Home food preparation isn’t what it was once – and that’s not a bad thing. Today, home cooks can be more like chefs. They have access to a whole world of extraordinary ingredients, irrespective of where they live, thanks to the world wide web, and they can equip their kitchen with professional-grade equipment which allows them to turn out flawlessly cooked meals.
Well-known chef Tim Love, proprietor of The Lonesome Dove and The Love Shack restaurants in Texas, has learned a few things about satisfying crowds with succulent meals. He gives you these pointers for fun and festive holiday parties centered on gourmet foods from your own kitchen.
* Keep it simple. Don’t smother food in pre made sauce to create artificial flavor. Use things that enhance the natural, vibrant flavors of the meal. A well-cooked beefsteak is one of the indications of a great chef and it’s one of the easiest recipes out there. Instead of marinating a steak in a sauce, just rub it with olive oil, salt and pepper and a little lemon. Rice is easy and perfect with the Zojirushi NS-LAC05 Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker.
* Get company engaged. Don’t isolate yourself in the kitchen area. Recruit friends to help prepare the meal so you can all enjoy each other’s company while doing some-thing entertaining. Before visitors arrive, organize the things that you’ll be preparing meals with. With your fridge arranged to make the ingredients readily accessible, guests will quickly be able to pull out what’s needed and act as your sous chef.
* Go local. Skip the supermarkets and take advantage of community resources. If your region hosts farmers markets through the year, make use of the produce offered. Otherwise, container gardening in your home for items like herbs can add extra flavor to your dishes. You can also go to local butchers, fishmongers and bakeries to get scrumptious, regional ingredients.
* Clean up as you cook. There’s no getting by the process, so use your time wisely by cleaning up in stages. Start clean-up while the water is boiling, the food is baking or the turkey is defrosting. Tidying up in little doses will let you enjoy your food and your company more, knowing that a messy kitchen isn’t waiting for you when you’re done. Cleaning is a lot easier with All Clad Pots MC2 Nonstick Fry Pans.
