Cooking at home has a wealth of benefits. If you choose to rustle up homemade meals, you could save a fortune on food bills and ensure your family has a healthy, nutritious, balanced diet. We all have favorite dishes we like to recreate time and time again, and sometimes, it can be difficult to add variety to a tried and tested menu. If you’re looking to expand your culinary repertoire, here are some simple tips.
Look online for inspiration
The Internet is a veritable treasure trove when it comes to recipes and inspiration for new dishes. If you’re not already au fait with food blogs, recipe sites and online magazines, now is the time to delve deeper and explore the wonders of the web. You can search for recipes that contain specific ingredients or filter results based on your dietary requirements or the type of meal you’re looking to serve. You can also subscribe to sites you like to visit to receive updates and new recipes and join forums or social media groups to share tips and ideas with fellow foodies. If you’re a beginner, start with simple recipes like cinnamon raisin bread from BoulderLocavore and gradually increase the skill level as you become more confident. If you’re pushed for time, there are hundreds of 15 or 30-minute meals you can whip up in no time. The beauty of online recipes is that websites often give you options and access to features, for example, the chance to order the ingredients you need at the touch of a button or watch a tutorial to make it easier to follow the recipe.
Watch TV cooking shows
Cooking shows have taken the world by storm in recent years, and there are now channels devoted to food and drink. Watching TV shows is an excellent way to get ideas, but also to hone your skills. You can see how chefs work, you can watch them putting skills into action and most will divulge pearls of wisdom and tips as they go. TV shows are also brilliant for giving you inspiration for ingredients you’ve not heard of before, as well as those that you already use at home. You can record shows to play whenever you want or access programs online.
Add your own twist to family favorites
Many of us inherit recipes from our families and friends, and we cook the same meals on a regular basis. If you have a selection of family favorites, or you tend to opt for the same dishes all the time, experiment with different versions and don’t be afraid to put your own twist on a classic. You can vary the ingredients, try different cooking methods and look for ways to make indulgent feasts more nutritious. Swapping beef mince and potato fries for turkey mince and baked sweet potato wedges is a simple way to make a burger and fries on a Friday night a healthier treat, for example.
Cooking at home is a fantastic way to boost health and nutrition and save money on grocery shopping. If you’re an aspiring home cook, hopefully, this guide will help you find inspiration to expand your culinary repertoire. re