meal or looking to create an amazingly beautiful presentation. Take some time to experiment, try new things and challenge yourself in the kitchen. You might surprise yourself.
You don't need to go to a restaurant to have a beautifully cooked meal. In fact, with the right cookware and ingredients, you'll be able to create a beautiful meal at home. By carefully selecting cookware that helps make things a little easier or herbs and spices that draw the eye and enhance flavors, you’re sure to make a meal that wows even the pickiest eaters.
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